very old mystery gun

J

jjmorgan64

New member
I have an old rifle here could you help me identify it?

It looks like an old winchester, but it is a pump action

1892 type rear stock and a pump handle front stock.

the caliber is simply "44 cal"

the only other markings are on the top of the barrel it reads "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. USA.
+ELLIOTS PATENTS MAY 29TH 1883. SEPT 18 1883+"


Serial # 14XXX

The barrel is 25 " octagon

It has a full lenth magazine, and a saftey type lever on the front of the trigger guard.

It is a side feeder(Winchester style) , but you cannot feed ammo until it is racked all of the way.

sorry i cannot put a picture up.

thank you
 
colt lightning?
11651.jpg


http://www.sweeney-emporium.com/Colt Firearms/11651.htm

coltexp3856.jpg


http://64.177.205.5/rifles.htm

kinda pricey 2-6k bucks
 
colt1.jpg

Colt Lightning Small Frame

"The Colt Lightning rifles were made in three sizes: small, medium, and large, with the medium and large being chambered for 32 and 44/40 caliber respectively. The Lightning design dates to the late 1800's. It was Colt's answer to the Winchester lever action, with a faster cocking action. Alas, the resulting rifle wasn't quite as rugged as the Winchester, so the Lightning never did see large sales."

from John's Hobby Site


==========================

"Popular as those lever action rifles and carbines were, there was another style growing in popularity; the slide action. Colt's seem to have started things off around 1887 with their Lightning rifles in calibers from .22 Rimfire all the way up to the brawny .50-95.

The Lightning was a good rifle for it's time, but relatively delicate when compared to the lever guns on the scene. Gunsmiths stayed pretty busy keeping them repaired. However, shooters and arms makers were quick to recognize the speed which someone familiar with this action could lay down fire."

from A Good Rifle Too Late by "Doc" O' Meara

=============================

Link to COLT'S MEDIUM FRAME LIGHTNING RIFLE

By Shootist, SASS #236

================================================

Worth is in the $400 to $4,000 range depending on condition. You should get it professionally appraised by someone who specializes in antique firearms. 99.9% of the gun dealers and pawn shop operators in a 200 mile radius of your house won't have a clue, it takes a specialist.

Because of the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting these guns are in high demand and prices are very strong and only going up. What they sold for 2 or 10 years ago is no indication of current worth. Even if you have no intentions of selling it's not a bad idea to determine it's approximate worth for insurance reasons.

For more historical information contact Colt, for a small fee they will provide you documentation on your rifle. They still have most of the records of everything they ever made. Colt could tell you when it was made, when & where it was shipped, what it sold for, and the name of who originally bought it.

Hope this helps. -- Kernel
 
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