Milsurp After Hours

The Colt Model 1878 Double Action revolver was the first cartridge handgun acquired by Canada for military issue. At the outbreak of the North West Rebellion in 1885, Canada had no handguns to issue to its Militia forces except what remained of the 1851 Colt Navy cap and ball revolvers acquired in 1855/56 by the pre-Confederation Province of Canada.

An order was immediately placed through New York based outfitters, Hartley & Graham, for 1001 Colt Model 1878 revolvers chambered in .45 Colt. The revolvers were nickle-plated, with 7.5" barrels and hard rubber grips. Apparently only a few hundred of these revolvers ever got any marks denoting Canadian military ownership or issue, the majority remaining unmarked. At best, one can only judge based on configuration, location in Canada, and serial number in the correct range (all known revolvers were manufactured from 1883 through early 1885) if a particular unmarked revolver was one of the batch acquired by Canada. Of course, one hopes to be able to confirm that a particular revolver which meets the other criteria was shipped by Colt to Hartley & Graham ....

Having summarized that bit of background, here is the latest acquisition for my Canadian martial firearms collection ..............

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Yes ....... it is chambered in .45 Colt, has a serial number denoting manufacture in 1883, and was acquired in Canada! I have already ordered an Archives Letter from Colt .... unfortunately, they are so backlogged that it will apparently be about 3 1/2 months before I receive it ....

Congratulations Grant, what a find!!!!

A great find, looks practically NIB. Did any of these see action or did they

arrive too late?

riptidenj wrote:...... looks practically NIB. Did any of these see action or did they arrive too late?

Well, I must confess that this revolver was purchased as "re-plated" .... but as a result the price was low enough (less than half what an "original finish" in similar condition would bring) and it will be a "shooter" ..... which suits me to a tee, since I hate having firearms I can't shoot!

Yes, at least some of these revolvers did reach the Canadian North West in time to see action. The 1885 year-end report to Parliament of the Militia Deptartment's Director of Stores & Keeper of Militia Properties confirms that revolvers reached Winnipeg in time for issue to Mounted Troops, and there are records relating to difficulties experienced in getting some units to return their revolvers to Stores following their return from the North West .....