| Colt Lightning Rifle | |
|---|---|
 Colt- Lightning .22 Rifle | |
| Type | Slide action Light Rifle |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  United StatesSan Francisco Police Department |
| Wars | Spanish-American War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Colt's Patent Firearms |
| Produced | 1884–1904 |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | various; see text |
| Barrels | round, octagon |
| Action | Slide |
| Feed system | Tube magazine |
| Sights | Iron |
TheColt Lightning Carbine orColt Lightning Rifle was aslide-action (pump-action)rifle manufactured byColt from 1884 until 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 resembles the pump-action rimfire rifles made by theWinchester Repeating Arms Company andRemington Arms.[2] The Lightning saw use as a sporting arm in America and was adopted for use by theSan Francisco Police Department, but was never as popular or as reliable as the variouslever-action rifles of its day. It is however reported to have been used by American forces in the Spanish-American War, most likely as privately purchased weapons.[2]
The medium-frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was manufactured between 1884 and 1904.[4] It was the first slide-action rifle offered by Colt.[4] Colt records indicate 89,777 were produced, in.32-20,.38-40, and.44-40 as a companion arm to theColt Single Action Army revolver.[4] 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.[4] The San Francisco Police Department acquired 401 rifles all of which had 26 in (66 cm) round .44-40 barrels and bore S.F.P 1 through S.F.P 401stampings on the lower tang.[4]
The small-frame Lightning (also referred to as "Second Model Colt Lightning"[4]) was the first rimfire rifle made by Colt and was manufactured between 1887 and 1904 as aplinking andgallery gun.[4][5] Colt records indicate 89,912 were made, in.22 Short and.22 Long.[4] Barrel length was 24 in (61 cm) and the rifles had ablued finish, case-hardened hammer, and a walnut stock.[4]
The large-frame Lightning (also called the "Express Model"[4]) was manufactured between 1887 and 1894.[4] Colt records indicate 6,496 were made in differentbig game calibers such as.38-56 WCF,[6].40-60 and.50-95 Express.[4] Barrel length was 22 or 28 in (56 or 71 cm).[4]
Reproduction Lightning rifles are still manufactured today by companies such asUberti,Taurus, andPedersoli for hunting,historical reenactment, and competition purposes such asCowboy Action Shooting in calibers such as.38 Special/.357 Magnum,.44-40, and.45 Colt.[4] Of these calibers, only the .44-40 was offered in the Lightning when it was originally produced by Colt.