- Colt Lightning Carbine
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Colt Lightning Carbine 
Type Light Rifle Place of origin 
United StatesProduction history Manufacturer Colt's Manufacturing Company Produced 1884-1904 Specifications Cartridge .44-40 Action Slide Action Feed system Tube Magazine Sights Iron The Colt Lightning Carbine or Colt Lightning Rifle was a slide-action or pump-action rifle manufactured by Colt from 1884 to 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 somewhat resembles the pump-action rimfire rifles made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Remington Arms.[2] The Lightning Carbine 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]
Variants
The medium-frame Lightning was manufactured between 1884 and 1904, it was the first slide-action rifle offered by Colt.[4] Colt Factory records indicate that 89,777 of these were made in calibers .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 as a companion arm to the Colt Single Action Army revolver.[4] Two versions were made: the rifle version with a 26" barrel and 15-round magazine and the carbine version with a 20" barrel and 12-round magazine.[4] The .44-40 carbine version was used by the San Francisco Police Department as a longarm.[4]
The small-frame Lightning was the first rimfire rifle made by Colt and was manufactured between 1887 and 1904.[5][4] Colt Factory records indicate that 89,912 of these were made in calibers .22 Short and .22 Long.[4] They are also referred to as the "Second Model Colt Lightning".[4] Barrel length was 24" and the rifles had a blue finish, case-hardened hammer, and a walnut stock.[4]
The large-frame Lightning was manufactured between 1887 and 1894.[4] Colt Factory records indicate that 6,496 of these were made in big game calibers such as .38-55 and .50-95 Express.[4] Barrel length was 22" or 28" and they are also referred to as the "Express Model".[4]
Modern versions
Reproduction Lightning rifles are still manufactured today by companies such as Uberti for hunting, historical reenactment, and competition purposes such as Cowboy Action Shooting in calibers such as 22LR, .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, .44-40, and .45 Colt.[4] Aside from the .44-40, none of the other calibers were offered in the Lightning when it was produced by Colt.
References
- ^ 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. pp. 128. ISBN 978-1592286386.
- ^ Wilkerson, Don (1998). Colt's Double Action Revolver, Model of 1878. Wilkerson Press Press. pp. 128. ISBN 978-0961787646.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Sapp, Rick (2007). Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms. Gun Digest Books. pp. 288. ISBN 978-0896895348.
- ^ Wilson, R. L. (1985). Colt: An American Legend. New York: Abbeville Press. p. 272. ISBN 0896600114.
Categories:- Colt's Manufacturing Company
- Rifles of the United States
- Pump-action rifles
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