I just bought one of these for $1000 - it's in almost immaculate condition. A friend of mine bought an old Wells Fargo Safe, at an estate sale. No combination to the safe. He had a pro locksmith open it, and bingo, here was this pistol wrapped in an oily rag. All the serial numbers on all the parts match. The oily rag had preserved every part of it, including the hard rubber grips. Its amazing. My friend never fired it. I got it home, and decided to check out the double action firing - the trigger got stuck closed after about the 5th time I cycled it. Probably need to replace the trigger spring. I can push the trigger forward into place with my finger and cycle it. The single action cycle works fine still.

Based on the notable gunfighters who carried it, its reputation for unreliability may be a tad overstated.

We NEED this in Hunt: Showdown!

Wa.....wait a minute. It didn't jam up and break on the third trigger pull? Let's see if we can cram a 357 magnum+P in that 38 Long Colt chamber and see how long she holds up :)

Wish somebody would make a real replica instead of the saa’s with bird heads grips. Just need to upgrade to double action mechanism and make them reliable

Doc Holliday was said to have carried a Colt Lightning and a colt Thunderer but unfortunately nobody is found them yet. His Derringer that was given to him by big nose Kate and inscribed "To Doc from Kate" recently sold at auction and is now in a museum. What I wouldn't give to be the man who found his Colt Lightning and Colt Thunderer.

One thing you forgot to add that I noticed. Pulling the gun from a Holster is like pulling an extension of your extended index finger and the Balance is superb. It is like pulling and pointing your right index finger at a target and pulling the trigger. I have never shot mine as it is has a broken main spring and I understand the Ammo is simply unavailable and not made any more. Excellent Video and No Disrespect meant. RH DSD

I really like your recent series of videos! Thank you!

I just bought a broken one for 400 and fixed it myself, the cylinder stop mechanism and the arm of one of the smaller pieces needed to be bent back so the gun would work. Really not that intimidating to crack the thing open and fix it yourself, problem is with these is that the parts may need to be replaced, I lucked out and only needed to bend them back. And the action will be loose depending on how many parts have been replaced over the years.

I can't believe I actually have one of these in pretty good condition. It was my great grandfathers and it's been in my possession now for a few years. At first I thought it was just an old 38 special until I noticed the tiny engraving showing an 1877 date on the barrel, including the words double action. My dad purchased a box of ammo for this a few decades back and it does indeed say 38 long colt. Neat surprise.

You are a wizard Larry

Awesome revolver

awesome

Agreed they have

wow i learned something today

Uberti needs to make a (double action - Lightning and a Thunderer) they make some great single actions '73 reproduction Colts, and they make what they call a Lightning and a Thunderer, but the ones they make are single action, which is not correct....those were both double action......well, it is time to make them.

I purchased one of these along with three other handguns in really good condition, all for $250. I think I got a steal lol you don't find deals like that often.

I have an Colt Pearl handled , DA 41 thunderer nickel plated with all parts in good condition. Are these rare and what is the price range for them. THank you and great video. DSD

Doc Holiday carried the Lightening. Billy the Kid carried the Thunderer

I am debating buying a Model 1878 from a local shop. .45 caliber, 7.5", nickel with about 50% remaining, perfect bore, beautiful grips. It seems to function well. It may be well priced at $1800 but I am leery, at $1200 I would buy it. The SAAs are solid values, the 1878s are not well known. If anyone has experience with these I'd like to hear from them, thanks. It was lettered from Colt, made in 1885 and sold to a NY City store along with about 180 others. From what little I can find about them they were a better design than the 1877.

I have one with a long barrel can anyone tell me whats it wrth it also has white grips

@baddagg100 I'm afraid not. If you're looking for a double action colt in that caliber, the 1878 might be for you

thats what i heard too.but i dont think billy would go out without his gun on when he heard pat garrett was around.i think the friends of billy said he was unarmed so it would put pat garrett in a bad light,shooting him down in cold blood with out a gun.

i have one ,he failed to say its blackpowder ammo and we use shorts not longs it was not proofed for newer ammo must be made up with black powder and to make you gun worth more have colt pull records on the guns serial and authenticate it we did we even know how many was in case in with it when it went to store,and what city state and retailer i will post a video with ours and the paperwork from Colt

My 6th generation grandfather had on of these

this is the gun billy the kid was carrying and a butcher knife when he was killed by pat garrett.garrett called it a self cocker

i did,nt understand your paragraph !

I almost bought one for $850, I kind of wish I did.

I thought Billy was unarmed when killed

Is this the gun that Doc Holiday would carry ?

OMG. At the end he dry fires it SIX TIMES, without snap caps or fired cases in the chambers!. What is this man thinking? It an antique for god's sake; you can't just go out and buy a new firing pin for a Colt Lightening.

To bad the mechanism on this is complete crap. Taking one to halfcock can knock the timing off... The 78 is a better design but uglier