Mike Long
Old West Daily Reader Contributor, Mike Long (007), is a Western Author and gun collector. Check out his books on his webpage on our Links to Friends page. You will find some of his guns featured in his books.Mike Long is a Western Author and gun collector. Check out his books on his webpage on our Links to Friends page. You will find some of his guns featured in his books. Here is the second page of his antique revolvers, now moving fully into the metallic cartridge era. Statistics provided by Mike. Please ask Mike’s permission to use his photos. All photos by and © Mike Long, by permission.
Top: Another nice Richards conversion (see: Mike’s Revolvers P.1) of the 2nd Model 1860 Colt Army with an extractor added and the barrel left full length, .44 Colt centerfire.
Bottom: A classic 1872 “Frontier” Colt [c. 1896], this one in .44-40 centerfire (first available in 1878). Before 1878, some “companion” Frontier models were produced in .44 Henry rimfire. Otherwise the choice was 1871-72, open top Colts to get a rifle/pistol combination requiring only one size of ammunition..
The .44-40 centerfire cartridge was substantially more powerful than the .44 cal. rimfire which had been used in both the Henry Rifle [1862] and its successor, the 1866 “Yellow Boy”. The Model 1873 Winchesters and after 1878, the ’73 “Peacemaker” Colt in 44-40, brought perfection to the companion guns of the era. Only one type of ammunition need be carried to supply both guns and now the rifle had some range.. It was a very popular system. [001 & 007]
Two 1877 Colt Lightnings: 38 cal., six shots. This gun was double action; the first commercially successful “self cocker”.
Top: Note the short stroke on the trigger for clean single action shooting. A definite improvement in accuracy. This piece has no ejector. (see also: the Nickel Plate, Pearl Handle Lightning (Doc’s) on Handguns); same gun, just gussied up.
Bottom: This Lightning sports an extractor and now the configuration is that seen on most of the big bore Colt firearms since the 1872 “Frontier” model. Both of these guns have the Lightning’s signature “Bird’s Head” grips.
