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Exceptional Early Small Frame Colt Lightning Slide Action 22LR Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,750.00 USD
Exceptional Early Small Frame Colt Lightning Slide Action 22LR Rifle
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Exceptional Early Small Frame Colt Lightning Slide Action 22LR Rifle

This is a beautiful all original small frame Colt lightning rifle that is in exceptional condition as manufactured in mid-1889. These early Colt small frame rifles are very difficult to locate in their own right and high condition rifles are down right, near impossible to find. There were approximately 90,000 manufactured from 1887 to 1904 with most having been used heavily right up into the 1930s. It has the full octagon barrel with the top flat 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." with the left rear flat marked "22 Cal." The left side of the receiver has the Colt Rampant Horse logo. This example was probably a special order rifle as it has the early, short staff folding Lyman tang sight with the combination folding post and globe front sight that has both a blade and pin-head front sight. The top of the barrel is also fitted with the original factory adjustable sporting rear sight. This rifle has the correct half-length magazine tube with the brass loading gate, that swings to the right side to facilitate loading of the cartridges. The walnut stock and pump handle have the high polished varnish finish, with the buttstock fitted with the original Colt hard rubber buttplate with the Colt Rampant Horse logo in the center. The rifle has the Colt high polished blue finish overall with a color casehardened hammer.

Manufucture: Colt
Model: Lightning
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Guage: 22LR.
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 8735

Very fine with 80% of the slightly faded original Colt factory blue finish overall with the barrel showing an original dark Colt blue finish with edge wear. The magazine tube has turned a brown patina overall from handling. The receiver and trigger guard both show some very old streaking of the rust blue finish on the sides, as originally applied by the Colt factory which has now browned out. The stock and pump handle are both in very fine condition with the stock showing much of the original factory varnish, having flaked off around the upper tang, with the pump handle showing 70% of the original varnish with the balance having dulled out over time. The sides of the pump handle shows light scratches and light pressure marks from use. Mechanically fine condition. A fine early Colt small frame lightning slide action rifle.