This is a very fine example of one of the 1,011 U.S. Springfield Model 1871 Ward-Burton trials rifles. The Ward-Burton Rifle is one of the earliest bolt action rifles 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 armory bright polish. 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 1,000 yard center notch. It is fitted with a one-piece straight grip walnut stock with a steel nose cap, two barrel bands and a steel buttplate marked "U.S." on the tang. The left side of the stock has the boxed "J.W.K." and small oval "ESA" cartouches with a small boxed cartouche with an intertwined "AB/L" initial inside. There is a sling swivel mounted on the forward barrel band and on the front of the trigger guard. It is complete with an original model 1868 trapdoor ramrod. The consignor stated this rifle was formerly in the Burt Kellerstedt Collection.

Very fine condition. The metal surfaces still in their original armory bright polish, and the receiver retains 75% of its casehardened finish with more finish in the protected areas and the exposed portion of the receiver fading to a slight blue/gray patina. The stock is also in very fine condition with only minor handling marks on the side in a couple of places and distinct cartouches.