This Burgess 3rd Model, two-band full stock, lever action carbine was manufactured circa 1878. This carbine, is illustrated and described on page 110 of "LEVER ACTION RIFLES" by Samuel Maxwell. Maxwell identifies this carbine as the only known example of a 3rd Model Burgess Carbine with two barrel bands and no bayonet lug. The carbine has a 23-inch round barrel with full-length walnut forearm. The forearm has a casehardened steel tip and two screw-fastened blued bands. The stock has a crescent steel buttplate with sliding brass trap door. The butt trap contains a four-piece, jointed, cleaning rod with brass tip and slotted end. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted, inverted "V" front sight and a casehardened, two-leaf, carbine style rear sight. A saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The rifle has the distinctive Burgess "S" shaped lever with side loading gate. The barrel, receiver, lever and barrel bands have a high polish blue finish. The loading gate is niter blue. The forearm tip, rear sight, hammer and crescent buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with an oil finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "G.W. MORSE/PATENTED OCT. 28. 1856" in two lines between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The caliber designation: ".45 CAL. 70 GR. C.F." is stamped in a single line on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. "A. BURGESS/PATENTED JANY. 7TH 1873/PATENTED OCT 19TH.1875" is roll-stamped in three lines on the upper receiver tang. The serial number is stamped on the lower receiver tang.

Excellent. The carbine shows minimal wear and retains 97% plus of the bright original blue. Some minor finish wear is concentrated on the barrel bands with 90% plus of the original bright high polish blue finish. The barrel has nearly all of the original blue finish. The receiver has some light edge wear and very minor handling marks. The lower tang has moderate finish wear. Most of the niter blue finish is present on the loading gate. The casehardened components retain 85% of the original mottled, dove-gray case colors. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with nearly all of the original finish. This is an exceptional and well documented example of the only known variation of the limited production 3rd Model Burgess Military Carbine.