This is a rare Colt Berdan rifle chambered for the .45-70 cartridge and manufactured for the American market. The rifle has a blued 33 1/2 inch barrel with a bayonet lug on the right side and block mounted front sight. The barrel is secured by two screw-fastened bands. The front band is fitted with an eyelet for a detachable sling swivel and detachable sling swivel eyelets are mounted on the trigger guard final and the stock. A leather handguard is fitted to the barrel between the receiver and lower barrel band. The handguard covers the barrel markings. The receiver, breech lock and hammer are color casehardened. An unmarked, folding leaf rear sight is mounted on the receiver ahead of the breech block. The top of the breech block is roll-stamped "H. BERDAN'S" reading toward the hammer. The left side of the receiver is stamped "45C 30T". The trigger guard bow and finial are engraved with double line borders and simple scrollwork. The steel buttplate is bright and has engraved screw heads. The one-piece stock is oil-finished, straight grain walnut. An oval cartouche containing the markings "J.H.R. JR." is stamped behind the trigger guard finial. This stand for J.R. Hegeman Jr. whom is regarded as the first true Colt collector and savior of Colt Firearms Company in the late 19th century from bankruptcy. Colt manufactured over 30,000 .42 caliber Berdan rifles for the Russian government circa 1866-1870. A very limited number of Berdan rifles were manufactured by Colt in .45/70 for the American market.

Very fine. The rifle retains nearly 90% of the blue and casehardened finish. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the barrel and barrel bands. The trigger shows light to moderate handling wear and retains about 85% of the blue finish. The buttplate has been polished bright. The receiver and breech bock have 90% of the muted case colors. The fragile, very rare original leather handguard has extensive age cracking but remains mostly intact. The stock is in excellent condition with only a few, very minor, storage marks. This is a very fine example of a scarce .45/70 caliber Colt Berdan Single Shot rifle.