Make: Colt

Model: Lightning Magazine Rifle, Medium Frame

Serial Number: 28174

Year of Manufacture: 1888

Caliber: .38 CLMR, .38-40 Winchester

Action Type: Pump Action, Tube Magazine Fed Rifle

Barrel Length: 26", Tapered Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a white beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a V-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The sights are not original to the rifle. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight, none present.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are walnut with a two-piece checkered slide handle, straight wrist, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The inside of the buttplate is marked 4159, not original to the rifle. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. Most and more notable marks are in the buttstock. There is a repaired chip at the toe. There are some patches of compressed checkers, but the slide handle checkering is generally well defined. The LOP measures 13 1/2" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a fairly even moderate patina with scattered nicks in the face. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows wear, but is generally well defined. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. Finish remains only in well protected areas and around some raised features. Exposed surfaces have gone to a fairly uniform moderate patina. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks at some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably useable slots. The markings are clear with surprising detail in the rampant colt. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Around the 1880s, Colt was looking to diversify but Remington and Winchester had the rifle market sewn up. Colt concentrated on a pump action and in 1884 introduced a gun with an action that was so slick and so fast, they dubbed it the "Lightning". Its designer William H. Elliot lived in Ilion, NY and initially took it to Remington. When Remington didn't bite, he sent a letter to Colt, who loved it. The Lightning came in three varieties, small, medium, and large. The medium frame were chambered for .32-20, .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester calibers, with ammunition already being produced. Ultimately, the rifle was discontinued as Winchester and Colt came to the agreement that Winchester would produce rifles, Colt would produce handguns, and nobody needed to make the competition ugly.

This example is a medium frame chambered for .38-40. It is a Rifle with a 26" round barrel, showing an even patina consistent with its age. There is a repair to the stock and a replaced buttplate, but this fits nicely with the rifle's overall honest appearance. It will make for a neat example of the Colt Lightning, a nice addition to any safe in America. Please see our pictures and good luck!