Colt-Burgess Rifle

NOTE: this is an example of a previous customer restoration, and therefore the firearm is not for sale. Please browse the showroom for our current selection of restored, pre-owned, refinished and manufactured firearms. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to be among the first to learn about new additions to our website.

Produced by Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company between 1883 and 1885, The 1883 Burgess rifle was designed and patented by Andrew Burgess. Mr. Burgess was the American firearms designer and photographer who sold his design to Colt.

The Burgess rifle was Colt’s only entrance into the lever-action rifle market. It was produced to compete with Winchester Repeating Arms Company’s line of popular rifles. The move was also the reason for an eventual “gentleman’s agreement” between the famous revolver manufacturer and Winchester. Colt halted production of the Burgess, while in return Winchester dropped its plans to develop a revolver.

The Colt-Burgess rifle was similar in design to the Winchester Model 1873, although lighter than “the gun that won the west” due to its smaller receiver. Colt offered the repeater in two configurations: a 20″ carbine and a 25-1/2″ rifle. This restored example is in the latter configuration, with a round barrel chambered in .44-40 Winchester.  

History Restored:

• Provide and fit new loading gate to action, fit new loading gate to forend wood inletting
• Polish barrel and magazine tube for correct finish
• Restore all original barrel markings
• Rust blue barrel and magazine tube
• Polish receiver and all other parts for correct finish
• Restore all original receiver markings
• Charcoal blue receiver and parts
• Color case harden lever and hammer

Related Content

Although referencing the carbine version, Ian McCollum with Forgotten Weapons provides a nice overview of the Colt 1883 Burgess, and shares his in-depth description of that “gentleman’s agreement”  between Colt and Winchester.