The Colt Burgess rifles and carbines were only available from 1883 to around 1885, and only 6,403 were manufactured. They were designed by Andrew Burgess, who held 894 patents by the end of his life. It has long been rumored that Colt and Winchester came to an agreement that Colt would exit the lever action market and Winchester would not release a revolver. There seems to be little other reason for Colt to have discontinued these fine repeating arms so quickly after they introduced them, as the Burgess is arguably more advanced and refined than the Winchester Model 1873. This example has standard markings and is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate, containing an included four-piece cleaning rod.

Fine, with 40% plus of the original blue finish, the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth brown-grey patina and some scattered small patches of light pitting on the magazine tube and buttplate. Patterns of case colors visible on the hammer and lever. Traces of nitre blue visible on the loading gate and trigger. The wood is also fine with a small hairline grain split in the left of the forearm and otherwise some scattered minor dings. Mechanically excellent. Fine original examples of Colt Burgess rifles like this are seldom found!