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first year of production and is in exceptionally fine condition, making it a standout piece of Colt heritage. The barrel is stamped with the two-line Hartford address/patent dates legend ahead of the filled rear sight dovetail, has the caliber designation “40-60-260” on the upper left flat towards the breech, and is fitted with a dovetail beaded blade front sight. The rifle is equipped with a Lyman tang peep sight. The half
length magazine is a special order feature. The left side of the frame is stamped with a Rampant Colt. The serial
number appears on the lower tang. The forearm has multipoint checkering, and the plain straight grip stock is fitted with a crescent buttplate.
The accompanying factory letter confirms the 28 inch octagon barrel in .40-60-260 caliber, blue finish, “wood” stock, and special order half magazine. The letter also states the rifle
was shipped to Western Arms & Cartridge Co. (address not listed), which had locations in Chicago and East Alton, Illinois, on September 14, 1887. This was a two gun shipment. Also
included is a copy of a 1943 dated letter from the Colt factory that provides a previous owner of this rifle information about the ballistics of the 40-60-210 cartridge.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The barrel and magazine retain 90% plus bright original blue finish and the receiver retains 85% plus bright original high polish blue finish with the
overall balance thinning to brown and the lower tang having a mix of original blue and smooth gray patina. Traces of original nitre blue remain on the loading gate. The buttplate has a
smooth gray patina along with file-like marks and a patch of pitting. 95% original case colors remain in the hammer. The wood is very fine showing some minor dings and scratches and some
blemishes in the overall crisp forearm checkering. Mechanically excellent. This early production, three digit serialized, special order Colt Large Frame Express Lightning Rifle will be a welcomed addition to any antique American longarm collection. It is not often that we catalog these express rifles in such high condition, let alone one with any special order features.
Estimate: 8,000 - 11,000
LOT 116
Desirable Documented Antique Colt Medium Frame Lightning Slide Action Light Baby Carbine with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 62696, 44-40 WCF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This “Baby Carbine” was manufactured in
1893 and slimmed down by Colt to weigh approximately 5 pounds 10 ounces rather than the 6 pounds 4 ounces of the standard carbines. These lighter
carbines were manufactured in much more limited numbers than the standard rifles and carbines during the Medium Frame
Lightning’s 1884-1902 production run. They would make excellent guns for stalking through the woods or traveling on horseback. It has
a small block front sight, the two-line address and patent marking on top of the tapered barrel ahead of the notch and folding ladder rear sight,
“44 Cal.” to the left at the breech, the standard Rampant Colt trademark on the left side of the frame along with a saddle ring, a checkered pump handle, smooth buttstock, and carbine buttplate. The accompanying factory letter confirms the “Baby Carbine” configuration with a 20 inch barrel in .44 caliber, blue finish and “wood” stock. The letter also states the carbine was shipped to Hartley & Graham, New York City on March 1, 1893. This shipment was for 10 guns. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% original blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The reoiled wood is also fine with some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Wilmer Kellogg Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
136
LOT 115
Exceptionally Fine Documented Western Arms
and Cartridge Company Shipped Early Production Three Digit Serialized Special Order Colt
Large Frame Express Lightning Slide Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 493, 40-60-260
cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Colt Lightning rifles were Colt’s most successful
attempt to compete with Winchester, Remington, Marlin, and others in the lucrative repeating rifle market but were still sold in relatively small numbers despite being very fast actions and reliable. These “Express Model” rifles were the rarest of the series, and only 6,496 were manufactured in 1887-1894 compared
to nearly 90,000 each of the Small and Medium
frame versions. This rifle was manufactured in the