Springfield Armory manufactured only 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 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 receiver is casehardened, 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 (adjuster absent), and has a 1,000 yard center notch. Mounted with a full one-piece straight grip walnut stock with a steel end cap, two barrel bands and steel buttplate marked "U.S." on the tang. There is a sling swivel mounted on the forward barrel band and on the front of the trigger guard.

Good. The barrel has a smooth mottled gray patina. The receiver shows traces of the darkened original case colors. The stock is good as showing signs of scattered sanding and revarnishing. There is a chip on the upper right side of the forearm, a minor 1 1/4 inch crack on the left heel, and overall there are some gouges, dents and dings. The markings are clear. The action is fine.