Colt Berdan Russian Contract breech-loading rifle. This rifle features a 'trapdoor' breech system, 32-1/2-inch round, .42 caliber barrel, full length walnut stock and socket bayonet. The barrel is fitted with a folding leaf sight just ahead of the receiver and has one-line Cyrillic markings between the rear sight and the lower barrel band. The breech block, receiver and cocking lever have a case hardened finish; other components are blued. The stock is oil finished walnut. The trigger guard finial is crudely stamped; "MADE IN/USA". Faint Cyrillic markings are stamped on the bottom of the stock behind the trigger guard. The socket bayonet has a 20-3/4-inch fluted, blued, blade and is not marked. The Colt Berdan rifle was the first Colt firearm to utilize a metallic cartridge. Nearly 30,000 Colt Berdan Rifles were sold to Czarist Russia. However, Russian contract rifles were subject to heavy attrition and are very scarce in any condition.

Excellent plus. The rifle retains 98% or more of the original blue and case hardened finish. The only significant finish wear is on the heel of the butt plate and the bottom of the trigger guard. The barrel markings are extremely sharp. The stock is in near mint condition with only a few very minor storage marks on the bottom of the stock near the butt plate. The bayonet retains nearly all of the original blue finish. This is a significant and rarely encountered Colt rifle in exceptional, excellent plus to near mint condition and would be nearly impossible to improve upon. The finest example we have ever seen.