Double action gunsmiths

[sheikss]

Got a colt thunderer and it needs some work. Are there any gunsmiths who are familiar with these or that you guys recommend?

[St. George]

The biggest problems those old DAs have seems to be failed springs - and originals are hard to find.

You may want to see if Wolff can put together a spring kit, and then fit them yourself.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Herbert]

There a few companys seling spring and unfinished parts for the 1877 revolver(do a google search on colt 1877 parts) finding a gunsmith to work on one will be hard as they can be tricky to get right,if the timing is out check cyilinder end movment if well worn this can be fixed with a shim,as mentioned springs breaking is the most oftern cause of trouble,the triger return spring has to be exactly shaped as the originalor you will have trouble,I oftern pick these up very cheap because somone took one apart and put it back together wrong(springs positioned wrong)just striped oiled and replaced springs properly and doubled my money,now I am starting to collect them and am kicking my self for the very good ones I sold

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[Raven]

Have worked on a number of Lightnings and Thunderers, they are not my favorites ! They have a reputation for being delicate. They tend to break things even when well fitted. We have a 100% warrentee in our shop but on the Lightnings and Thunderers it lasts from my hand to your hand.
For parts the best place is http://www.coltparts.com/pt_1877da.html
The gentleman that runs the place is very knowledgeable and occasionaly works on the beasts and may reccomend a smith that likes working on them.
Unless you are a qualfied smith I would recomend you do not work on it yourself. You will just set yourself up for dissapointment and frustration and a higher bill with the smith that does the repair.

They are beautifull pistols, too bad they are so delicate. At one time USFA was planing on making Lightnings and Thunderers with S&W internals - Now that would be a Gun!

Good Luck
Raven

If you cannot find a smith let me know and I will see what I can do

[Herbert]

I once examined a European revolver that on the outside was allmost identical to the 1877 colt ,but the lock work was very simular to the webly greens,it was a jem

[Fox Creek Kid]

The secret, I have been told, is to NEVER shoot one in SA mode. That was told to me by a man who owns, shoots & works on his own Lightnings.

[Montana Slim]

The secret, I have been told, is to NEVER shoot one in SA mode. That was told to me by a man who owns, shoots & works on his own Lightnings.

I've heard this as well & I believe there is some logic behind it.

As far as parts, Try Popperts. They have a website.

Slim

[Deadeye Don]

I shot mine when I first bought it.  It shot beautifully.  Now I am scared to do so again, so there is sits in my safe.

[Herbert]

Keep shooting it wile not as reliable as other guns of the period there were a lot of well known men that relied on these in very serious situations and could have chosen any gun they wanted

[Trailrider]

I knew a guy once who worked on '77's.  Last I heard he'd had himself committed to a place where they let him work on ANY gun EXCEPT a M1877! 

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

[Herbert]

I knew a guy once who worked on '77's.  Last I heard he'd had himself committed to a place where they let him work on ANY gun EXCEPT a M1877!  

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

It does help to be slitly mentaly chalenged to work on 1877s,but the hard part is convincing the customer they have to pay more becuse of the time involved,if there was Colt working drawings you could go of it would be easier

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

I've noticed that it is a lot easier to find a .38 in working condition than it is to find a .41.  That extra power of the .41 must have taken its toll!