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Colt Rifles

Colt is primarily known for their famed line of handguns, be it the 1911, the SAA, or the Snake series of revolvers. However, Colt has a history of producing rifles going back to 1855.

The Colt Model 1855 Revolving rifle was a combination of a revolver mechanism with a stock and longer barrel. The Model 1855 was used on both sides of the Civil War and served well in combat.

Colt later produced the Colt 1883 Burgess rifle. This firearm was their entry into the successful lever-action rifle market. The revolving rifle was a fine weapon, but the lever-action rifle was more dependable, quicker to load and cheaper to manufacture. Colt even produced a pump-action rifle known as the Lightning Rifle. Today, Colt produces numerous rifles for the military including the M4 carbine. They produce AR-15 rifles for civilian use and have remained a popular rifle brand in the AR-15 market.


Quick Facts

  • The Colt Revolving rifle was issued to men guarding the Pony Express lines
  • The Colt Lightning was heavily used by the San Francisco Police Department for a short period of time
  • Colt’s long history of military contracts continues today with an M4 contract

Recommended Items at Auction

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Colt Large Frame "Express" Lightning Slide Action Rifle
May 02, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Large Frame "Express" Lightning Slide Action Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $4,500- $6,500
$4,0000 Bids
Colt Medium Frame Lightning Slide Action Rifle in .44-40
May 02, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Medium Frame Lightning Slide Action Rifle in .44-40
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $1,600- $2,500
$1,4000 Bids
Special Order Colt Deluxe Medium Frame Lightning Rifle
May 02, 9:00 AM CDT
Special Order Colt Deluxe Medium Frame Lightning Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $4,500- $7,000
$4,0000 Bids
Colt Large Frame "Express Model" Lightning Rifle
May 02, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Large Frame "Express Model" Lightning Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $4,000- $6,000
$3,5000 Bids
Patent Arms Mfg. Co. Colt Paterson Second Model Ring Lever Rifle
May 03, 9:00 AM CDT
Patent Arms Mfg. Co. Colt Paterson Second Model Ring Lever Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $18,000- $27,500
$16,0000 Bids
Colt Burgess Lever Action Rifle
May 03, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Burgess Lever Action Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $5,500- $8,500
$4,7500 Bids
COLT SAUER GRADE IV BOLT ACTION SPORTING RIFLE.
May 09, 10:00 AM EDT
COLT SAUER GRADE IV BOLT ACTION SPORTING RIFLE.
by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
Est: $6,000- $9,000
$3,0000 Bids
A selfloading rifle Colt Stagecoach with Anschütz scope
May 08, 10:00 AM CEST
A selfloading rifle Colt Stagecoach with Anschütz scope
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€1500 Bids
A Colt, Mod. Lightning Small Frame
May 08, 10:00 AM CEST
A Colt, Mod. Lightning Small Frame
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€6400 Bids
Colt Large Frame "Express" Lightning Slide Action Rifle
May 02, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Large Frame "Express" Lightning Slide Action Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $18,000- $25,000
$16,0000 Bids
COLT BURGESS LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
May 11, 10:00 AM EDT
COLT BURGESS LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
Est: $2,250- $3,000
$1,1000 Bids
Documented Colt Paterson Model 1839 Revolving Carbine
May 04, 9:00 AM CDT
Documented Colt Paterson Model 1839 Revolving Carbine
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $18,000- $27,500
$16,0000 Bids
COLT MEDIUM FRAME LIGHTNING CUSTOM ENGRAVED DELUXE
May 11, 10:00 AM EDT
COLT MEDIUM FRAME LIGHTNING CUSTOM ENGRAVED DELUXE
by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$1,0000 Bids
1888 Colt Lightning Medium Frame .38 Cal Pump Action Rifle
May 17, 10:00 AM CDT
1888 Colt Lightning Medium Frame .38 Cal Pump Action Rifle
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$250 Bids
COLT SMALL FRAME LIGHTNING SLIDE ACTION RIFLE.
May 11, 10:00 AM EDT
COLT SMALL FRAME LIGHTNING SLIDE ACTION RIFLE.
by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
Est: $1,500- $2,500
$7500 Bids
A Colt Lightning Small Frame
May 08, 10:00 AM CEST
A Colt Lightning Small Frame
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€3400 Bids
Colt Large Frame "Express Model" Lightning Slide Action Rifle
May 03, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Large Frame "Express Model" Lightning Slide Action Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $3,000- $5,000
$2,5000 Bids
A Colt, Mod. Lightning
May 08, 10:00 AM CEST
A Colt, Mod. Lightning
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€4000 Bids
A Colt, Mod. Lightning Small Frame
May 08, 10:00 AM CEST
A Colt, Mod. Lightning Small Frame
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€5200 Bids
A Colt Lightning Slide Action Rifle Mod. 1877
May 08, 10:00 AM CEST
A Colt Lightning Slide Action Rifle Mod. 1877
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€4800 Bids
Colt Alteration Whitney Model 1841 Percussion Mississippi Rifle
May 03, 9:00 AM CDT
Colt Alteration Whitney Model 1841 Percussion Mississippi Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $3,500- $5,500
$3,0000 Bids
COLT LIGHTNING MEDIUM FRAME SLIDE ACTION SRC.
May 11, 10:00 AM EDT
COLT LIGHTNING MEDIUM FRAME SLIDE ACTION SRC.
by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
Est: $1,800- $2,700
$9000 Bids
J. R. Comer Inscribed Colt Paterson Percussion Revolving Rifle
May 02, 9:00 AM CDT
J. R. Comer Inscribed Colt Paterson Percussion Revolving Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $95,000- $160,000
$85,0000 Bids
U.S. Colt's Patented Mfg. Co Model 1861 Percussion Rifle
May 09, 10:00 AM EDT
U.S. Colt's Patented Mfg. Co Model 1861 Percussion Rifle
by Schultz Auctioneers
Est: $400- $600
$2000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Colt Rifles


Rock Island Auction Company

Rock Island Auction Company

Hermann Historica GmbH

Hermann Historica GmbH

Poulin Antiques & Auctions

Poulin Antiques & Auctions