Colt Lightning

For the pump-action rifle, see Colt Lightning Carbine

Also known as the Model 1877 or Model 1877 Lightning, the Colt Lightning was Colt's first double action revolver, produced from 1877 to 1909 almost exclusively in .38 Short Colt (and, later on, in .38 Long Colt). The Colt Thunderer was a slightly larger version chambered for .41 Colt, and later .41 Long Colt; the Colt Rainmaker was a variant chambered in .32 Long Colt (with a few rare examples apparently chambered in .32 S&W).

The Colt Lightning and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Colt Lightning 1877 Cavalry - .38 Long Colt.

Colt Lightning, similar to the one used by Val Kilmer in Tombstone, with a full-length ejector rod housing - .38 Long Colt

Colt Lightning, Shopkeeper model - .38 Long Colt

Colt 1877 "Lightning" - .38 Long Colt

Colt 1877 "Thunderer" Double Action revolver. - .41 Colt.

For comparison: Colt Single Action Army with blued/case-hardened finish and backstrap and grip altered to be visually similar to the Colt Lightning - .45 Long Colt

Specifications

(1877 - 1909)

• Type: Revolver

• Caliber(s): .32 S&W (rare), .32 Long Colt, .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, .41 Colt, .41 Long Colt

• Barrel length(s): 1.5 in (3.8 cm) - 10 in (25.4 cm)

• Capacity: 6

• Fire Modes: SA/DA

---

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Note	Date
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death	Nigel Bruce	Dr. Watson	Shopkeeper Model; supposedly Thunderer	1943
The Spider Woman	Vernon Downing	Norman Locke	Shopkeeper Model; supposedly Thunderer	1944
Gaslight	Charles Boyer	Gregory Anton		1944
Dressed to Kill	Frederick Worlock	Colonel Cavanaugh	Shopkeeper Model; supposedly Thunderer	1944
Shane	Van Heflin	Joe Starrett	Supposedly a Belgian "Cowboy Ranger"	1953
Hombre	Fredric March	Dr. Favor		1967
Hombre	David Canary	Lamar Dean		1967
The Millionairess	Sophia Loren	Epifania Parerga	stainless with pearl grips	1960
Will Penny	Charlton Heston	Will Penny		1968
Will Penny	Anthony Zerbe	Dutchy		1968
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid	Elisha Cook Jr.	Alonzo Bunker		1972
The Hound of the Baskervilles	Bernard Fox	Dr. Watson	Nickel plated, lacks the ejector rod with its housing and the front sight	1972
Young Guns	Emilio Estevez	"Billy the Kid"		1988
Tombstone	Val Kilmer	Doc Holliday		1993
Purgatory	Randy Quaid	Doc Woods / Doc Holliday	Nickel plated with pearl grips	1999
Monte Walsh	Keith Carradine	Chet Rollins		2002
Kill Bill Vol. 1	David Carradine	Bill		2003
Kill Bill Vol. 2	David Carradine	Bill		2004
6 Guns		A posse member	Short-barreled	2010
Forsaken	Brian Cox	James MacCardy	Nickel plated	2015
The Kid	Dane DeHaan	Billy "The Kid"	Cimarron replica with 3 1/2" barrel	2019
	Jake Schur	Rio Cutler
	Leila George	Sara Cutler
	Ethan Hawke	Sheriff Pat Garrett
Deadwood: The Movie	Sean Bridgers	Johnny Burns	w/3 1/2" barrel, possibly Cimarron replica	2019
	Brent Sexton	Harry Manning	"Cavalry"

Television

Title	Actor	Character	Note/Episode	Date
Lonesome Dove	Gavan O'Herlihy	Dan Suggs		1989
Return To Lonesome Dove	Oliver Reed	Gregor Dunnigan	nickel plated. No ejector rod	1993
Deadwood	Sean Bridgers	Johnny Burns	Shopkeeper Model	2004-2006
Wynonna Earp	Tim Rozon	Doc Holliday	Nickel plated with ejector rod	2016 -
Godless	Russell Dennis Lewis	Daryl Devlin	Lightning or Thunderer	2017

Video Games

Title	Appears As	Note	Date
Assassin's Creed Syndicate	M1877 Lightning, Thunderer	anachronistic appearance	2015

Anime

Film Title	Character	Notation	Date
Undead Girl Murder Farce	Alice Rapidshot		2023

See Also

• Colt's Manufacturing Company - A list of all firearms manufactured by Colt.