Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a most attractive Colt Lightning Magazine Slide-Action Rifle, with a lovely Antique glow around it. The serial number 18974 stamped on the trigger guard indicates a "Small Frame" Lightning Magazine Rifle manufactured in 1894. The 26" Octagonal barrel is marked 22 Cal. on the left side of the chamber, indicating that the rifle is in .22 rimfire, a popular "plinker" and gallery gun cartridge, also used for training. These were made in both .22 Long and Short, but we are not able to determine the chambering of this example. It features a nice fixed "Buckhorn" shaped rear sight, with the classic front sight.
The top of the barrel is marked with the manufacturer information, which is clear:
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.
Stocks are in very good condition, with a great patina and the reddish-brown color of aged walnut. Both stocks have been finished with a gloss varnish that really makes the grain POP, which is still in great shape. Offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition. Metal work is good, showing no signs of major restoration, showing a lovely antique patina. The barrel markings are fully legible. The bore is in excellent condition, bright and shiny with clear lands and grooves. There is what looks to be a bulge on the outside of the barrel, but we cannot see anything on the inside of the bore, so we assume it is some type of manufacturing issue from before the bore was drilled. We checked the magazine, and it slides out properly to the right in front of the receiver for loading.
Fully cleaned and ready for display!
Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1894
Caliber: .22
Cartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 41 Inches
Action type: Slide Action Repeater
Feed System: tube magazine
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.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is not available for international shipping.
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.
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