Though the nicknames "Rainmaker", "Lightning", and "Thunderer" are all excellent marketing material, they were not names ever actually used by Colt. These nicknames are believed to have been coined by the famous Colt distributors, Benjamin Kittredge, who is also believed to have been responsible for giving the Single Action Army its iconic nickname, "Peacemaker". Manufactured in 1878, the barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and "COLT. D.A. 41" in an acid etched panel on the left side. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking and "41CAL" is on the left rear of the trigger guard. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and rear of the cylinder ("107"), and the assembly number "557" is marked inside the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame top groove rear sight, and a pair of smooth pearl grips.

Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original nickel finish and 60% plus of the original nitre blue with a few scattered patches of light flaking, a few small patches of light pitting on the left of the barrel, and an otherwise well-defined etched panel. The grips are fine with a spliced repair in the left panel and a couple hairline cracks in the right panel. Mechanically excellent.