This Colt Lightning was manufactured in 1878 and has the desirable German silver blade front sight, etched panel caliber marking, one-piece checkered rosewood grip, and six inch barrel. It also has the standard two-line barrel address, a bullseye ejector head, the assembly number "520" on the loading gate, and "38 CAL" on the left rear of the trigger guard. It has a high polish commercial blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, trigger guard, and back strap, a casehardened frame, niter blued hammer, screws, and trigger. Interestingly, it is not marked with the patent information on the frame. Included is a survey form marked "Return to Bruce E. Skinner".

Excellent plus. 97% of the bright original, high polish, blue finish remains with some slight loss on the edges and thinning on the grip straps. The frame has 98% of the original vivid case colors with some fading on the loading gate. Nearly all of the original niter blue also remains, and the sides of the hammer remain mostly bright. The grip is excellent with a few slight nicks and scratches. Mechanically excellent with clear markings.