{"product_id":"original-u-s-colt-medium-frame-lightning-38-caliber-slide-action-magazine-rifle-with-26-round-barrel-british-proofs-and-factory-letter-serial-no-75273-made-in-1896","title":"Original U.S. Colt Medium Frame Lightning .38 Caliber Slide Action Magazine Rifle with 26\" Round Barrel, British Proofs and Factory Letter, Serial No. 75273, Made in 1896","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Colt Medium Frame Lightning Magazine Slide Action Rifle, serial number \u003cstrong\u003e75273\u003c\/strong\u003e, manufactured in \u003cstrong\u003e1896\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.38 Cal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eidentifying 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe serial number:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e75273\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eis stamped on the trigger guard and corresponds with \u003cstrong\u003e1896\u003c\/strong\u003e production. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe accompanying Colt Factory letter is from the Office of the Colt Historian \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeverly Jean Haynes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, 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 \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeptember 2, 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, and indicates it is a\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT LIGHTNING MAGAZINE SLIDE ACTION RIFLE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Medium Frame\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe caliber is listed as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.38 CLMR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, with a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e26\", Round configuration\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e barrel,\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Blue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e finish, and \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e stocks. The rifle was sent to \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColt's Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Company, London Agency\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in England, and was shipped on \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eNovember 17, 1896\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e with \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e10\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e other guns of the same configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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 \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ GP\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Gunmakers\" or \"Definitive Proof\", \u003cstrong\u003e•390\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ V\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Viewed\" marking and \u003cstrong\u003e\"Rampant Lion\"\u003c\/strong\u003e over a stylized \"\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eG\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\". 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 \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ V\u003c\/strong\u003e viewed marking on the left side of the receiver by the barrel joint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top of the barrel is clearly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT'S PT F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePATENTED MAY 29.SEPT 18.83.MAY 26 85.JUNE 15.86.FEB 22.87.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle retains its Buckhorn style rear sight and blade type front sight. The front sight blade itself has been replaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExterior 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1896\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company\u003cbr\u003eModel: Lightning Repeating Rifle - Medium Frame\u003cbr\u003eSerial No.: 75273\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .38 CLMR\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 26 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 43 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Slide Action Repeater\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 15-round tube magazine\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore on the Colt Lightning Rifle:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45736461271109,"sku":"ONJR26JYHG112","price":4195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/0F3DEBDB-A12F-4151-B706-6CF59637145B.jpg?v=1789152516","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-colt-medium-frame-lightning-38-caliber-slide-action-magazine-rifle-with-26-round-barrel-british-proofs-and-factory-letter-serial-no-75273-made-in-1896","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}