Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an 1885 Colt Model 1878 double-action revolver marked “67.MD C” for Canadian Department of Militia & Defense. This is one of 1,001 Model 1878 revolvers Canada purchased from Hartley & Graham to arm mounted forces during the North-West Rebellion. The North-West Rebellion, also called the Riel Rebellion, occurred in 1885 when Métis leader Louis Riel led an armed resistance against Canadian government policies in what is now Saskatchewan. The Canadian government deployed militia forces to suppress the rebellion, and these Colt 1878 revolvers were rushed into service to arm the mounted troops. The rebellion was crushed within months, but these revolvers continued serving.
Many of these same Canadian militia Colts later saw action in the Second Boer War in South Africa from 1899-1902, where Canadian volunteers fought alongside British forces against Boer settlers. Some reportedly remained in service through World War I, giving these revolvers nearly four decades of military use.
The factory letter confirms this revolver shipped to Hartley & Graham in New York on April 14, 1885 as part of a 120-gun shipment. According to Don Wilkerson’s book on the Model 1878, Colt shipped 4,028 standard revolvers in .45 caliber with 7 1/2 inch barrels and nickel finish. The Canadian government purchased 1,001 of these through Hartley & Graham.
The Model 1878 was Colt’s first large-frame double-action revolver, designed to compete with similar revolvers from Smith & Wesson and other manufacturers. The double-action trigger allowed faster shooting than single-action Colts, which was valuable in military applications. Chambered in .45 Colt, these revolvers delivered the same power as the Single Action Army but with the option of double-action fire.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Canadian Militia Marked Antique Colt Model 1878 Revolver.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4096/29/canadian-militia-marked-antique-colt-model-1878-revolver. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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