My quest for the elusive Colt lightning finally came to an end

I’ve always had a fond appreciation for the old pump 22’s with octagon barrels and since I started collecting them I have been on the lookout for a small frame Colt Lightning rifle. In the last 5 years I have attended every gun show within driving distance of me and have always been vigilant in looking for a lightning. I also travel a lot for work so I try to pop into every small gun shop I come across and have been fortunate enough to add several of the old pump 22’s along the way. However, the small frame lightning has been quite elusive, I seem to run across the medium frame rifles more than the small frame or large frame rifles. The handful of lightnings I have come across were either refinished which I have no interest in or had a very rough life. A couple years ago I came upon a decent one but the bore was in really poor shape and looked like a sewer pipe. It wasn’t outrageously priced but since I do like to shoot them on occasion I shied away from that particular rifle. The poor condition bores seem to be more prominent with the Colt Lightning’s than the other pumps I have come across from the same era in my personal observations. I know these were exclusively made during the corrosive ammo era but I personally haven’t come across one with a decent bore, I know they exist but they have always evaded me.

This search for my very own Colt Lightning small frame rifle finally came to fruition this past weekend at the Colorado Gun Collector’s Show in Greeley, Colorado! I went to this show for the main reason of searching for my elusive unicorn so to speak. Not only did I find one that checked all the boxes for me, there were several things that just put the icing on the cake! First, it still maintains most of its original finish on the metal and wood. It has some wear on the wood and metal showing signs of use but not abuse. The hammer still bares most of its original case color hardened finish which in my experience usually is no longer present. Secondly, this rifle has the nicest bore I have ever seen on a lighting! It has absolutely no pitting, rifling is still sharp and shiny throughout the barrel. Lastly, the peep sights appear to be factory installed with the C being stamped on the bottom of the Lyman rear peep sight. It also wears the Lyman globe front sight with the ivory bead still intact. I could be wrong about the sights but they match the finish perfectly in my opinion. I don’t know if these would be listed on a Colt letter or not but I will definitely be getting this one lettered. The gentleman who I purchased this one from was an extremely nice and knowledgeable man and we were able to agree on a price that I believe we were both happy with. I know I couldn’t be happier with this purchase, I was like a kid on Christmas Day who just received everything he dreamed of! Next step it will be off to the range to see how it shoots.

If any of you have ever had one of these small frame rifles lettered or have more experience then me I would really like to hear from you about the possibility of the peep sights being listed on a Colt letter? Either way this rifle is in my collection to stay as it is at the top of my growing Colt and pump 22 collection. Thanks for looking