The Colt Lightning Carbine or Colt Lightning Rifle was a slide-action (pump-action) rifle manufactured by Colt from 1884 until 1904 and was originally chambered in .44-40 caliber.[1][2] 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.[3] Its profile resembles the pump-action rimfire rifles made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms.[2] 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.[2]
The medium-frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was manufactured between 1884 and 1904.[4] It was the first slide-action rifle offered by Colt.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4] The San Francisco Police Department acquired 401 rifles all of which had 26 in (66 cm) round .44-40 barrels and bore S.F.P 1 through S.F.P 401 stampings on the lower tang.[4]
The small-frame Lightning (also referred to as "Second Model Colt Lightning"[4]) was the first rimfire rifle made by Colt and was manufactured between 1887 and 1904 as a plinking and gallery gun.[4][5] Colt records indicate 89,912 were made, in .22 Short and .22 Long.[4] Barrel length was 24 in (61 cm) and the rifles had a blued finish, case-hardened hammer, and a walnut stock.[4]
The large-frame Lightning (also called the "Express Model"[4]) was manufactured between 1887 and 1894.[4] Colt records indicate 6,496 were made in different big game calibers such as .38-56 WCF,[6].40-60 and .50-95 Express.[4] Barrel length was 22 or 28 in (56 or 71 cm).[4]
^Flayderman, Norm (2001). Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms... and their values. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 669. ISBN0-87349-313-3.
^ abcBoorman, Dean (2004). Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated History. Lyons Press. p. 128. ISBN978-1-59228-638-6.
^Wilkerson, Don (1998). Colt's Double Action Revolver, Model of 1878. Wilkerson Press Press. p. 128. ISBN978-0-9617876-4-6.
^Wilson, R. L. (1985). Colt: An American Legend. New York: Abbeville Press. p. 272. ISBN0-89660-011-4.
^"Colt Lightning Large Frame 'Express' Slide Action Rifle in 38-56".
External linksedit
Pedersoli Lightning page
January 06, 2024
colt, lightning, rifle, colt, lightning, carbine, colt, lightning, rifle, slide, action, pump, action, rifle, manufactured, colt, from, 1884, until, 1904, originally, chambered, caliber, colt, eventually, made, lightning, rifle, three, different, frame, sizes,. The Colt Lightning Carbine or Colt Lightning Rifle was a slide action pump action rifle manufactured by Colt from 1884 until 1904 and was originally chambered in 44 40 caliber 1 2 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 3 Its profile resembles the pump action rimfire rifles made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms 2 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 2 Colt Lightning RifleColt Lightning 22 RifleTypeSlide action Light RiflePlace of origin United StatesService historyUsed bySan Francisco Police DepartmentProduction historyManufacturerColt s Patent FirearmsProduced1884 1904SpecificationsCartridgevarious see textBarrelsround octagonActionSlideFeed systemTube magazineSightsIronColt Lightning cal 22 RifleColt Lightning CarbineColt Lightning breech openColt Lightning Rifle functionColt Lightning Rifle sectional view Contents 1 Variants 2 Modern versions 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksVariants editThe medium frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was manufactured between 1884 and 1904 4 It was the first slide action rifle offered by Colt 4 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 4 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 4 The San Francisco Police Department acquired 401 rifles all of which had 26 in 66 cm round 44 40 barrels and bore S F P 1 through S F P 401 stampings on the lower tang 4 The small frame Lightning also referred to as Second Model Colt Lightning 4 was the first rimfire rifle made by Colt and was manufactured between 1887 and 1904 as a plinking and gallery gun 4 5 Colt records indicate 89 912 were made in 22 Short and 22 Long 4 Barrel length was 24 in 61 cm and the rifles had a blued finish case hardened hammer and a walnut stock 4 The large frame Lightning also called the Express Model 4 was manufactured between 1887 and 1894 4 Colt records indicate 6 496 were made in different big game calibers such as 38 56 WCF 6 40 60 and 50 95 Express 4 Barrel length was 22 or 28 in 56 or 71 cm 4 Modern versions editReproduction Lightning rifles are still manufactured today by companies such as Uberti Taurus and Pedersoli for hunting historical reenactment and competition purposes such as Cowboy Action Shooting in calibers such as 38 Special 357 Magnum 44 40 and 45 Colt 4 Of these calibers only the 44 40 was offered in the Lightning when it was originally produced by Colt See also editColt Burgess rifleReferences edit Flayderman Norm 2001 Flayderman s Guide to Antique American Firearms and their values Iola WI Krause Publications p 669 ISBN 0 87349 313 3 a b c Boorman Dean 2004 Guns of the Old West An Illustrated History Lyons Press p 128 ISBN 978 1 59228 638 6 Wilkerson Don 1998 Colt s Double Action Revolver Model of 1878 Wilkerson Press Press p 128 ISBN 978 0 9617876 4 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Sapp Rick 2007 Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms Gun Digest Books p 288 ISBN 978 0 89689 534 8 Wilson R L 1985 Colt An American Legend New York Abbeville Press p 272 ISBN 0 89660 011 4 Colt Lightning Large Frame Express Slide Action Rifle in 38 56 External links editPedersoli Lightning page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colt Lightning rifle amp oldid 1193535679, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
