COLT Lightning Deluxe Light Frame .22 S L Pump-Action Rifle, 1890 Antique

SOLD FOR: $6128

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LSB#: 
230116RD004

Make: Colt

Model: Custom Lightning, Light Frame

Serial Number: 11844

Year of Manufacture: 1890 (COLT Serial Number Lookup)

Caliber: .22 Short and Long

Action Type: Magazine-Tube Fed Pump-Action Rifle

Markings: The upper barrel flat is 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 upper left barrel flat is marked “22 Cal.“. The bottom tang is marked with the serial number, “11844”. The buttplate is marked with a Rampant Colt.

Barrel Length: 24” Octagonal

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a (likely aftermarket) patent-marked blade with a white bead and a serrated rear face that is dovetailed into the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn v-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are refinished two-piece deluxe checkered wood with a Schnabel-tipped forend, pistol grip, straight comb, a small inset plate that is unmarked, and a checkered black composite buttplate. The forend has light nicks and minor gouges along its edges. A long, thin portion of the left side of the forend is missing. The checkering is lightly marred or worn smooth in a few spots. The wrist has clusters of light nicks and compressions, the checkering is lightly worn or smooth in a few spots, there is a very small loss on the right side, and the lower edge of the wrist is nicked and scuffed. The left side of the buttstock has several deeper drag lines that run from the end of the wood to about the midpoint. The comb and belly have concentrated light nicks and compressions, while the sides have intermittent minor nicks and compressions. There are no cracks. Please note, nearly all of the wear present in the wood is dark or oiled over; there is very little new wear. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has light wear throughout, with several nicks, scuffs, and dings. There is a more notable ding at the toe. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition, as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued with Case Color Receiver

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is grayish with well-defined rifling. There are scattered spots of light erosion/pitting in addition to a few spots of light stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates a 7 out of 10, as antique.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 82% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout the barrel. There is light thinning on all edges, in addition to intermittent spots of minor surface oxidation, larger spots of finish loss, and scattered light nicks and dings. The front of the barrel tip has several light nicks. The lower left and right flats have moderate operational wear/thinning. The magazine tube has several spots of finish loss along with light operational wear. There are faint indications of case color on either side of the receiver, more so on the right. The receiver is peppered with light surface oxidation throughout. The edges of the receiver have a few minor nicks. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The remaining markings are clear with soft edges. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Very Good condition as refinished Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 82% of its metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout the barrel. There is light thinning on all edges, in addition to intermittent spots of minor surface oxidation, larger spots of finish loss, and scattered light nicks and dings. The front of the barrel tip has several light nicks. The lower left and right flats have moderate operational wear/thinning. The magazine tube has several spots of finish loss along with light operational wear. There are faint indications of case color on either side of the receiver, more so on the right. The receiver is peppered with light surface oxidation throughout. The edges of the receiver have a few minor nicks. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The remaining markings are clear with soft edges. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition as Antique.

Our Assessment: Around the 1880s, Colt was looking to diversify but both Remington and Winchester had the rifle market sewn up. Besides their lever actions, there were also new slide action rifles—the user pumped a moving arm set under the barrel and around a tubular magazine, kicking out a spent round and loading a new one with every “stroke”. Colt concentrated on this design concept and in 1884 introduced a gun with a short slide action that was so slick and so fast; they dubbed it the “Lightning”. The advertising said it all: “Nothing was faster than lightning.”. Dr. William H. Elliot, a dentist by trade, designed the gun. Half hobby, half side job, Elliot liked to tinker with things and over the course of his life came up with at least 130 inventions. Since he lived in Ilion, New York, he often walked down to neighboring Remington and showed them the interesting things he was working on and when Remington didn’t bite on his new rifle design, he sent a letter to Colt, who loved it. The handy rifle’s tubular magazine could hold as many as 16 rounds, depending on caliber, which made it very attractive. It came in three varieties: small, medium, and large. Each of these guns had the same setup, with a deep-blued finish, case-hardened hammer, American walnut stock and forend, and open rear and front sights. While the medium-frame guns were the most popular, Colt would produce a small-framed version such as this example here, chambered in .22 Short and Long. Ultimately, the rifle was discontinued as Winchester and Colt came to the agreement that Winchester would produce rifles, Colt would produce handguns, and nobody needed to make the market competition ugly. This example was produced in 1890 and is a deluxe model with checkered wood and a case-hardened receiver. The rifle retains much of its original metal finish and has a more-than-decent bore. This Lightning would be a highlight in any collection, lovely as it is 133 years on from its manufacture.

Now, ready, aim, bid!

—Rick

COLT Lightning Deluxe Light Frame .22 S L Pump-Action Rifle, 1890 Antique
COLT Lightning Deluxe Light Frame .22 S L Pump-Action Rifle, 1890 Antique