Question
colt 1877 41 cal
I am wondering about the firearm that I inherited.
It has been plated..a gun shop owner told me. There are few markings left. On the trigger guard there is stamped 41 cal. and under the trigger guard after removing it is stamped a clear 775. It has mother of pearl handles. The one number that is visible of the serial number is a 1. Is there someplace else that stamps exist to actually identify this gun? What is a firearm like this worth?
Thanks for your answer
Greg T.
AnswerHello Greg. You do have a Colt Thunderer. The first double-action Colt manufactured in .41 Colt caliber. These were made between 1877 and 1910. Along with the Colt Lightning saw a total production of 166,849 guns.It will be very hard to date it further. You may be able to find a serial number on the end of the cylinder or on the frame under the grips. Be very careful taking it out so as to avoid any scratches or cracking the grips.It has been in very poor condition cosmetically at one time in the past. This is why most all of the printing is missing from the gun. It was cleaned up enough to replate, but it is now only an old gun worth around $500.00-$800.00.GUN SMITH ALERT!! From the first one off the production line in 1877 to the late 1890's or even into the last one off the line, these were manufactured to shoot the BLACKPOWDER .41 Colt caliber ONLY!!Do Not attempt to fire it!! Put it in a shadow box and hang it on the wall.I believe it was this model that was carried by the Victorian Detective,Jerome Caminada. It was, also, the the gun John Wesley Hardin (southwestern gunfighter) was carrying when he was shot and killed. Great stories from both sides of the law! I hope this answers your questions and thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage
