This is an exceptional original example of a Colt Burgess Lever Action rifle that was manufactured in 1885. The rifle is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that describes the features as:"Caliber:.44-40, Barrel Length: 25 1/2"-inch octagon, Finish: Blue" and "Stock: Wood". The letter states this rifle was shipped to the E.C. Meacham Arms Co., in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 28, 1885, as part of a ten gun shipment of Colt Burgess rifles. The rifle has a octagon barrel with full length magazine. The barrel has the standard nickel-silver 'Rocky Mountain' front sight blade and sporting style buckhorn rear sight. The receiver has the distinctive sliding loading gate and oval ejection port. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trap. The barrel, magazine, and receiver have the high polish Colt commercial blue finish. The bolt, loading gate, trigger and screws have a niter blue finish. The forearm cap, hammer, loading lever and buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil-finished walnut. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line address and patent dates: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD.CT. U.S.A . / +PAT.JAN.7.73.OCT.19.75.APR.1.79.DEC.7.80. DEC.13.81. JAN.3.82+". The Rampant Colt trademark is roll-stamped on the left side of the receiver. The serial number, 4411" is stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger. The Colt-Burgess rifle was the only lever action firearm manufactured in quantity by Colt. Only 6,403 Colt-Burgess rifles and carbines were manufactured before Colt discontinued production in 1885. Examples of this rifle in very fine condition are seldom, if ever encountered.

Very fine. The rifle retains 85% plus of the bright original blue finish overall. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel. The magazine has a blue-brown patina with some spots of age discoloration on the underside near the tip. The receiver retains most of the high polish blue finish with wear on high points and contact areas and some light scratches on the sides. The bolt retains about 75% of the fire blue finish. Traces of niter blue finish are present on the loading gate. The casecolors on the forearm cap have faded to a mottled silver gray. The hammer and lever have strong case colors while the buttplate has a silver-brown patina with spots of discoloration. The stock and forearm are in very good condition with minimal handling wear. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. This is both a very fine and exceptional example of one of the only Colt lever action rifles ever made.