This deluxe Colt Lighting Slide Action carbine was manufactured in 1888. It is one of the very rare Colt Lightning Baby carbines chambered for the .32 CLMR cartridge (32 WCF) and has a special order, fancy grain, walnut stock and forearm with checkering panels and a high polish "piano" finish. The left side of the frame is factory inscribed: "Carrie A. Strahorn/1888/Christmas/from/R.E.S." in old English letters indicating the rifle was given to her by her husband Robert E. Strahorn. The Strahorns spent thirty years in the wilds of the American West along with Hawaii and Alaska. Mrs. Strahorn recorded their adventured and published them in the two volume set FIFTEEN THOUSAND MILES BY STAGE. The dedication reads "This books is lovingly dedicated to my dear husband Robert E. Strahorn whose constant chum and companion it has been my greatest joy to be for more than thirty years in the conquering of the wilderness." Mr. Strahorn was a publicist for the Union Pacific. The rifle has the Colt commercial blue finish on major components with fire blue loading gate and small components. The hammer is color casehardened. The 20 inch round light weight barrel has the block carbine front sight and a carbine folding leaf rear sight graduated to 900 yards. A staple mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the frame. The stock has a carbine style buttplate and is inlaid with a round silver plate on the underside near the end of the checkered panel on the wrist. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG.Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./+ ELLIOT'S PATENTS MAY 29. 1883. SEPT. 18. 1883." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. "32 Cal." is boldly stamped on the left side of the barrel just ahead of the frame. The Rampant Colt trademark usually roll-stamped on the left side of the frame but is located on the right side. The serial number "30092" is stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger. A Lighting Side Action carbine chambered for the .32 CLMR cartridge and with deluxe, checkered stock and forearm is very rare. The combination of these rare features with a factory inscription make this Lighting carbine unique.

Excellent. The carbine is all original and retains close to 95% of the original high polish blue, niter blue and casehardened finish. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the barrel and magazine. The barrel band has some minor high point wear. Finish wear on the frame is limited to high points with the usual scuff marks on the left side from contact with the saddle ring. The only finish loss on the lower tang near the serial number. The bolt retains more than 90% of the blue finish. The buttplate has 85% of the blue finish with the normal wear on the toe and heel. The fire blue finish on the loading gate is faded but remains a strong 70%. The inscription on the left side of the frame and the Rampant Colt on the right side are both crisp. The barrel markings are sharp. The excellent deluxe, highly figured, stock and forearm have very sharp checkering and retain 95% or more of the high polish piano finish. Wear is limited to a few scattered and fairly minor handling marks on the stock. This is both an extremely rare and extraordinary example of a deluxe, factory inscribed, Colt Lighting Slide Action Baby carbine chambered in 32 CLMR.