Colt Lightning 40-60-260

[Chuhhuniban]

I have a Colt Lightning .40-60-260 slide-action, black-powder rifle. It has been in my family since its manufacture in 1896. I know it has not been fired since 1953 (when I inherited it) and I believe that it has not been fired since sometime in the 1920's (when my great-grandfather, to whom it belonged, died and it went into my great-grandmother's closet — only to come out again when she died, specifically gifted to me by letter.

I guess my question is, can you get ammunition for this rifle? If you can, would you fire it, or just maintain it as a collection piece?

I reload for a few modern rifle and pistol cartridges, but I don't even have a clue about where to start with this guy (of if I even want to, actually).

Advice and counsel, ladies and gentlemen?

 

[AAM67]

Can you post a photo? ...and are you interested in selling?

I like odd caliber antiques.

 

[Jim Watson]

You have a Large Frame Colt Lightning pump action rifle. They are very uncommon and if Great-grandpa's is in good condition, it is worth considerable money in addition to the family heirloom connection.

The ammunition situation is a little complicated but watch carefully and note that at no time do my hands leave the ends of my arms.

From CotW and my recollections of other writeups, it is chambered .40-60-260 Colt, which is the same as .40-60 Marlin but which is NOT the same as .40-60 Winchester.
.40-60 Colt & Marlin is the same case and chamber as .40-65 Winchester.
The .40-60 Winchester is an older round meant for the 1876 with a shorter case and larger rim.

Buffalo Arms sells ammo, brass, and dies.
www.Buffaloarms.com

I am not qualified to tell you whether to shoot or show. The Lightning is not the sturdiest rifle of the day and if you busted a Large Frame, you would be out of luck. There are people shooting Medium Frames in CAS, both original and modern clones, with gunsmiths to support them. You might search or post on the SASS wire.
http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showforum=12

 

[hildo]

I find it great to hear such a story.
If it were me, I would not sell the rifle.

Will you shoot it or not.
Please let us know later what happened and what you have decided to do.
I'm very interested to hear the following up story.
Hildo

 

[Steve499]

Please, please, please. Pictures.

Steve

 

[Jim K]

With a bit of work, cases probably could be made from .45-70 cases IF the proper dies were available. The problem is that I don't think they are.

The large frame Lightning was made from 1887 to 1894, with only some 6500 made. FWIW, I would not fire that old Colt, or even dry snap it; they are notoriously fragile and prone to breakage, and few parts are available. Depending on condition, prices on a large frame Lightning rifle can range over $5000+, with carbines going for more. Broken or in bad condition, maybe half that.

Some books state that the Colt Lightning was made for the .40-60 Winchester, but that is not the case. The caliber was .40-60 Colt, which is a fatter and longer cartridge, apparently identical with the .40-60 Marlin, except perhaps for bullet weight.

Jim

 

[Phillip Allen]

I shoot a 40-65 Win and must make brass for it (I can buy brass but get better quality if I make my own)

PM me if you want and I will help...I have made 40-60 brass for a friend to shoot in his 76 Win

 

[Old Dragoon]

I have owned both a 40-60 Marlin and a 40-65 Winchester in both cases I made the brass from 45-70 cases. I would take you rifle to a compentent gunsmith and have it checked over THEN decide what to do, but in no means ever sell a family gun. There is a wealth of info on this site and others.
And Yes please let us see this piece of history, your family's and history in general.
Good luck in your endeavors.

There are dies available from Buffalo Arms and others and bulets too.
But most of all. Have fun with you GGranpa's gun!

 

[Chuhhuniban]

AAM67 -- Nope, not for sale. Not ever. I have two adult sons, and they already have pre-divvied my collection (which includes vintage firearms from both my grandfathers - in addition to the Colt).

AAM67 and Steve: Pictures this week. I just got the parts for my digital camera (which has been out of whack for two months).

Jim Keenan: I found a web site which dated the rifle (from its SN) to 1896. I note you say manufacture stopped in 1894. How can I check?

So far, I still haven't decided what to do. I know that it will remain in the family, so I will probably consult with the two aforementioned sons on it. Thanks for the information.

 

[Chuhhuniban]

Requested pictures

Okay, folks, here are the pictures of the my Colt Lightning (actually Great Grandpa's Colt Lighting)









Not For Sale (ever). Probably not for shooting either.

G

 

[Jim K]

I was going by Wilson, but a couple of other sources say the same thing - numbers 6300-6496 were made in 1894, and that was the end of production. There is some potential confusion because the three frame sizes each had its own serial number range, but the highest large frame number would have been prior to 1890 for the others.

There is also some confusion possible if the recorded shipping date was later, and sometimes the shipping record of a gun returned for repair is confused with the shipping record of a new gun.

FWIW, that appears to be one of the best Lightning rifles I have ever seen. Assuming that is the original finish, its value should be almost at the top. I would certainly not sell it and would take very good care of it. It is not only an heirloom but also an investment.

BTW, this is a case where a Colt letter definitely should be obtained. Even if it shows nothing spectacular ("shipped to xxx hardware") it will add to the value and to the historical record.

Jim

 

[Dr.Rob]

It's in great shape, don't see why you couldn't shoot it. Check OldWesternScrounger http://www.ows-ammo.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21/products_id/68

You also might want to contact Bonham's and Butterfield to have it apprasied.

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/publi...SA&Screen=arms

If you have items of arms, armor, sporting guns or militaria you would be interested in offering at auction, or if you just want to get an idea of the value of your items, we are happy to render free appraisals from photographs, or in person. Please contact at us at the phone numbers or e-mail addresses shown to the right.

 

[Steve499]

Wow, what a treasure! If the inside is as sharp as the outside, shooting it won't hurt anything, should you choose to do so, that's what it was made for. Just clean it well afterward. I know if it had been my ancestor's and made it's way down to me, I wouldn't rest until I had accumulated brass, dies and a suitable mold, and had shot it just so it I could experience what my ancestor had experienced. I may never shoot it again, but I would be prepared to if the mood ever got flung on me.

Steve

 

[hildo]

Hi G,

The pictures give a good impression of the gun. Thanks for posting.
I like to shoot true antiques, but I would not want to shoot this one either if I was you. It can be enjoyed just as well as it is.
Hildo

 

[Chuhhuniban]

BTW, this is a case where a Colt letter definitely should be obtained. Even if it shows nothing spectacular ("shipped to xxx hardware") it will add to the value and to the historical record.

Jim

Yeah, I hadn't thought of that, but I think I will. I suspect (and maybe will find out for sure) that it was picked out of stock at my grandfather's (son of the owner) hardware store in McClouth, Kansas. I know for sure that the Savage 99 in .250-3000 that dates from 1915 and that I got as my first centerfire rifle in 1949 came that way (yeah, I still have it too).

The finish is original, it's never even seen a gunsmith since I have had it.

The serial number is not in the range that you quote. It's "1996," which, when I go back to my records (sketchy), it says was manufactured in 1889, so it is older than I first reported (the other date is an old Winchester I used to have, at least I guess that's where I got it - senior moment - I ought to have learned by now to go look before I write down something like that).

Thanks for all you all's help.

G

 

[Big Water]

My son-in-law just inherited a 40-60-260 colt in a lever action with 50 rounds of ammo he also got a mod.94 win in 32win spl from the same gentleman. He had the colt appraised for just under 18 thousand the 32 is pretty used up it's a good one to just have in the gun safe.

 

[Me2jaw]

40-60-260

I realize this is a dated thread, kinda like the rifle. But there was just one of these models on Auction Arms. Very interesting, and started at only 1895.00 I think. Good luck out there collectors. Me, I saved the image, as it was cheaper.