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Outstanding Documented Antique Colt Medium Frame Lightning Slide Action .44-40 Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 33565, 44 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Offered here is one of the finest Colt Medium Frame Lighting Rifles we have had the pleasure of cataloging. A true crown jewel in Colt collecting! These rifles saw hard use and are rarely found in this high condition. The Medium Frame was the first of the Lighting type slide action rifles Colt produced, and these rifles shared chamberings with the factory’s legendary SAA and Model 1878 DA revolvers. This
made carrying ammunition for both your rifle and your revolver simple and allowed an individual to be ready to defend themselves against man or beast in a variety of tough situations. Colt proclaimed, “Nothing was faster than lightning!” These capable rifles have a short pump action that allow for quick follow up shots. One trick was to hold the trigger and pump the action for “lightning” fast shots. The accompanying factory letter for this extraordinary example confirms the 26 inch octagon barrel in .44 caliber, blue finish, and “wood” stock. The letter also states the rifle was shipped on May 23, 1889 and shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. of Chicago, Illinois. This shipment was for ten units. The rifle is fitted with a beaded German silver blade front sight, an elevation adjustable rear sight, and a folding tang peep sight. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line Hartford address/patent dates legend ahead of the rear sight and “44 CAL” at the breech. A Rampant Colt is stamped on the left side of the receiver. The pump handle features multi-point checkering. The plain straight grip stock is fitted with a crescent buttplate.