Colt-Burgess Lever Action rifle manufactured c. 1883. This standard model rifle has a full octagon barrel with 15-shot magazine. The barrel has a dovetail mounted, Rocky Mountain style, front sight with brass blade and buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight. The receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The receiver has the distinctive loading port with sliding cover and oval ejection port. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The barrel, magazine and receiver have the Colt commercial blue finish, and the loading gate, trigger and bolt are a fiery niter blue. The hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "COLT'SPT.F.A.MFG.CO.HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A." in one line above "JAN.7.78."- "JAN.3.82." patent dates with Maltese crosses at either end of the dates. The Rampant Colt trademark is roll-stamped on the left side of the receiver. The Colt-Burgess rifles and carbines were the only lever action firearms made by Colt during the 19th century. Only 6,403 Colt-Burgess rifles and carbines were manufactured between 1883 and 1885. Supposedly, Colt discontinued production of the Burgess rifles and carbines after Winchester threatened to manufacture revolvers. Colt-Burgess rifles and carbines are scarce in fine or better condition.

Exceptionally fine. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue and color casehardened finish. 95% of the original blue finish is remaining on the barrel and magazine. The receiver has some faint scratches on the top and sides but has 90% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish. The blue on the forearm cap is thin. The loading port cover, screws, and trigger have nearly all of the professionally restored nitre blue finish. The bolt shows some cycling wear. 85% plus of the case colors are present on the hammer, lever and buttplate. The markings on the barrel and receiver are extremely sharp. The revarnished stock and forearm are both in fine condition, wear on the stock and forearm is limited to several minor handling marks. The brass front sight blade is a period replacement. This is an exceptional example of a scarce Colt-Burgess lever action rifle that is extremely difficult to find in this condition.