Original Item: Only One Available. The romance around Colt "Cowboy" Revolvers never ceases to amaze us. This is a fine example of the Model 1878 "Frontier Six Shooter" Double Action Revolver, in the popular .44-40 Winchester chambering. This model was manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1878 to 1907, and is often referred to as the "Frontier" or the "Double Action Army" revolver. A total of 51,210 Model 1878 revolvers were manufactured from 1878 to 1907, including 4,600 for the US Ordnance Department. These are known as the "Philippine" or "Alaskan" models.

This revolver is in great shape, with much of the original nickel plated finish still present. It has lovely brown bolt composite grips, and even comes with a very nice period leather holster. It is a typical brown leather "open top" design, which easily will fit over any belt. There is some embossed designing on the front, and it is marked V.L. & A. / CHICAGO, for Von Lengerke & Antoinne, a sporting goods outfitter founded in 1891, the same year the revolver was made.

The original Factory installed brown hard rubber Colt grips clearly show the "Prancing Pony" logo, and are in great condition, with almost all of the original checkered texture still present. The Colt logo is also stamped into the frame just above the grip, as is correct. It is marked on the bottom of the grip with serial number 29303, indicating it was made in 1891.

This example has a 5 1/2 inch barrel, which is marked on the left side with:

This indicates chambering for .44-40 Winchester Center Fire cartridges, as it does on examples of the Single Action Army. This was a very popular cartridge for revolvers and rifles of the time, and this way the owner would only need bring one type of ammunition. The Colt address marking on the top of the barrel is still legible:

The condition is very good, with a lovely patina of age on the nickel plating. The bore is in very good condition, with clear lands and grooves and a partly bright finish. There are some areas of oxidation, mostly on the lands. We tested the functionality in both double and single action, and it cycles well, without any of the usual finicky behavior we usually see. The ejector works great, with no sticking.

A lovely example of an early design Colt Double Action Cartridge Revolver in the very popular .44-40 caliber, complete with a period holster! An ANTIQUE made in 1891, in lovely condition and ready to display!

More on the Colt M-1878 Double Action Revolver:

Samuel Colt experimented with double-action revolver systems, but he considered them to be unreliable. After Colt's patent expired in 1857, other manufacturers began producing double-action revolvers, but Colt's Manufacturing did not manufacture its own double-action revolver until 1877, twenty years after the patent had expired.

The M1878 was designed by William Mason, Colt's factory manager and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, Superintendent of Engineering. It was similar in design to the Colt Model 1877. The Model 1878 had a larger frame, and is therefore sometimes referred to as the "large frame" double-action revolver, while the Model 1877 is likewise referred to as the "small frame" double-action revolver. The Model 1878 was considered a more robust and reliable design than the Model 1877.

The design of the Model 1878 was based on the Model 1877, which in turn was based heavily on the design of the earlier Colt Single Action Army revolver. The double-action revolver is not dramatically different in design than the single-action revolver. A strut is added to connect the trigger movement to the hammer. The top of the trigger slips beyond the strut so that the hammer will stay in full cock if it is pulled back manually.

The Model 1878 had a larger frame than the Model 1877, which allowed it to fire larger and more powerful cartridges, such as the .45 Colt and .44-40 and used the same barrel, ejector parts, and a very similar cylinder to the Single Action Army revolver. At one time, the factory modified Model 1878 cylinders for use in single-action revolvers in an attempt to use up spare parts.

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1891
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 10 1/2 inches
Action: Double/Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver