Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Colt Lightning Magazine Slide-Action Rifle, which looks to have had the metalwork and stocks tastefully refinished during the mid 20th century. The serial number 24012 stamped on the trigger guard indicates a "Small Frame" Lightning Magazine Rifle manufactured in 1896, as they had a different sequence than the "Large Frame". The 24" 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 aftermarket "flat-top" sight with an adjustment screw and a front sight with a replaced blade.

The top of the barrel is marked with the manufacturer information, which is deeply stamped and clear:

Offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition. The metalwork is still lovely, retaining the dark blued refinish very well on the receiver, while the barrel, magazine tube, and other hardware have faded to a nice gray patina. The Colt "Prancing Pony" on the left side of the action has however been completely worn away, as the marking is not very deep into the metal. The stocks are in lovely condition, showing the great red-brown color of aged and oiled walnut. There is some great grain to the butt stock, and the fore stock shows beautiful "flame" figuring with a high level of chatoyancy. The original Colt "Prancing Pony" hard rubber butt plate is in lovely condition, showing light wear but no cracks or repairs.

The action cycles well, with a crisp dry fire, though we have no way to check to see if it still feeds correctly.  We checked the magazine, and it slides out properly to the right in front of the receiver for loading. We checked the bore, and it shows a mostly bright finish with rifling still visible, though it is quite worn, so this is a rifle that saw a lot of use, but was well cared for.

A lovely early Colt slide action design rifle in the popular .22cal with a great look, ready to display!

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1896
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.

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 not able to ship 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 all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for 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 almost any deliverable address across the globe. 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.