Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Colt Large Frame “Express” Lightning slide action rifle chambered in .40-60-260, with a 28" round barrel and serial number 1224, dating production to 1888. It is a strong antique example with good surviving barrel blue, a mellow gray receiver patina, visible Colt Prancing Pony marking, very good walnut stocks, and a crisp functioning action.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Large Frame "Express Model" Lightning rifles were Colt's heaviest pattern, and the rarest of the series. Only 6,496 were manufactured in 1887-1894 compared to nearly 90,000 each of the Small and Medium frame versions, and used their own serial number sequence. This example is numbered:

1224

on the trigger guard and dates to 1888 production.

The 28" round barrel is marked on the left side of the breech:

40-60-260

identifying Colt’s .40-60-260 chambering. In the period naming convention, this denoted a .40 caliber projectile over 60 grains of powder with a 260 grain bullet. The barrel is fitted with an adjustable buckhorn rear sight and a front sight that now has a replacement nickel silver blade.

The top of the barrel is clearly marked:

COLT'S PT F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.
PATENTED MAY 29.SEPT 18.83.MAY 26 85.JUNE 15.86.FEB 22.87.

The action presently cycles smoothly and dry fires with a crisp, tight feel. The firing pin is intact and the mechanism operates without obvious sticking. The magazine has not been tested with cartridges, so no statement is made regarding feeding reliability. These observations describe only the rifle’s current mechanical state and should not be interpreted as confirmation that it is safe to load or fire.

The metalwork remains in very good used condition with no obvious evidence of major cleaning or restoration. Much of the original blue survives on the barrel, with some areas shifting toward plum from age. The receiver has largely faded to a gray patina, though small areas of the original high gloss Colt blue remain near the rear bevel and around the hammer. The Colt Prancing Pony marking on the left side of the frame remains clearly legible.

The bore is in very good present condition, remaining mostly bright with strong lands and grooves. There is some rounding to the lands from use, along with scattered traces of old fouling and oxidation and one more stubborn fouled area.

The walnut forearm and buttstock are both in very good condition with a rich red brown tone from age and oiling. They show normal service wear including dents, dings, scratches, and handling marks, and both appear to have received an older oil and wax finish. The forearm has some cracking at the lower right rear, though no movement is noted during ordinary handling. The buttstock retains good checkering on both sides, shows some attractive grain figure on the left, and has a small missing chip at the upper right where the wood meets the receiver.

With its 1888 production date, Large Frame Express configuration, .40-60-260 chambering, 28" round barrel, strong Colt markings, surviving original blue, crisp slide action, and well preserved walnut stocks, this is a compelling example of Colt’s heavy frame Lightning rifle. The replacement front sight blade, bore wear and fouling, forearm cracking, buttstock chip, and untested magazine feeding are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Colt Lightning, Large Frame Express, .40-60-260, antique slide action rifle, or advanced 19th century American firearms collection.

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1888
Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
Model: Lightning "Express" Repeating Rifle - Large
Serial No.: 1224
Caliber: .40-60-260 Colt
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 28 Inches
Overall Length: 46 1/2 Inches
Action type: Slide Action Repeater
Feed System: Tube magazine

More on the Colt Lightning Rifle:

The Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was a slide-action (pump-action) rifle manufactured by Colt from 1884 to 1904 and was originally chambered in .44-40 caliber. Colt eventually made the Lightning Rifle in three different frame sizes, to accommodate a wide range of cartridges, from .22 Short caliber and .38-40 to .50-95 Express. Its profile somewhat resembles the pump-action rimfire rifles made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms. The Lightning saw use as a sporting arm in America and was adopted for use by the San Francisco Police Department, but was never as popular or as reliable as the various lever-action rifles of its day.

The medium-frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was manufactured between 1884 and 1904. It was the first slide-action rifle offered by Colt. Colt records indicate 89,777 were produced, in .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 as a companion arm to the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Two versions were offered: a rifle with a 26 in (66 cm) barrel and 15-round magazine, and a carbine with a 20 in (51 cm) barrel and 12-round magazine.

NOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are no able to ship these to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.