The Springfield Armory manufactured 1,011 Ward-Burton Rifles as basically trial weapons in 1871. The Ward-Burton Rifles were one of the earliest bolt action long arms issued by the U.S. Army. The receiver is blue, the bolt is bright and the remaining parts were finished in the white. The rifle is fitted with a Model 1868 trapdoor ramrod. The front sight is fixed and the rear sight is a folding leaf mounted just ahead of the receiver and is graduated to 900 yards and has a 1000 yard center notch. The left receiver flat is marked with the U.S. Eagle and Shield motif followed by "U.S. / SPRINGFIELD 1871". The top of the bolt is marked: "WARD BURTON PATENT / DEC. 20,1859-FEB 21, 1871". The stock is a full one piece straight grip with a steel end cap, two barrel bands and steel buttplate marked "U.S." on the tang. The left side of the stock is stamped with the faint script initials "JWK" in a ribbon followed by "ESA" in an oval. The left side of the buttstock is stamped "368" followed by "C 8". Sling swivel mounted on the forward barrel band and on the front of the trigger guard.

Fine as Arsenal refurbished. The receiver has been Arsenal refinished and retains 95% blue finish with thinning and some minor spotting on the top rear. The barrel, trigger guard and buttplate have had a protective coating applied some time ago which has aged to a copper tint with some minor scattered spotting. The stock is fine with overall scattered minor dents and dings. The cartouches are readable and the markings on the receiver and bolt are clear. Mechanically excellent.