UBERTI 1884 LIGHTNING .45 COLT

From 1884 through 1904, Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company produced a unique slide-action rifle (aka trombone or pump action) known as Colt’s Lightning Magazine Rifle (CLMR).

- Brian Pearce

It was offered in three frame sizes, including “Small” for the .22 Short, “Medium” for the .32-20, .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester cartridges and “Large” for the more potent .38-56 WCF, .40-60 Marlin, .45-60 WCF, .45-85 Marlin and .50-95 Express cartridges.

The CLMR was advertised as the “Only ‘LIGHTNING’ known to strike twice in the same place,” and “Nothing is faster than LIGHTNING.” In spite of fierce competition from lever-action rifles produced primarily by Winchester and Marlin, the Colt CLMR became popular, with nearly 190,000 units being produced in its comparatively short 20-year life span. The influence of the Colt Lightning must have been substantial, as noted firearms designer John Browning patented various slide-action rifles and shotguns after the CLMR was introduced, and they were ultimately manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company as the Models 1890, 1893, 1897 (aka 97), 1906, 62, etc. Remington and other American companies also played a significant role in developing both rimfire and centerfire pump-action rifles that became popular.

Uberti is an Italian manufacturer that has been producing replica firearms since 1959. Its quality has steadily increased, and today the company has earned a reputation for quality guns at reasonable prices. For the purposes of this review, a Model 1884 Lightning “Medium Frame” chambered in .45 Colt was selected. The sample rifle features a 20-inch octagonal barrel, but it is also available with 24¼- and 26-inch barrel lengths. In addition to being chambered in .45 Colt, it is offered in .38 Special/.357 Magnum and .4440 Winchester.