The Colt Burgess rifles and carbines were only available from 1883 to around 1885, and only 6,403 were manufactured. They were designed by Andrew Burgess who held 894 patents by the end of his life. It has long been rumored that Colt and Winchester came to an agreement that Colt would exit the lever action market and Winchester would not release a revolver. There seems to be little other reason for Colt to have discontinued these fine repeating arms so quickly after they introduced them. The Burgess is arguably more advanced and refined than the Winchester Model 1873. This example has standard markings and is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate.

Very good, retaining traces of the original blue finish in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a smooth brown or grey patina, typical of lever guns that spent their life on the frontier. The lightly sanded and revarnished wood is also very good with the scattered minor dings and scratches, a few hairline cracks, and a few discreet repairs that are associated with a western gun that was cared for, but not coddled. Mechanically fine.