colt model 1878

[megamachine]

i picked up a rusty old Colt at a flea market last weekend. The guy told me it was a model 1878. Does anybody know who could give it a tune up? It is missing the extractor and the internal springs but i think most of the major parts are there. It will never be much more than a paper weigh but it would be cool if it had basic operation. Thanks

[Tallship]

Post some pics. If it's really an 1878, even rusty it's worth some dough.

[megamachine]

i'll post some pictures tonight. i think it's only missing springs. Somebody must know someone into these things.

[megamachine]

colt model 1878

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=42642&stc=1&d=1263http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=42643&stc=1&d=1263361933361933

[El Gato]

What's the bore look like?
I have a larger framed gun and found springs on the web...will try to remember...
what caliber?
why not try to get it fixed up..?
even with some pitting in the bore... as long as the chambers are pretty clean it could shoot ok... with the proper loads...
and besides...whatcha got to loose...?

[Argonaut]

That is a M1902 version of the 1878. They are 45 Colt and were all military guns originally built for Alaskan use but during the Spanish American war they were delivered to the Philippines because the 38's that were originally sent there would not stop a big Filipino with a spear. It has an oversize trigger guard designed for use with gloves. Parts are available. I have many. PM me and we will see if I can help you.

[gunboat]

Argo -- not to nitpick, but the problem was not the Filipino, who was fairly well armed with old and contemporary spanish weapons, but the Morro, the moslem problem child of that era as well as today. Their weapon of choice was the kris. With his privates bound up for excruciating pain he would charge GI joe and his krag, driving himself onto the bayonet and using his kris to split joe's head open He thereby collected his virgins in heaven. Even with the krag, head shots were the only sure stopper. The mule trains all had a crew following to pick up any lost mule shoes, mr morro found them excellent steel to make his kris. my ha-penny

[Mike A]

If this is a 1902, it has had the barrel replaced or cut short. It may be an 1878 with the trigger guard replaced with an 1902. Interesting relic.

My grandfather served as an officer with the Philipino Scouts fighting the Moros (after they helped fight the rest of the Philipinos, those who resented us replacing the Spanish as their colonial masters). He found that the Spanish Remington 11mm or the Springfield 1884 .45-70 were better stoppers than any of the rifles that the Scouts were later issued, and that a Winchester 1897 12 ga. was better yet. He stayed on in the Philipines for many years helping set up the US postal service; my father and his older brother were born there.

[Argonaut]

Argo -- not to nitpick, but the problem was not the Filipino, who was fairly well armed with old and contemporary spanish weapons, but the More, the muslim problem child of that era as well as today. Their weapon of choice was the kris. With his privates bound up for excruciating pain he would charge GI joe and his krag, driving himself onto the bayonet and using his kris to split joe's head open He thereby collected his virgins in heaven. Even with the crag, head shots were the only sure stopper. The mule trains all had a crew following to pick up any lost mule shoes, mr morro found them excellent steel to make his kris. my ha-penny

Last time I checked, Morros were Filipinos...........M1878's use the same barrels and extractors as single action army's. Barrels are easy to find and replace, Extractors are more of a problem.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I have heard of them binding their bodies to help staunch blood loss, but I have never heard of them wrapping up their privates. Especially not to the point of causing pain. That seems counter-productive to me. And a bit like Victorian-era propaganda too. The Moros did do a lot of drugs before attacking. And they did bind their bodies to cut down on blood loss. But the .38 Long Colt cartridge we were using at the time would barely qualify as a target load. Throwing the gun at them probably would have been more effective in that case. Pretty much the only weapong that we had that proved to be effective against them with one shot stops was a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot. The .45 pistols helped, but they weren't the magical hammer of god that many history buffs make them out to be.

-Mb

[Argonaut]

The Military historical records show a huge decrease in the Officer (Hand gun users) casualty rate after the 45's showed up...............It might be coincidence????? It was this experience that made the M1911 45ACP the standard US military handgun round for the next 70 years. We tested a lot of 9mm's and other 36 caliber rounds in the field trials and the 45 bested everything hands down. (Again, The reason we call the 36 caliber rounds a 38 is because of marketing, The 36 cal had such a bad reputation as a man stopper in Colt revolvers they didn't dare call the new round a 36)

[Mike A]

I agree that Moros are Filipinos. However the problem has been that many Moros do NOT agree, and wish a separate state based on their version of sharia. At times they have wanted the state to be ruled by the Sultan of Sulu, at times not. In any case, they want, and have wanted for centuries, unbelievers either converted or gone from the southern parts of the achipelago. Dead is quite gone enough to satisfy them. And this nasty little discussion continues, between Filipino forces, U.S. special forces of several flavors, and the local al Khaeda affiliate, called I think, "abu Sharraf" (please pardon my weak Arabic.....).

[Bhobbs]

The .45 pistols helped, but they weren't the magical hammer of god that many history buffs make them out to be.

-Mb

Is there a specific license to get said magical hammer of God?



Do you plan on restoring the pistol or just keeping it as an artifact?

[megamachine]

Clean Colt Images

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=42744&stc=1&d=1263440http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=42745&stc=1&d=1263440483483

[megamachine]

The cool thing about curios is they're not just hunks of metal but actual history. i spent a solid 2.5 hours cleaning it and it looks like a different pistol. Thanks guys i appreciate the info.