Testing a new (old) Rifle

[The Arapaho Kid]

This week I'll be taking my 110 year old Colt Lightning Rifle out to the gun range and pumping lead through it.  Picked this up from a dealer at a gun show.  Swapped an old Winchester 73 in .44-40 caliber for it.  It needed a barrel sleeve.  That's done.  Now I gotta see where it puts the bullets.
This lead launcher is in .32-20 caliber....my caliber.  The wood has a few dings in it, but in good shape.  The guy at the gun shop looked it up and told me it's worth $1500.00 to a collector.  We can't get an exact date on it, but we figure it's somewhere in the 1895 ballpark?  I'm thinking that with this speedy shooter, I'll get a higher position on the score sheet when I shoot.  Maybe I won't be the "Bottom Of The Barrel Kid"?
More on this later!

[Derby Younger]

Arapaho:

Lightning Med Frame .32 Serial Numbers: 1894 - 71000; 1895 - 76000; 1896 - 79000. If you need additional, let me know.

Derby

[The Arapaho Kid]

Arapaho:

Lightning Med Frame .32 Serial Numbers: 1894 - 71000; 1895 - 76000; 1896 - 79000. If you need additional, let me know.

Derby

The serial number on that rifle is 75330.  So what year vintage would that make it?

[Derby Younger]

Info indicates 1894.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Info indicates 1894.

Thanks pard!  The guy at the gun shop said 1895.  Right in the ballpark!

[Derby Younger]

Youbbe welcome. Who did the barrel sleeve? I have an original 92 in 32-20 needing help

[Big John Denny]

Kid, I'm amazed you were able to find a gun made the same year as you.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Youbbe welcome. Who did the barrel sleeve? I have an original 92 in 32-20 needing help

I dunno where you live.  I'd check a good gun shop.  Most of them are, or know a gunsmith.  My sleeve cost $438.00, but that also included some work on the action.  you can probably find a place that works cheap.