Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Colt Medium Frame Lightning Magazine Slide Action Rifle, serial number 75273, manufactured in 1896 and accompanied by a Colt factory letter confirming its original configuration and shipment to Colt's London Agency. It retains a 26" round barrel, .38 caliber chambering, blue finish, walnut stocks, London commercial proof marks, strong original exterior finish, and a very good bore.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Colt Lightning was a distinctive slide action repeating rifle offered by Colt during the late 19th century. This example is the Medium Frame version and is chambered in .38 caliber, with the barrel deeply stamped with:

.38 Cal

identifying the caliber as .38 CLMR (Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle). This was a proprietary cartridge that was dimensionally the same as the .38-40 W.C.F., but used a 38 grain load instead of 40. However, they were fully interchangeable, and was mainly done for marketing purposes to sell more ammunition.

The serial number:

75273

is stamped on the trigger guard and corresponds with 1896 production. 

The accompanying Colt Factory letter is from the Office of the Colt Historian Beverly Jean Haynes, and has her signature and correct raised seal applied in the lower left corner. The paper used is the correct Colt Letterhead and is dated September 2, 2026, and indicates it is a

COLT LIGHTNING MAGAZINE SLIDE ACTION RIFLE
"Medium Frame"

The caliber is listed as .38 CLMR, with a 26", Round configuration barrel, Blue finish, and Wood stocks. The rifle was sent to Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Company, London Agency in England, and was shipped on November 17, 1896 with 10 other guns of the same configuration.

This means that it is still in the original configuration as shipped, and was also shipped to Great Britain for sale. All firearms sold there were required to be submitted to a proof house before sale, and this example was submitted to the London proof house, and proofs applied to the rear left side of the barrel. These included the CROWN / GP "Gunmakers" or "Definitive Proof", •390, CROWN / V "Viewed" marking and "Rampant Lion" over a stylized "G". These are the correct proofs for late 1896 to 1904, with the "390" most likely being the case length or the bore diameter. There is an additional CROWN / V viewed marking on the left side of the receiver by the barrel joint.

The top of the barrel is clearly marked:

COLT'S PT F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.
PATENTED MAY 29.SEPT 18.83.MAY 26 85.JUNE 15.86.FEB 22.87.

The rifle retains its Buckhorn style rear sight and blade type front sight. The front sight blade itself has been replaced.

The action is crisp and tight in its present condition. The slide cycles smoothly and the hammer releases cleanly when dry fired. The magazine feeding system was not tested, so no representation is made regarding cartridge feeding from the magazine. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the rifle is safe to load or fire.

The bore is in very good condition with a bright interior and clearly defined lands and grooves. There is evidence of older fouling and oxidation that has since been cleaned, but no notable areas of deep pitting or severe interior damage were observed.

Exterior condition is excellent. The receiver retains nearly all of its original Colt high gloss blue finish, and the Rampant Colt marking on the left side remains crisp. The barrel and magazine tube show somewhat more finish wear, with portions of the blue fading toward plum along the sides, but there is no significant peppering or advanced oxidation.

The trigger guard and slide assembly likewise retain strong high gloss blue, while the butt plate shows more finish wear and has faded toward a plum tone.

The walnut stocks are in excellent condition with attractive grain and a rich red brown color, particularly on the fore end. There are light handling dents and expected surface wear, but no major cracks, chips, repairs, or other significant damage.

With its documented 1896 manufacture, serial number 75273, factory confirmed .38 CLMR chambering and 26" round barrel, shipment to Colt's London Agency, British proof marks, strong original blue finish, crisp Rampant Colt marking, excellent walnut stocks, and accompanying Colt factory letter, this is a particularly well documented example of the Medium Frame Colt Lightning rifle. The replaced front sight blade, untested magazine feeding, light finish fading, and cleaned bore oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Colt Lightning, British proofed American firearm, Colt London Agency, late 19th century repeating rifle, or advanced Colt collection.

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1896
Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
Model: Lightning Repeating Rifle - Medium Frame
Serial No.: 75273
Caliber: .38 CLMR
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 26 Inches
Overall Length: 43 Inches
Action type: Slide Action Repeater
Feed System: 15-round tube magazine
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

More on the Colt Lightning Rifle:

The Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was a slide-action (pump-action) rifle manufactured by Colt from 1884 to 1904 and was originally chambered in .44-40 caliber. Colt eventually made the Lightning Rifle in three different frame sizes, to accommodate a wide range of cartridges, from .22 Short caliber and .38-40 to .50-95 Express. Its profile somewhat resembles the pump-action rimfire rifles made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms. The Lightning saw use as a sporting arm in America and was adopted for use by the San Francisco Police Department, but was never as popular or as reliable as the various lever-action rifles of its day.

The medium-frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was manufactured between 1884 and 1904. It was the first slide-action rifle offered by Colt. Colt records indicate 89,777 were produced, in .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 as a companion arm to the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Two versions were offered: a rifle with a 26 in (66 cm) barrel and 15-round magazine, and a carbine with a 20 in (51 cm) barrel and 12-round magazine.

NOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are no able to ship these to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.