Make: Colt

Model: Lightning Magazine Rifle, Large Frame

Serial Number: 2225

Year of Manufacture: 1888

Caliber: .40-60-260

Action Type: Slide Action Tube Magazine Fed Rifle

Barrel Length: 28", Tapered Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a tang sight base installed, no sight arm.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are walnut with two-piece checkered slide-handle, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The inside of the buttplate is stamped "693". The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable dings. The wrist has a tiny loss at the top-front corner on the left. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 1/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate-dark patina. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original. We were not able to remove the stock to inspect the top tang serial marking.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5+/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. There is evenly scattered wear with worn areas going to a uniform patina, blending well with remaining finish. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. There are some light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably usable slots. We were not able to remove the stock mounting screw. The markings are generally clear. Overall, this rifle is in 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: 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 large frame guns were by far the fewest produced with just 6,496 coming off the line. 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. Today these guns are among the most sought after of this particular family tree.

This example is from the second year of production for large-frame rifles, serial 2225 and looks good for its age, retaining about half of its metal finish with the balance gone to a pleasant, even patina. The rifle is chambered for the .40-60-260 cartridge, essentially a Winchester .40-65 dimensionally and also similar to the .40-60 Marlin. We do not see these often, and when they do they always garner interest. Please see our pictures and good luck!