Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle
Colt's Manufacturing Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1884
Also known as: Colt Lightning Carbine, Colt New Lightning Magazine Rifle, CLMR
Overview
The Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle was the first American slide-action (pump) rifle, a tubular-magazine repeater introduced in 1884 to challenge Winchester's lever guns. The medium-frame model was chambered in revolver cartridges such as .44-40 and .38-40, letting a shooter share ammunition with a Colt Single Action Army. Its faster pump cycling and shared chamberings made it a distinctive, if mechanically temperamental, alternative to lever-action rifles.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2950 g (104.1 oz) |
| Barrel Length | 660 mm (25.98") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 15 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Muzzle Velocity | 381 m/s (1250 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 847 J (625 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44-40 Winchester · primary — also known as .44-40 WCF, .44 WCF, .44 CLMR
- .38-40 Winchester — also known as .38 WCF, .38-40 WCF, .38 CLMR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Slide Action, Tubular Magazine, Straight Grip Stock, Shares Cartridges With Colt Saa
Variants
- Colt Lightning Small Frame — Rimfire 22
- Colt Lightning Large/Express Frame — Express Caliber
Service history
Operators
- San Francisco Police Department · adopted 1898
Production
Estimated total produced: 186,000 · Production years: 1884-1904
Approximately 186,000 across all three frame sizes; ~400 medium-frame .44-40 rifles were bought by the San Francisco Police in 1898
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William H. Elliott
Discontinued: 1904
Notes
Made in small (.22 rimfire), medium (pistol-caliber), and large/Express frames. The medium frame is the standard pattern; total production across all frames was roughly 186,000.
Background
The Lightning was the first successful American slide-action rifle and could be slam-fired by holding the trigger while pumping; the San Francisco Police bought a batch of .44-40 rifles in 1898, marking them with department numbers.