Exceptionally Scarce and Highly Desirable Special Order Colt Deluxe Lightning Small Frame Slide Action Rifle with Casehardened Frame
A very scarce deluxe, special-order Colt Lightning small-frame rifle manufactured in 1890, this example stands well apart from standard production with its casehardened frame, deluxe figured wood, pistol-grip stock, and factory checkering. With documented collector context from Norm Flayderman and R.L. Wilson, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the far less commonly encountered high-grade Lightning rifles.
- Manufactured in 1890
- Small-frame Colt Lightning rifle
- Very scarce special-order deluxe configuration
- Collector significance:
- According to Norm Flayderman, just under 90,000 small-frame Colt Lightning rifles were produced in total
- Only a very small percentage were special ordered or built in deluxe configurations
- This makes this particular rifle a rare survivor among an already desirable Colt production line
- Special-order and deluxe context:
- Colt offered many optional and deluxe features on Lightning rifles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
- Because these rifles were generally viewed as working guns, and because deluxe features added cost, relatively few were ordered with upgraded options
- Notable rarity of the stock configuration:
- Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson noted that pistol-grip stocks were “available on special order, but only a very few were manufactured”
- Wilson also noted that rifles leaving the factory with deluxe stocks amounted to only “a few arms”
- Premium special-order features on this rifle:
- Casehardened frame
- Deluxe wood
- Finely figured slide handle
- Pistol-grip stock
- Factory multi-point checkering on both the slide handle and stock
- Barrel and frame markings:
- Top barrel flat is marked with the standard two-line Colt address and patent dates
- Caliber marking is located on the upper left barrel flat at the breech
- Rampant Colt marking appears on the left side of the frame
- Matching serial-number details:
- Matching serial number on the lower tang
- Matching serial number on the left side of the upper tang
- Matching serial number on the front face of the stock
- Sights:
- Lyman “Hunting” beaded blade front sight
- Elevation-adjustable notch rear sight
- Stock and furniture:
- Very finely figured slide handle
- Pistol-grip stock with attractive deluxe figure
- Blank inlaid German silver plate on the bottom of the stock
- Checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate
- A standout collectible for advanced Colt enthusiasts, Lightning rifle specialists, and collectors seeking rare factory special-order features with strong historical and investment appeal
Fine, retains 60% of the original blue finish and 30% of the original case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few scattered patches of light pitting, and a few scattered minor dings. The wood is very good with a sliver absent from the top left edge of the slide handle, minor dings and scratches, a few light edge chips, and mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically functions. An extremely rare example of a special ordered, casehardened, deluxe, small frame, Colt Lightning rifle!
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