Antique Special Order Colt Lightning Rifle Michigan Retail Marked Half & Half Barrel and Half Mag

Serial #16708, .38 WCF, 26 inch part octagon /  part round barrel with a very fine, lightly frosted bore with strong rifling.  This is a special order, retailer marked Medium Frame Colt Lightning Rifle manufactured in 1886.  The barrel is marked just forward of the caliber “V. KINDLER / East Saginaw” for Vincent Kindler's retail shop in Michigan which was a well known seller of Colt and Winchester guns along with other makers.  The slide action rifle has several special order features, a very seldom seen short magazine and the barrel configuration.  In very good to near fine condition the barrel and frame show plum-brown to gray with perhaps 15-20% of original blue in protected areas.  The walnut stock and checkered forearm are both solid with numerous old marks and contusions.  It functions properly with tight lock up holding at half and full cock releasing with a crisp trigger pull.  A great special order Colt Lightning rifle configured for hunting and sold by a well known late 19th Century Michigan Sporting Goods company.  Antique