This rifle is one of the only known rifles manufactured by the Burnside Rifle Company based on Civil War General Ambrose E. Burnside's designs. Ambrose was the officer in charge of the controversial fiasco at the Battle of the Crater though the issues were largely the result of interference from Major General George G. Meade and the inept officer in charge of the infantry attack. After the war Burnside served as the governor of Rhode Island, later a senator, and was the first president of the National Rifle Association. The cone shaped breech end of the barrels on the carbines and this rifle led to these weapons having a better gas seal. This rifle was likely manufactured as a presentation piece and has additional high grade features: a silver forend cap, adjustable set trigger, and higher quality wood and finish. It has a low blade front sight and a folding leaf rear sight. The left side of the receiver still has a saddle ring bar (ring absent), and a sling swivel is in the same place as found on the carbines on the buttstock. A "3" is marked on the forend, barrel, and front of the receiver and breechblock. No serial number is marked on the top of the receiver. It has "BURNSIDE PATENT/MARCH 25TH 1856." on the top of the receiver and "BURNSIDE RIFLE CO/PROVIDENCE R.I." on the lock plate. The patent date above is usually only found on the earlier carbine models, but this example has the obvious 5th Model breechblock guide screw. The first version of Burnside's carbines was tested at West Point in 1857 and received higher scores than the 17 other designs tested. Nonetheless, very few of these carbines were purchased prior to the Civil War due to resistance in the Ordnance Department to breech loading firearms. During the war, more than 55,000 were purchased for use by the Union cavalry making them third most popular carbines after Sharps and Spencers. Many of the latter were also manufactured by the Burnside Rifle Co. towards the end of the war under contract.

Very fine. The barrel retains 85% of the original blue finish and has some light edge wear and spotting. Many of the screw heads retain strong blue finish as well, and the receiver and lever have 40% light case colors and a mottled gray patina. The forend cap has an attractive aged patina. The wood is very fine with most of the original piano varnish finish, some light scratches and small pressure marks.