Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Colt Small Frame Lightning Magazine pump action rifle in .22 rimfire, serial number 16002, manufactured in 1893. It retains a particularly attractive amount of its original finish, including strong blue on the 24" octagonal barrel and magazine tube, along with a crisp Colt Prancing Pony marking on the receiver. The exact .22 Long or .22 Short chambering has not been determined.

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 one of Colt’s distinctive late 19th century slide action rifle designs and was produced in several frame sizes for different cartridges. The Small Frame version used its own serial number range and was chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges, making it a compact sporting, recreational, and gallery style rifle.

This example bears serial number:

16002

stamped on the trigger guard, placing it in 1893 production according to the supplied serial information.

The 24" octagonal barrel is marked on the left side near the chamber:

22 Cal.

confirming .22 rimfire chambering. Small Frame Lightning rifles were produced in both .22 Long and .22 Short, but the specific chambering of this rifle has not been determined.

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 is fitted with a fixed rear sight and blade front sight.

The metalwork remains in very attractive condition for its age. The barrel and magazine tube retain a substantial amount of their original dark blue finish, while the receiver and trigger guard show some fading toward a plum colored patina. No significant exterior peppering or active oxidation was observed in the supplied description, though there is normal finish wear and evidence of past cleaning. The sliding dust cover for the action is missing.

The Colt Prancing Pony marking on the left side of the receiver remains crisp and clearly visible. This shallow receiver marking is often weakened or partially lost on examples that have seen extensive cleaning, making its preservation a particularly attractive feature on this rifle.

The walnut stocks remain in very good condition and have developed a rich red brown color from age and oiling. The wood shows attractive grain throughout. The fore stock retains crisp checkering with relatively little wear. The butt stock shows somewhat more handling wear and has a missing section at the lower toe. The original Colt Prancing Pony hard rubber buttplate remains present and is in good overall condition, although the very bottom is broken away in the same area as the missing wood at the butt stock toe.

When operated by hand, the slide action cycles through its normal range and the firing mechanism releases crisply. Feeding with ammunition has not been tested. The tubular magazine can be withdrawn to the right in front of the receiver for loading and moves as expected during manual inspection. The bore is in good visual condition, appearing mostly bright with clearly visible rifling. The rifling shows some wear from use but remains distinct.

With its 1893 production date, Small Frame configuration, serial number 16002, 24" octagonal barrel, strong surviving original blue finish, crisp Colt Prancing Pony receiver marking, checkered walnut fore stock, and mostly bright rifled bore, this is a particularly appealing Colt Lightning .22 rifle. The undetermined .22 Long or Short chambering, missing action dust cover, butt stock toe loss, corresponding broken buttplate, finish wear, and bore wear are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Colt Lightning, early pump action rifle, .22 rimfire sporting arm, or advanced late 19th century American firearms collection.

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1893
Caliber: .22
Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
Model: Lightning Repeating Rifle
Cartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 41 Inches
Action type: Slide Action Repeater
Feed System: 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 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.