OT -- Do some folks have all the luck or what?

[Doc Hudson]

Last night I got a phone call from a friend asking help identifying an old revolver. (Moose does lots of wheeling and dealing in guns and often calls me for help getting info on old guns.)

By the time he'd talked a couple of minutes, I had a good idea of what it is. A few more questions and I was certain that what he had was a Colt Model 1877 "Lightning" Double-Action Revolver in .38 Colt. According to my 10-year out of date Standard Catalog of Firearms Value, a specimen in even POOR condition was worth $450.00, and the one Moose has is in Fair or Good Condition and worth around $1,000.00. I'll go see it this evening and will see if I was right.

Anyway, the LUCK part came in what the revolver cost him. He gave the previous owner a box of .218 Bee cartridges and was told "Bring me a couple more boxes of .218 cartridges and you can have it." Now is that lucky or what?

[Hobie]

That is lucky indeed.

[AmBraCol]

Lucky indeed. What caliber? Oops, looked again, 38 colt. Could be a fun one to play with. By the way, it's good to see you here, my friend.

[rjohns94]

very lucky and I am glad to see you too Doc.

[Sixgun]

The dude who owns the old Colt thinks he is getting the deal as 218 Bee's run around $50 a box.

Colt Lightnings never have been in great demand, due to their ability to break.......easily. I've had 'em in 38 and 41 Colt, learned to work on 'em-----and then got tired of working on them. Sold the ones I had and now pass up decent specimens for 5-7. Nice 90% ones can be had for a grand or less.

Their accuracy sucks and are a pain to reload for as the 38 and 41 are heel bullets. I even bought a hollow cavity mould for the 41 and never was pleased with it.

Now............if your buddy described the revolver as a first gen Colt SAA, I would then be impressed ---------------Sixgun

[Doc Hudson]

Now............if your buddy described the revolver as a first gen Colt SAA, I would then be impressed ---------------Sixgun

You and me both!

Once long ago, he told me of a fellow who was trying to sell an old Colt .45 revolver at a gun show and that he'd promised to bring it to the nest show. The price was so good I went with him to the show. Moose thought is was a Single-Action Army.

When the guy showed up, it was a really beat up old Colt New Service in .45 LC. He was asking $400.00 for it, but I'd not trust it to hold up under much shooting so I thanked him and let it pass. I ended up buying a Rossi M-92 SRC instead.