History Primer 151: US Colt 1877 Documentary

[@gunsbeersmemes]

My Great Uncle Verson Pickett, out of Jacksonville Florida, carried his personal Colt Thunderer, in .41 Long Colt, in the Spanish American war. I have it, and the hand sewn, hand stained dark blue canvas cartridge satchel, my Great Great Grandmother made him, since he had to bring his own ammunition with him.

[@genericnpc6379]

thats awesome, you ever shoot it?

[@1972glm]

Do a short video on it. would love to see it and the extra accoutrements

[@dukefanshawe6815]

Amazing!!

[@jakeroberts7435]

Thats a keeper, I've got one also, my Great grandfather was a Major in Cuba, he was in the Ohio National Gaurd, we've got his 30/40 Krag. My brother has it, its supposed to pass down to my son.

[@Lemonjellow]

My Great Grandfather served in the Spanish American War also. He was a volunteer out of Indiana. He never made it to Cuba though. Not enough boats and by the time they had boats the war was over. He spent most of his war fighting malaria in Florida.

[@vicarus2728]

Only Othias could explain the importance and advantages of certain types of grips for different actions by bringing a damn saw.

[@HB-622A]

I'm disappointed that when Mae was giving her opinion on the saw's grip she never specified whether she'd bring it into the Great War.

[@jessebianchi2631]

maybe an episode on that saw? it looks like it has a story to tell.

[@nerdlydood]

an antique one no less...

[@catfish552]

Yeah, great way to show both why they called it a "saw-type" grip, and why it's good for the gun.

[@bubbajones5905]

Saw handle pistol stocks date back to the flintlock era, and are fairly common on percussion muzzle loading pistols.

[@rodrigodepierola]

Man, I've watched "telenovelas" with less complicated drama than the Colt-baby one.

[@danielkorladis7869]

I'd watch that telenovela

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Sam Colt’s baby mama drama was just wild.

[@Grimmtoof]

That story about Colt’s wife/mistress was crazy! I’ve said it before but I’d love to see a few episodes where you just go through the stories of things you can only just touch one normally. Like the full history of an arms company/inventor or the details of a war.

[@StrangelyBrownNo1]

Oh mate that’s my dream too - a full background of some of these characters would be incredible.

[@sheldonm9840]

As a man whos favorite gun is a 1877 lightning, this is a long awaited and much appreciated episode thank you c&rsenal

[@Mjdeben]

Glad to see that not listening to customers is a proud Colt tradition going back to the 1870's

[@Job781]

Customers are always wrong.

[@arya31ful]

@@Job781 "We are the ones making your stuff, of course we know way better than you." Colt, or maybe HK

[@AlexKS1992]

The only customers that Colt (and HK) care about is the government. They don’t care for us peasants.

[@rodan2852]

Ahh what do they know?

[@EntrustWithinChrist]

@@rodan2852everything, apparently.

[@smackarel7]

Bruno deserves some extra praise for that animation because holy crap is it complicated.

[@444mopar]

Yes and as the owner of an 1877 I was very pleased the animation was depicted correctly. The only part they didn't really touch on is the top of the trigger has a roller on the top which interacts with the flat spring that tensions the trigger. That roller tends to wear flat over time causing the trigger not to reset when released.

[@colbunkmust]

It's almost like Colt and Berdan were having a competition to see who could be the slimiest dude in the gun industry.

[@BogeyTheBear]

19th Century industrial magnates were hardly known to be paragons of integrity and virtue. The _weapon_ producers among them were never going to be the exceptions to that fact.

[@tenofprime]

What is scary: this is just the stuff we know or are pretty sure they did. How many bodies did they succeed at hiding?

[@rotwang2000]

I've had bosses who considered giving up your life, health and free time was the absolute minimum effort in a job. I had one or two who had that longing look in their eyes hoping that I would finally admit to them I wouldn't require them to pay me any further, but that I would pay for the honor of working myself to an early grave for their pleasure.

[@colbunkmust]

@@BogeyTheBear But in the case of Berdan and Colt, it isn't their business actions that make them slimy.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

2022: *Laughs in modern gun industry*

[@joakimblomqvist7229]

I'm totally sold on this channel! Man, that's an extensive chunk of history and tech! Mae adds so much doing the shooting experience part and reflections on that! Great work, you guys. Never stop!

[@johncoffin9354]

There seems to be a whole category out there: Popular guns with bad reputations. Unpopular guns with good reputations. The 'Lightning' seems to fit both.

[@classifiedad1]

You really have to wonder about how bad the competition was for this to be as popular as it was.

[@RonJohn63]

42:25 The amount of smoke shooting out the side is amazing (and horrifying). 1:14:14 Gold Five: "Stay on target."

[@scipio10000]

Who needs soap opera when we can read about Samuel Colt and Hiram Maxim?

[@gungriffen]

I wish Uberti or Pietta made these. Even if it used a more modern lockwork system and chambered in 38 Special.

[@joelmclamore1898]

I agree,an a Webley too.😊

[@thomasmorgan9768]

Oh thank God, that x-ray diagram is going to be so useful. I've been trying to fix mine for months.

[@beargillium2369]

Gunsmiths exist for a reason, don't be the next Baldwin.

[@thomasmorgan9768]

@@beargillium2369 LMAO you think I've got that kind of money? Joke's on you, it works now.

[@beargillium2369]

@@thomasmorgan9768 so you have the money to buy the gun but not to have it serviced... Joke's not really on me, that's your poor decision I could gaf

[@beargillium2369]

@@thomasmorgan9768 ps "that kind of money" ?? How much do you think gunsmiths charge? 😂

[@beargillium2369]

@@thomasmorgan9768 so do you have an actual old original Colt gun or some trash replica you bought from a yard sale for $59¿ 🙄

[@JerryEricsson]

Over the years that I carried a sidearm as part of my job in law enforcement, I often carried a Colt. My first firearm purchase was a Colt Trooper Mk IV. She was a fairly good gun, however she let me down when I was in the police academy and I had to finish with a loaner M$P Smith as the trigger broke. I sent it to Colt and it was repaired with a wonderful trigger job to boot and the gun served me for nearly 12 years at which time I switched to Semi-auto. For off duty, I had a Colt Diamond Back .38 which was one of the best wheel guns I ever had for accuracy and smooth action, I loved it. I owned several M1911A1's a couple were Colt, one was mil surplus and now I have a little Citadel for a carry gun. I also had many Star BM BMK and PD models and an original Colt AR-15 shorty that I carried in the squad car when we were called to road blocks, or if I was called out for armed entry to homes or buildings. It replaced the mini 14's that I had over the years, but I have to admit, I did like the action on the mini 14s better even though I carried both a M1911A1 and M-16 in Vietnam depending on if I humped a AN/PRC 77 radio or not. Now I still have the old Astra DA 45ACP that I carried for the last several years on the PD, I liked the double stacked magazines and always wanted to carry a .45 because I believed in the round and always heard guys bragging that their 9mm would expand to almost a .45, my reply was "Mind starts at a .45 and if she expands all the better!

[@randalljeffs7272]

This was a particularly great primer. Wearing my T-shirt with pride. Thanks!

[@RichardGoth]

18:00 Thanks for the ergonomic explanation of why the Webley Mk I and VI are better than the Marks II, II, and IV. A great exploration of an under-rated firearm!

[@BumroyV2]

God, I love the videos that delve into stories of their designers. It's history and celebrity gossip all in one.

[@Lisztomaniac1022]

I own a reproduction of the thunderer by cimmaron specifically the nickel plated with faux ivory grips or as Cimmaron calls it their "Doc Holliday Model". I'm not too big on blingy firearms but after I saw Tombstone in theaters. I loved doc Holliday from that movie and his shining revolvers. And when Cimmaron came out with it I HAD to get it. It's one of my jewels in my collection.

[@danschneider9921]

I will be honest here- after being teased with a couple episodes on Colt autos, in the hopes of getting to the much anticipated 1911 episode, I was prepared for another interesting, but admittedly less "gripping and sexy" weird English revolver installment. But this, well I will take this with a big 'ol smile....

[@fhsreelfilms]

I have said before that Colt has abandoned or ignored more good ideas than most other companies come up with, and their timing with the market is often very poor… but when they do make a good firearm, it’s *really* good. Thanks for taking a look at this revolver - it has definitely raised my interest in it.

[@albaneincowboy183]

Oh I wish I knew you were working on the 1877. My father currently has 4 in his collection and probably has repaired a large number in his life time. I have plans to go to Hartford this summer and start my research, while he goes to Cody and look at what they have in their collection.

[@elliottsmith7855]

elliott smith How about a show on the Colt Bisley model? Love the integration of the history of the gun itself and !its times

[@iLLeag7e]

Hi Othias! So glad you appeared with fresh gun vittles for me to enjoy when I youtubed this evening. This comment is to say thanks to the both of yall & nudge your algorithms in a positive direction. I'm too broke to Patreon but honestly feel that makes me appreciate your free content more than any of your rich snooty friends you hang out with over there. Have a good one!

[@armADa_GS]

Recently bought one, your video is complete and absolutely excellent

[@jwv5540]

Thanks to you I was able to buy a colt new army that functions perfectly. before i would have never bought an old gun. with the video you made i was able to examine the gun before purchase and know i was getting a solid buy.

[@ryanrosenblum2552]

I can only say to reach out to Mike Beliveau that man is a walking, talking encyclopedia on the 38 long colt and other guns of the old west

[@claytonalexander9105]

i wonder how the Lightning Frame size compares to the 1862 Pocket/Police. It may be the solution to Birdshead on smaller Pockets frame's.

[@ribbit876]

Every time I go looking for one of those the prices are crazy. I can't imagine what they are going to be like now . Good episode

[@AM-hf9kk]

That animation really makes me wonder about anyone that says revolvers can't fail... Seems to have even more fiddly moving parts than any semi-auto.

[@SlavicCelery]

Revolvers can absolutely fail. So can Glocks. Anyone maintaining that anything will never have any issues, is full of it.

[@jacobmccandles1767]

I have had both revolvers and Glocks fail.

[@TheRealWilliamWhite]

The difference IME is when a Glock fails you can remedy it in the moment, Revolvers not so much.

[@kalebbrown93]

Revolvers when designed well usually do not fail. But when they fail you might as well throw it away if you’re in a gun fight

[@randymagnum143]

@@TheRealWilliamWhite you can replace a broken extractor or striker in a moment?

[@davidmcnear2382]

Mae is just AWESOME.

[@wesleygay8918]

15:40 the salt in Franklin's response is pretty epic

[@TheWerewolfdark]

apparently people who shoot 38 long or short colt like to use winchester 148gr hollow base wadcutters, either the smokeless 38spl loads or using the bullets to load their own. You'd have to research it further but I hope it's of help.

[@Primarch359]

Colt's life is peak crazy dude.

[@jimwestberg4771]

My god i want SOMEONE to make a modern repro of these....

[@Tornado1861]

Diamondback Firearms recently came out with a scaled down, double action, 22LR version of a SAA. It sort of looks like one, if they would make an appropriate birds-head grip.

[@jimwestberg4771]

@@Tornado1861 that's a step in the right direction, but I need me one in 38 special.

[@josephknaak9034]

I think the new Henry revolver with the birds head has a similar look but has a swing out cylinder.

[@seymoarsalvage]

1:10:05 as someone who has carried a 2nd gen Colt SAA in 45lc and hates double action, and has never even seen or heard of most of the guns y'all cover until I subbed, I can assure people that y'all do NOT do American exceptionalism 😂

[@wesleygay8918]

As someone that has always loved classic American revolvers, this show has done a great job of making me want to expand my collection.

[@adaw2d3222]

von Oppen sounds like an invaluable employee for Colt.

[@terrysmith7751]

Amazing that it works at all, with that complex mechanism.

[@christopherseivard8925]

Fascinating story. Thanks some more!

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

I love these revolvers. Thanks for doing this video. I love the animation very helpful on its workings.

[@Poudreverte]

Excellent video on my favorite Colt, thanks !

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. Enjoyed the history of this piece.

[@deniskozlowski9370]

Great video. I've always been fascinated by these peices. Hopefully you'll do some additional percussion revolver videos.

[@jeffstevens156]

Another very good presentation. I like, very much, the tidbits that would have probably been real topics of discussion about why this and could they have done that. I appreciate Your voice telling a story rather that just beating Us with facts. Great job lady and gentleman. Thank You!

[@cameronmccreary4758]

Thank you Mae for the test firing of the.41 Caliber Colt. The only .41 caliber revolvers I've ever seen shoot at ranges were, the Smith & Wesson .41 magnum. This is a treat watching you fire one of these Lightnings. People are always taking pliers to fine firearms and thus ruining the nice finishes they come with. Mae sounds like she has an engineering degree the way she discusses the firearm's fine points.

[@bBlaF]

When did she fire a .41? Must have missed it.

[@josephdriesenga2730]

@@bBlaF she didn't

[@bBlaF]

@@josephdriesenga2730 *I know. I'm trying to get this guy to say where he thought she did.*

[@ZGryphon]

Nice to see one of these in the wild! I have a Cimarron (Uberti) Thunderer, which is an oddball hybrid of an SAA and one of these--it's a .45-caliber single-action, but has the 1877 grip frame. It's one of those guns I bought simply because it was so weird, back when I had the money to buy guns simply because they were so weird. :)

[@RatelLaw]

Thank you for sharing your research

[@kregchrist2826]

excellent as always. thank you for all that you do

[@georgewolf7063]

Beautiful "kaboom" while shooting! Nice and bassy!

[@alancarr3381]

Today is a good day to have an hour and 16 min commute. ! Thanks!

[@marshmower]

I have short bread stick fingers and the only things that fit my hand are something on the order of the sig 365 L or Walther p22 and I like the 1911 because thin grip and it has a short reach single action trigger.

[@mattfleming86]

Welcome to the club. I always wanted a nice sa/da pistol, so I purchased a Cz75. Had to spend several dollars on grips and a complete trigger rework to be able to fit it to my hands. It's a great pistol now but I had to contribute significantly to Cajun Gun Work's retirement plan.

[@marshmower]

@@mattfleming86 yowsa. I looked at a desert eagle one time and thought there's no way. I was only covering one side of the grip. I'd have to hold it like a squirrel

[@SonOfTheDawn515]

Laughs in long girlish fingers

[@stitch626aloha]

“Let’s look inside a- HOOOOOLEE CRAP…!” Mae, you have made my day. This is just as awesome a moment as Ian “gun jesus” about the Turner Light Rifle: “this thing… OY.”

[@Disinterested1]

I really love listening to you two great episode as always and thank you for sharing best wishes

[@brian8152]

I'd love to see an episode on the Smith and Wesson .32/.38 top break revolvers

[@KurtOnoIR]

Sweet! I just got a thunderer a couple months ago. Everything works fine but finish is bad. Waiting on that starline brass to be in stock, otherwise I gotta try to form some, that'd be my first time doing that requiring turning a rim.

[@Oyez10]

I've been looking forward to this one!

[@annhilater1985]

Been waiting on this one for a while

[@timothyedge6100]

Simply wonderful! Keep it up!!

[@billybrown3036]

Awesome as always

[@richarddietzen3137]

Great history! Where have I been so long from your channel?

[@3ducs]

I'm looking forward to your video on the Colt 1878. I had a chance to buy a nice nickel plated 1878 several years ago, should've.

[@Kraenesk]

Wearing my C&Rsenal Sam Colt shirt while enjoying this.

[@lukehorning3404]

You guys have some really great guns and a very cool job

[@Lomi311]

This episode is worth gold for the Colt family intrigue alone.

[@samuelstambaugh5181]

I have found that dropping the pinky below or off the bottom of the grip helps considerably

[@Thunderous117]

Anything with sam colt is always a trip 😅

[@pterodactylhunter9275]

Great as always!!

[@Mangowaffle]

Oh my God thank you othias for the story about colt and his wife /mistress. Every time it got better it got better again.

[@1972glm]

First duelist1954 and now you guys. The Colt 1877 is going through a renaissance. Always wanted a .41 caliber one...just no money nor time to find one that works/track down a gunsmith that'd be able to fix it.

[@davidtuley5898]

Does anyone

[@Ben_not_10]

I’ve also noticed even modern S&Ws have the issue of if you don’t fully release the trigger you can just index the cylinder without cocking the hammer

[@demos113]

Lovely work. 🙂

[@charleykeenan6171]

Episodes like this are why I subscribed! Wonderful coverage of a revolution in the American gun market! Thanks!

[@arthurkorinek4648]

Love your show thank you

[@KurtOnoIR]

Lol this john colt story is crazy. I never heard any of this before lol.

[@alanteague2799]

I just stumbled across your channel and love it! I don't want to butcher the spelling of your name, Otthias (i hope) the education as well as the the mechanics and comparisons to othe models in its class. Thanks. I appreciate your time.

[@williamlloyd3769]

Modern society doesn’t have anything on historical family scandal. What a story!

[@josephknaak9034]

Well Hunter Biden is a pretty messed up story

[@jaydaniels1790]

Thank you so much sir as always you're very intelligent individual highly knowledgeable gunsmith good job sir thank you

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

SHHHH! Let everyone think they're junk so I can have a fighting chance at getting one for a decent price.

[@jwv5540]

I never knew colt made a double action black powder wheel gun. thanks man

[@leonstancliff7218]

As a matter of cultural history, it was very common to name ones child after the husband's brother. It was called "namesaking" and insured that the brother would take in the orphaned child of his brother in a time when many parents did not see their children grown. Wives would name their daughters after sisters, then aunts. This custom did not end until after WW1, when life expectancy improved. At that point men began naming their first son's after themselves, then following sons after brothers or grandfathers.....

[@pinnedthrottle7690]

If I remember correctly, the thunderer was popular with Billy the Kid and Doc Holiday.

[@TheEvilmooseofdoom]

Yup, they got mentioned. :)

[@scribblerjohn1]

The story has it that Bonney had very small hands (hence his dexterity with slipping out of handcuffs) and had difficulty getting his thumb over the hammer spur of a SAA. With the Thunderer, all he needed to do was pull the trigger.

[@TheWalterKurtz]

I'm 63 years old and since adolescents I've thought the '77 and '78 were just flimsy half hearted attempts at modernity. I didn't know the military of the empire that the sun never set on and Sam Colt's "nephew" were involved in the plot. This is the makings of a mini-series. Only the BBC could do it justice.

[@jeffreyplum5259]

The spur above the reminds me of the beaver tail on the colt 1911. It is designed to keep one 's grip in a solid position no higher on the grips. I believe this also stops hammer bite, but never having held a Colt I do not know. Another great video. The only bad video with Mae in showed her in a hospital bed. Yes friend Mae is almost superhuman. ( Saves on pistol grips. ) Take care Remember It is ALWAYS Loaded, and You shouldn't be. God bless you.

[@Guillermo90r]

Have you guys thought of doing something similar to Small Arms Primer but centred on cartridges?

[@thomaslambert5317]

I’ve thought these were so cool since the first time I ever saw one

[@CitizenSmith50]

You need T shirts printed with Othias's appropriately mentioned guns with "Institutional Momentum" beneath !

[@bwest8372]

I got a lighting, thunderer, 1873 Remington and peace maker. I wanted the Billy the kid guns

[@samuelbean9928]

To hear you say that some viewers think you show bias toward U.S. firearms takes me aback. I honestly felt that your bias (if any) was toward Europe. I don't care either way. I collect Euro military clothing,I catch crap all the time about why I don't collect American. I don't collect American stuff because I don't want to and because I like what I collect or I don't buy it. I have several European rifles,and I have a couple Argentinian rifles I like what I like.You guys keep doin' what your doin'. I love it!

[@xgford94]

MIKE BELIVEAU just did a video on 38 LC , great timing

[@caseyplunkett6083]

Big fan of Mae !

[@mattnw42]

Duelest1952 did a very good video on these a month or so ago, Great video!

[@bhoward9378]

The Cody Firearms Museum rules. Though to be fair, it really should be called the Cody American Firearms Museum. I spent a long weekend there last summer. Be sure to visit the Cody Dug Up Firearms Museum next time you're in town.

[@swj719]

Othias: "a reliable man stopper" Mae: "*sounds*" Was I the only one that was... Concerned by this? 😂

[@EDSKaR]

52:44 Mae learns to dual wield.

[@michaelpreston2735]

Some people in holywood seem to think that these guns just go off.

[@TenaciousTrilobite]

This is a Lightning. The one in the movie was an SAA

[@charlesforbin8526]

Von Oppen's angry eyebrows are a nice touch

[@timvaccaro8350]

They could have called it the Platypus, given its unique combined SAA/God-knows-what look. I think I need one.

[@davidtuley5898]

Does anyone know of a good gunsmith on the west side of the states who works on the 1877 ? On ours the hammer won’t lock for half cock or single action. It does work for double action.

[@paulbarthol8372]

Maybe do an accuracy comparison of heeled vs regular ammo.

[@fien111]

Man, the story of Colt the man and company is fucking WILD