Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

.38-.40 Lightning

bigboy12
I have an original Colt .38-.40 Lightning.It has the dates'83, '85, '86', and '87 on it. It is in good working condition and is approximately 85-90% condition. It fires very accurately. What can anyone tell me about it.
0

Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    We can tell you right off, that we would love to see pictures. To post pictures on the forums, you will need a photohosting website, and to follow the directions in one of the sticky threads at the top of the "Experts" forum here, for doing such. So, by all means, please show us...

    Best
    0
  • perry shooter
    Hello may be round barrel Or Oct barrel may be rifle or carbine may have dust cover over ejection port or may be early model without dust cover may have action lock on trigger guard or not. Be aware it has a part that can wear and let you work the action with the hammer back [xx(][:(][V] NOT good this disconnector operation needs to work to make sure the action is locked when you pull the trigger. With serial number and or pictures we can give you date made and somewhat of an value Yours is called a medium frame model.
    0
  • bigboy12
    I can't download any pictures yet. This rifle came from my grandparent's estate. It has already been assessed for monetary value, but it has more sentimental value. It has an octagon barrel, no dust cover, and no action lock. I was more interested in the numbers on top. Thanks for any info. I will download pictures asap.
    0
  • perry shooter
    Hello The dates on the rifle are PATENT dates and are NOT dates of when the rifles were made with that said of course the rifle was made after the last date on the gun. in other words like a Colt pistol Single Action Army or a 1911 type 45 the dates on the barrels /slides changed many times on say a 1911 it has the 1913 patent date you know itis not an early pistol made before 1913. Medium frame Lightning Rifles were made 1884-1902 so with the dates on YOUR barrel the gun was made later then 1887. and the serial number should be between 20500 and the lates one made in 1902 Serial 89777 With the serial # I can give you the year and a fairly good guess as to the month.If your rifle has the early ejection port with no dust cover then it most likely is around 1887 time frame if it has the large ejection port but is just missing the dust cover then it is later the ejection port was changed just about 1888 time frame.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity