The Colt 1878 Hammer Double Rifle:

A Rare Masterpiece in .45-70

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The Colt 1878 Hammer Double Rifle: A Rare Masterpiece in .45-70

Among the storied firearms produced by Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, few carry the mystique and rarity of the Colt Model 1878 Hammer Double Rifle. Manufactured between 1879 and 1885, this extraordinary piece was offered exclusively by special order and never widely advertised, making it one of the rarest firearms in Colt's history. Total production is estimated at just 40 units, each uniquely crafted and chambered for various .45 caliber cartridges, including .45-70, .45-85 Express, .45-90, and .45-100. A true testament to 19th-century craftsmanship, this rifle represents the height of Colt’s gun-making artistry.

The Colt 1878 Hammer Double Rifle shares much of its design lineage with the Colt Model 1878 Shotgun and contemporary British double rifles of the era. The example detailed here, chambered in the versatile and iconic .45-70 Government cartridge, features 28-inch Damascus barrels with bores described as perfect—a rare trait for any firearm of this age. The barrels are paired with a wide, matted rib that hosts a Lyman "Hunting" front sight with a colored bead and a factory rear sight equipped with a hinged leaf and adjustment nut. These features reflect the rifle’s intended use as both a hunting arm and a display of refined engineering.

Beyond its functionality, the Colt 1878 Double Rifle exudes a level of craftsmanship that places it in a league of its own. The highly figured walnut stock and forend are finished to a semi-gloss piano polish, complemented by finely cut checkering that adds both aesthetic appeal and tactile grip. The forend is capped with a black horn tip, a hallmark of superior gun-making during this period. Enhancing the rifle's elegance is the inclusion of a German silver oval plate inlaid behind the pistol grip, likely intended for the owner's monogram.

Every metal surface of the rifle reflects Colt’s attention to detail. The Damascus barrels feature a rich finish, while the blued rib contrasts beautifully against the color case-hardened lock plates, receiver, hammers, and trigger guard. The engraving, featuring delicate double-line borders, adorns critical components, adding to the rifle’s visual allure. The top rib engraving, which reads "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U. S.A.," reinforces its authenticity and origin.