Make: Colt
Model: Lightning Magazine Rifle Medium Frame
Serial Number: 83156
Year of Manufacture: 1898, Antique
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester Center Fire (.44-40 WCF)
Action Type: Pump-Action, Tubular Magazine Fed
Markings: The left side of the receiver features the Rampant Colt logo engraved. The top of the barrel is marked: “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / PATENTED MAY 29.83. SEPT. 18.83. MAY 26.85. JUNE 15.86. FEB. 22.87.” The lower tang is marked “S.F.P. 56,” denoting this rifle was issued to the San Francisco Police Department, which purchased a total of 401 Colt Lightning rifles for duty use in the late 1890s. The serial number “83156” is located on the lower tang only visible with the stock removed.
Barrel Length: 26”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a knife blade in a slotted base that is dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn leaf sight with ramp dovetailed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are smooth walnut with a straight wrist and straight comb, ending in a steel crescent buttplate. The forearm is smooth walnut, correct for the Lightning pattern. The wood shows typical light dings, minor scratches, and wear from use, but no major cracks or structural damage. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its original metal finish. The balance of the finish shows mild operational wear, with scattered light scratches, edge thinning, finish loss, and some minor oxidation and freckling. The screw heads are lightly tooled with serviceable slots. The pins are unmarred. The markings are sharp. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
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 set up, with a deep-blued finish, case hardened hammer, American walnut stock and fore-end, and open rear and front sights. They were light, going 6.5-pounds or so. The medium frame guns, chambered for .32-20, .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester calibers, marketed as 32, 38 and 44 CLMR (Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle), were the most popular, using some of the same cartridges as Colt’s Single Action Army and with ammunition already being produced for Winchester’s rifles. 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 get ugly.
This example is a fascinating one for Colt collectors, one of 401 which were ordered by the San Francisco Police in 1898. Chambered for .44-40, the rifles all had 26" round barrels and most saw limited use while in SFPD’s care. This rifle is in Fine condition as Antique. It retains about 90% of its metal finish, a nice bore, intact markings and strong mechanics. This will make for a wonderful example of a scarce San Francisco Police Colt Lightning and would be an excellent addition to any safe in America.
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