Original Antique U.S. Colt Medium Frame .32-20 W.C.F. Lightning Pump Action Magazine Rifle Made in 1891 - Serial 50657

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 50657 stamped on the trigger guard indicates manufacture in 1891. The 22 5/8" Octagonal barrel is marked .32 Cal. above the chamber, indicating that this rifle is in .32-20 Winchester, a popular caliber of the time for small game hunting. Most likely this rifle began life with a 24 inch barrel, but the muzzle was damaged, and it was easier to remove the damaged portion. It features a nice "Buckhorn" rear adjustable sight (adjustment wedge is missing), with the classic front sight, which has had the blade replaced with a nickel silver one.

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.

Offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition. The rifle cycles well, with a smooth action and crisp dry fire, though we have no way to check to see if the magazine will feed. The metalwork is in very good used condition, with no signs of major cleaning or restoration, though the original bluing is now worn to a gray patina in most areas. It has the look of a rifle that saw long use but was cleaned repeatedly to remove dirt and light surface oxidation. The original "Prancing Pony" mark on the right side of the receiver is still mostly visible, though it is definitely worn.

The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is some rounding to the lands, as well as some small areas of past fouling and oxidation. now cleaned away. We would probably rate the bore at about 7-8 out of 10, which is quite good for a black powder era repeating rifle in a very popular chambering.

Stocks are in very good condition, showing great grain and the lovely red brown color of aged walnut. The checkering on the fore stock is in very good condition, and it looks to have been given a light oil finish long ago. It shows some lovely grain, as does the butt stock, which has a lovely color, having been varnished at some point after a cleaning.

A very nice example of an early Slide / Pump action rifle with a lovely bore, ready for display!

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1891
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 22 5/8 Inches
Overall Length: 39 3/4 Inches
Action type: Slide Action Repeater
Feed System: 15-round 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.