Welcome to at the moment’s Photo of the Day! This tells a narrative that’s equal elements heartbreaking and heartwarming. Somebody took a authentic 1881 Colt Mannequin 1877 “Lightning” – certainly one of Colt’s first double-action revolvers – and fully rebuilt it as a .22 goal gun. Collectors normally react with horror to this sort of modification, however there’s one thing respectful about how this conversion was carried out. 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 when you checked out them unsuitable. Also known as the “Lightning” and “Thunderer,” relying on caliber, however shooters typically 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 appears to be like skilled, not some yard hack job. This was somebody who needed to maintain capturing their 1877 when substitute elements grew to become inconceivable to search out. There’s logic to it. By 1950, damaged Mannequin 1877s have been frequent as dust. The mechanisms have been notoriously fragile, and Colt had stopped supporting them a long time earlier. Somewhat than let it sit as a wall hanger, somebody turned it right into a practical goal gun that would really be shot and loved. The .22 conversion is smart 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 a whole bastardization of the unique design.
Is it traditionally tragic? Completely. However there’s one thing admirable about protecting a 140-year-old gun in energetic service fairly than letting it collect mud. This 1877 remains to be doing what Samuel Colt meant – placing rounds heading in the right direction 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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