Opinions on What Direction to Take This Colt Lightning In

So this was found in my sister and brother in laws barn when they moved in last year.

It's a Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle, small frame 22 caliber. Serial number search has it manufactured in 1904 the last year of production. These were made in several calibers from 22 thru 44 in both small and medium frame models. They were numbered consecutively for a total production of 90,000 from 1884 to 1904. This one is 87,000 so very near the end of production. From what I've gathered these fired predominantly black powder 22 short rounds as that's what was available at the time.

The barrel shows traces of rifling hidden in the rust and webs. However the muzzle end swallows a standard 22 right to the brass so either a counter bore or a sleeve may be necessary. I'll know more once I get the barrel brushed out completely. I'm currently in the disassembly process which has been much easier than imagined. It's from the south where nothing steel rots it only accumulates surface rust so that's been helpful. Currently stuck on the loading gate screw not for rust but deformation. Those two pieces of wood are the front stock because on the 22 version it wasn't reinforced with a steel sleeve like on the larger caliber versions. The last 3 pictures are, barrel as found, after a quick brushing and the chamber. A 22 short is so small I can't get my bore camera in through the loading gate.

What direction would any of you gents go in with this? Do a full restoration or keep the patina and make it shootable? Opinions are welcomed.
Thanks, Bill

I'd do the whole thing over. Line the bore to .22 short and a complete outside draw file and paper polish. That wood pump can likely be repaired and then shoot...

I was thinking along those lines Jim but some have said to leave it alone just kill the rust because that look can't be duplicated. I'm no fan of rat rods and I don't think I'd like to have a rat rifle.

Have it completely apart now and found the firing pin is broken. I'd have to find one of those first before any work progresses. Otherwise it's a rat wall hanger.

Firing pins are unobtanium.

Did a restoration of one years ago, yours doesn't look too bad

Looks like way too much slam-firing and not enough maintenance but definitely worth a clean up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fushigi Ojisan

Firing pins are unobtanium.

Did a restoration of one years ago, yours doesn't look too bad

---

Not sure how long it was in the barn but it didn't suffer all that much. Finish is gone but the surface rust has been cleaning right off with 4/0 steel wool and light oil. Inside the action had no rust and every screw came out first try so it's promising. Have a friend with a brother in law that has a machine shop. It may take years but he will eventually make me a replacement firing pin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sapper740

Looks like way too much slam-firing and not enough maintenance but definitely worth a clean up.

---

At 119 years old and something that was possibly a kids gun from day one I'm thinking it did pretty good for itself. Truthfully looking at the wear parts they are all still in decent condition and completely reusable. If the firing pin had been made from steel instead of brass it would probably be as serviceable as the rest of the parts.
I'll keep you all posted on its progress.

I'd figure out the firing pin too. Maybe a piece of drill shank would spot on and take shape. I'd make it out of steel for replacement if it's brass. I'd do it by hand and add the off set firing end...

I'll bet this will come along as easily as any old 1906 or 1890 Winchester .22?

I'm going to give the firing pin a shot. Even made from mild steel I can work by hand it will be stronger than brass.
I have a feeling this rifle is chambered in 22LR. I fit a long rifle in the chamber with ease. If the barrel will take it, long rifle is 100 times easier to find here than shorts. The barrel doesn't specify the round just 22 cal.
I was able to get a couple of shots down the barrel with the borescope after some scrubbing with a bronze brush. There is definitely still rifiling down there. I also have a shot with a hollow point long rifle in the barrel chambering perfectly set back from the throat rifling.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oldfoneguy

I have a feeling this rifle is chambered in 22LR.

---

OK, maybe try cycling some through the action...now that it's in pieces... Maybe after cleaning and trouble shooting. Agreed, LR is far better. It doesn't SAY short, the Winchesters that were short said either short or gallery. Show us the firing pin after...

Clean up, re-assemble. Minimum to make it shootablr. Fit new firing pin. Try out. If everything works, enjoy shooting it. Fix what needs to be fixed. Then decide what the future holds and how far to go.

Here's the current update on the lightning.
After extensive cleaning a bullet for a 5.56 NATO will travel the length of the barrel with a light push of a cleaning rod in certain spots. The majority of its length the bullet will just fall. There are slight abrasions on the bullet but no scoring. Meaning that this barrel is bad and will need to be sleeved. Depending on the cost of sleeving I may have nothing more than an interesting wall hanger on my hands. No great mystery now as to why it was left in the barn.

I agree with Daan Kemp and the others. It's well worth replacing the firing pin and installing a liner. I've done a few 1890 Winchesters like this. It's quite satisfying to save these.

It's all a matter of economics right now. I'm not going to get rid of it so it'll be something I can get back to in a year or so. Again it's based on the price of lining the barrel.

Start with getting it shooting. You might have good accuracy with the bore like it is now. Or even close up plinking fun.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oldfoneguy

Have a friend with a brother in law that has a machine shop. It may take years but he will eventually make me a replacement firing pin.

---

Wonder if yours could be repaired? Looking at pictures, the end busted off looks like a flat head screw driver. See the picture in the Hog Island link down the page. If a tip of some type could be inserted / attached / spot weld / brazed /...... :dunno:

I ran across this today about if those firing pins are really brass. Thoughts were they are a mix by some machinists.

Gunsmithing | brass firing pin on colt lightning? | Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web

Also seen a few of the firing pins you need, but all were sold.
https://cfnparts.com/index.php?route...gory&path=1071

Hog Island:
Colt Lightning Small Frame 22 Rimfire Brass Firing Pin Factory Original Part

These 2 might be worth a try, but I'm sure pricey:
https://the-online-outpost-licensing...ng-rifle-parts
https://gun-parts.com/cowboyguns/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by painter777

Wonder if yours could be repaired? Looking at pictures, the end busted off looks like a flat head screw driver. See the picture in the Hog Island link down the page. If a tip of some type could be inserted / attached / spot weld / brazed /...... :dunno:

---

I doubt it can be fixed. What's missing is completely flat and somewhat thin. I've never seen a brass of any composition that would lend itself to any type of repair. Except it can be drilled and tapped. So perhaps I can make the missing piece out of screw stock and thread it into the main body of the firing pin. That just hit me as I wrote this. I'll be in the shop once I get home as I'm out of state again. Thanks for kick starting my brain. It doesn't happen often enough.

$175 for a firing pin? Mister English thinks quite a bit about his work doesn't he?

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-3.jpg

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-2.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by painter777

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-3.jpg

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-2.jpg

---

Thanks for that it's going to help a lot

On Rimfirecentral I found a thread posted by TRAP55 that gives a walk thru on dis-assembly and re-assembly of the Lightning Small Frame.
A link: Colt Lightning Small Frame Disassembly | Rimfire Central Firearm Forum

BTW, I see he silver soldered his broken firing pin to use as a template to fit a steel replacement he got a hold of.

I dream of finding one. The scarce supply seems to have completely disappeared. Time will do that for a part prone to breakage and out of production since 1904. Not one of the parts dealers I've checked with have one.
I have 2 possibilities to work with, attempt to cobble together a repair of the original or reproduce one from end to end. It really wasn't a good design.

Here is my old GB thread

Finally joined Club Lightning | Gunboards Forums


Finally joined Club Lightning | Gunboards Forums

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fushigi Ojisan

Here is my old GB thread

Finally joined Club Lightning | Gunboards Forums


Finally joined Club Lightning | Gunboards Forums

---

Very cool. So haw far did you go with that rifle? I assume it's a shooter by now. Your 2nd link comes up as having malwear and my firewall won't allow it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oldfoneguy

Your 2nd link comes up as having malwear and my firewall won't allow it

---

His 2nd link is a repeat of the 1st link.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fushigi Ojisan

Here is my old GB thread

---

Fushigi, Hats off to you on the effort you put in to your Lightning. While I searched around for parts for oldfoneguy I ran across posts from you (maybe the Machinist site) looking for a Dust cover and spacer. You've traveled a long road. :bow:

Well to all that have been kind enough to give input, I'm here to tell you that work on this and all other projects are on extended hiatus. It seems that on top of all the other physical maladies that get you in your 60's I have decided to go with a big one and have a detached retina. I'm a week and a half out from the emergency surgery that hopefully will have saved my eyesight on the right side. So with no depth perception and less desire for eyestrain in my functional eye I put all work on hold indefinitely.

As of the post surgical Dr's visit I'm told things are coming along well but it will be multiple months before my sight returns. Ah the joys of aging. Oh and this also prevents me from having a hunting season this year. How wonderful to have an extra month and a half more time with the wife and think of the money I'll save. Pray for us both!