Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 20

Lot 20:Colt-Burgess Lever Action Rifle with Part-Octagon Barrel

December 6th, 2019|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 20

Lot 20:Colt-Burgess Lever Action Rifle with Part-Octagon Barrel

December 6th, 2019|Rock Island, IL
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$6,500 - $9,000
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Very Scarce Colt-Burgess Lever Action Rifle with Special Order Part Octagon Barrel and Factory Letter

The Colt-Burgess rifles and carbines were only manufactured from July 1883 to November 1884, and production totaled just 6,403. They were very well-designed and certainly worthy contenders for the Winchester Model 1873, and in some ways was actually a better gun than any Winchester then had on the market, but they did not reach the sales levels of Winchester's already popular repeater. It has long been rumored that representatives from Colt and Winchester came to an agreement that Winchester would not release a revolver to compete against Colt if Colt backed out of the lever action market. It may also be that Colt was instead switching to the new Colt Lightning slide action rifles which came out in early 1884 and the company may have thought had more hope of displacing Winchester's dominance of the American repeating rifle market. The factory letter indicates this rifle and seven others with 25 1/2 inch barrels, blue finish, and wood stock in .44-40 as shipped to J.C. Grubb & Co. in Philadelphia, P.A., on March 12, 1884. The remarks also note the "subject rifle was furnished with a part-round/part-octagon barrel. Only 35 of the 2,556 Burgess rifles had part octagon barrels. Also includes a printed copy of a John P. Lovell's Sons advertisement for Burgess rifles offered "At Less than Cost to Manufacture." The rifle has a blade front sight, adjustable sporting rear sight, "COLT'S PT. F.A. M.F.G. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A." over the patent dates on top of the barrel, the Rampant Colt trademark on the left side of the frame, and smooth stock and forearm with steel cap and buttplate.

ConditionVery good with 25% of original blue finish on the barrel and magazine tube, 30% original blue on the frame, gray and brown patina on the balance, mild scratches and marks, some slight spotting, and general mild wear concentrated in the raised areas. The stock and forearm are also fine and have hand-worn surfaces, mild scrapes and dings, some small chips at the corners of the wrist, and some bruising near the heel. Mechanically fine.
Details
ManufacturerColt
ModelBurgess-Rifle
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge44-40 WCF
Barrel25 1/2 inch part-octagon
Finishblue
Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views3758
Catalog page21
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 3046Antique Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Short Rifle
View Lot
Lot 3016Special Order Winchester Model 1892 Rifle in .38 W.C.F.
View Lot
Lot 21Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
View Lot
Lot 1006Antique Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
View Lot
Show More