Welcome to at this time’s Photo of the Day! This tells a narrative that’s equal components heartbreaking and heartwarming. Somebody took a reliable 1881 Colt Mannequin 1877 “Lightning” – one among Colt’s first double-action revolvers – and fully rebuilt it as a .22 goal gun. Collectors often react with horror to this sort of modification, however there’s one thing respectful about how this conversion was completed. The unique 1877 was chambered in .38 Colt. These weapons have been well-known for 2 issues: being the primary Colt double-action that truly labored reliably, and having mechanisms so delicate they’d break in the event you checked out them mistaken. Also known as the “Lightning” and “Thunderer,” relying on caliber, however shooters usually had different names when the timing went off or the hand broke.
Whoever did this conversion knew what they have been doing. They didn’t simply bore out the chambers – they put in a totally new barrel, ejector rod housing, and fashionable adjustable sights. The work seems skilled, not some yard hack job. This was somebody who needed to maintain taking pictures their 1877 when substitute components grew to become unimaginable to seek out. There’s logic to it. By 1950, damaged Mannequin 1877s have been widespread as dust. The mechanisms have been notoriously fragile, and Colt had stopped supporting them many years earlier. Reasonably than let it sit as a wall hanger, somebody turned it right into a useful goal gun that might really be shot and loved. The .22 conversion is sensible for goal work. Low recoil, low cost ammunition, simple on that delicate Colt mechanism. These adjustable sights recommend this wasn’t only a plinker – somebody was critical about accuracy. The onerous rubber grips are period-correct and present this wasn’t an entire bastardization of the unique design.
Is it traditionally tragic? Completely. However there’s one thing admirable about maintaining a 140-year-old gun in energetic service relatively than letting it collect mud. This 1877 remains to be doing what Samuel Colt supposed – placing rounds on the right track when the set off will get pulled.
Upgraded Vintage Colt Mannequin 1877 Double Motion Revolver | Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/5012/903/upgraded-antique-colt-model-1877-double-action-revolver. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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