You’re looking at Colt’s ambitious but short-lived challenge to Winchester’s lever-action dominance. The Colt-Burgess rifle, produced for just 16 months from 1883-1885, featured a toggle-link action chambered exclusively in .44-40 Winchester with impressive magazine capacities of 15 rounds for rifles and 12 for carbines. Despite its mechanical reliability and quality construction, strategic pressures ended production early. Today’s surviving examples command $1,500-$1,600, reflecting their rarity and the fascinating story behind Colt’s strategic retreat.
Key Takeaways
- The Colt-Burgess was a lever-action rifle produced by Colt Manufacturing Company from 1883-1885 to compete with Winchester.
- It featured a toggle-link action, was chambered exclusively in .44-40 Winchester, and had magazine capacities of 10-15 rounds.
- Available in rifle (25.5″ barrel) and carbine (20″ barrel) configurations, weighing approximately 8.48 pounds for rifles.
- Used by civilian hunters, Texas Rangers, and frontier shooters, with notable users including Buffalo Bill Cody.
- Production ceased after only 16 months due to competition with Winchester, making surviving examples highly collectible today.
Description
The Colt-Burgess rifle represented Colt’s Manufacturing Company’s ambitious foray into the lever-action market between 1883 and 1885, directly challenging Winchester’s dominance in repeating rifles.
You’ll find these Colt Burgess Rifles featured distinctive engineering elements: sliding loading gates, oval ejection ports, and the Burgess lever action mechanism. The Colt Burgess carbine variant complemented the standard rifle configuration in .44-40 caliber exclusively.
Price Range
How much should you expect to invest in acquiring a Colt-Burgess rifle today? Winchester’s dominance in the lever-action rifle market makes Colt’s Patent Burgess specimens increasingly valuable. Condition significantly impacts pricing across configurations.
| Configuration | Caliber | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle (20″) | .45 LC | $1,637.19 |
| Carbine (20″) | .44-40 | $1,592.99 |
| Rifle (25.5″) | .44-40 | $1,637.19 |
Collectors pay premium prices for surviving Burgess rifles.
Specifications
You’ll find the Colt-Burgess rifle’s specifications reflect the manufacturing standards and tactical requirements of the 1880s firearms market. The rifle’s design parameters were engineered to compete directly with Winchester’s established lever-action platform while maintaining Colt’s reputation for mechanical precision. These specifications determined the rifle’s performance characteristics and market positioning during its brief production run.
| Specification | Rifle Variant | Carbine Variant |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel Length | 25.5 inches | 20 inches |
| Overall Length | 42.90 inches | Not specified |
| Weight | 8.48 pounds | Not specified |
| Chambering | .44-40 Winchester | .44-40 Winchester |
Weight
Although Colt designed the Burgess rifle for durability and power, its 8.48-pound weight became a significant competitive disadvantage in the lever-action market. You’ll find that consumers preferred Winchester’s lighter 1873 model at $17.50.
The carbine variant weighed less, with the “Baby carbine” representing only 972 of 6,403 total production units. Weight considerations ultimately influenced each rifle’s serial number distribution patterns.
Barrel Length
Beyond weight considerations, Colt’s barrel length specifications directly impacted the rifle’s market positioning and practical performance. You’ll find the Colt-Burgess offered 25.5-inch rifle barrels and 20-inch carbine variants.
The longer configuration delivered superior velocity and ballistics, positioning Colt competitively against Winchester’s established lever-action dominance. This barrel differentiation became crucial for distinguishing rifle from carbine models in contemporary firearms markets.
Material Made Out Of
When examining the Colt-Burgess construction, you’ll discover the rifle employed forged steel for both barrel and frame components, establishing the foundational strength required for .44-40 Winchester cartridge pressures.
You’ll find walnut wood utilized for the stock and forend sections, providing traditional craftsmanship standards. This material combination delivered durability while maintaining period-appropriate aesthetics for nineteenth-century lever-action firearms.
Chambered In
Unlike its Winchester counterpart which offered multiple cartridge options, the Colt-Burgess was exclusively chambered for the .44-40 Winchester centerfire cartridge. You’ll find this cartridge choice represented Colt’s strategic focus during the 1880s lever-action market entry.
The .44-40 Winchester’s popularity ensured ammunition availability, though Colt’s single-caliber approach contrasted sharply with Winchester’s diversified .38-40 and .32-20 offerings.
Capacity
The Colt-Burgess rifle’s magazine capacity varied according to its barrel configuration and variant type. You’ll find the standard rifle held fifteen rounds in its tubular magazine, while the carbine variant accommodated twelve rounds.
The Baby carbine’s lightweight design reduced capacity to ten rounds. This sliding loading system directly competed with Winchester Model repeating arms, establishing Colt’s New Magazine Rifle as a formidable lever-action competitor.
Trigger Pull
Beyond its impressive ammunition capacity, Colt engineered the Burgess rifle’s trigger mechanism to deliver exceptional shooting precision. You’ll experience a smooth, crisp pull weighing 3.5-4.5 pounds, consistent across Colt’s Patent production run.
This reliable trigger response distinguished the Burgess from competing lever-actions, earning owner praise as the rifle’s standout feature for accurate shooting performance.
Safety?
While Colt’s engineers prioritized mechanical reliability over dedicated safety features, the Burgess rifle incorporated period-standard protective elements within its lever-action design. You’ll find the half-cock notch provided your primary safety mechanism, preventing accidental discharge during loading or transport.
This approach reflected post-Civil War manufacturing philosophy, where mechanical simplicity trumped elaborate safety systems in civilian sporting rifles.
Action
Mechanically, Colt’s engineers adapted a toggle-link action that closely mirrored Winchester’s proven 1873 design, chambering their rifle exclusively for the .44-40 Winchester centerfire cartridge.
You’ll find Burgess Rifles and Carbines featured identical operating mechanisms despite barrel length differences—25.5 inches for rifles, 20 inches for carbines.
The lightweight “baby carbine” variant reduced frame weight while maintaining functional reliability.
Optic Ready?
Unfortunately, the Colt-Burgess predates modern optic mounting systems by nearly a century, featuring only traditional iron sights standard to 1880s lever-action rifles. You’ll find no provision for scope mounting on Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company’s 1883-1885 production rifles.
The receiver’s oval ejection port and sliding loading gate design prioritized mechanical function over accessory compatibility during this competitive 16-month manufacturing period.
Picatinny Rail?
Since the Picatinny rail system wasn’t standardized until MIL-STD-1913’s adoption in 1995, you won’t find this mounting interface on any Colt-Burgess rifle from the 1883-1885 production run. Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company designed this lever-action with traditional iron sights: a front blade and sporting buckhorn rear sight.
The receiver lacks provisions for modern accessory mounting systems entirely.
Review
You’ll find the Colt-Burgess rifle’s brief production window creates a complex evaluation framework that balances mechanical merit against market realities. The rifle’s strengths center on Colt’s manufacturing precision and the .44-40 Winchester chambering’s proven effectiveness, while its weaknesses stem from higher pricing and limited market penetration compared to Winchester’s established dominance.
Collectors and frontier users who acquired these rifles during the 1883-1885 production period experienced reliable performance, though the weapon’s primary modern reputation rests on rarity rather than widespread field adoption.
Pros
Despite its brief production run, the Colt-Burgess rifle consistently delivered several notable advantages that distinguished it from competing lever-action firearms of the 1880s.
| Feature | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Toggle-link action | Smoother operation than traditional designs |
| .44-40 Winchester chambering | Universal ammunition compatibility |
| Rampant Colt trademark | Premium brand recognition and craftsmanship |
| Custom engraving capability | Prestigious presentations like Buffalo Bill Cody’s commemorative model |
Cons
However, the Colt-Burgess rifle’s strengths couldn’t overcome several critical weaknesses that ultimately sealed its commercial fate. You’ll find the rifle suffered from limited caliber options, higher pricing, and fierce Winchester competition. Colt’s unclear strategic focus—torn between their successful Single Action Army revolvers and this lever-action experiment—contributed to its brief 16-month production run.
| Weakness | Impact | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Single caliber (.44-40) | Limited market appeal | Winchester offered multiple calibers |
| Higher pricing ($24-26) | Reduced competitiveness | Winchester was more affordable |
| Late market entry | Established competition | Winchester dominated since 1873 |
| Short production (16 months) | Limited availability | Inconsistent supply chain |
| Strategic uncertainty | Conflicted priorities | Unclear company commitment |
Reliability
Most collectors and firearms historians regard the Colt-Burgess rifle’s mechanical reliability as one of its standout achievements, despite the model’s brief commercial lifespan. Inventor Andrew Burgess’s modified toggle-link action, similar to the Winchester 1873, provided reliable operation.
Chambered in the popular .44-40 Winchester cartridge, this reliable, well-designed rifle offered versatility through multiple barrel configurations.
Most Commonly Used By
While Colt marketed the Burgess rifle to compete directly with Winchester’s dominance, the firearm found its primary users among civilian shooters and hunters across the American frontier during the 1880s.
You’ll find well known figures like Buffalo Bill Cody received ornate presentation models, while Texas Rangers adopted the rifle for law enforcement duties in the field.
Similar Models
The lever-action mechanism of the Colt Burgess rifle placed it in direct competition with Winchester’s established Model 1873, sharing not only the same .44-40 Winchester cartridge but also employing a similar toggle-link operating system.
You’ll find Colt’s Patent Firearms eventually agreed to stay within revolver manufacturing after Oliver Winchester’s concerns, ending this rifle’s brief production run.
Similar Models From Other Manufacturers
Several manufacturers recognized the market opportunity created by the Colt-Burgess rifle’s brief existence and sought to capitalize on the lever-action segment that Winchester had dominated since the early 1870s.
You’ll find Remington’s competing designs featured distinctive markings, including “Rocky Mountain” stamped on the lower receiver alongside a two-line address and patent information, differentiating their offerings from established Winchester patterns.
Maintenance
Competitive pressures that drove manufacturers like Remington to challenge Winchester’s dominance meant little if rifles couldn’t perform reliably in the field, making proper maintenance procedures paramount for Colt-Burgess owners.
You’ll need regular oiling and cleaning of the lever-action mechanism. Colt’s Patent documentation included specific maintenance instructions, emphasizing proper lubrication of the sliding loading gate, trigger assembly, and bore inspection for optimal performance.
History
During the early 1880s, Colt’s Manufacturing Company recognized Winchester’s stranglehold on the lever-action rifle market and commissioned Andrew Burgess—a Civil War photographer turned prolific firearms inventor with nearly 600 patents—to develop a competing design.
Production at Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company ran from 1883 to 1885, yielding only 6,403 rifles before cessation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Most Famous Lever-Action Rifle?
You’ll find the Winchester Model 1873 stands as the most famous lever-action rifle in history. You’re looking at an influential design that earned the nickname “Gun that Won the West” through widespread adoption across the American frontier.
You’ll discover its chambering in popular calibers like .44-40, .38-40, and .32-20 contributed significantly to its dominance. You can trace its enduring legacy through historical records documenting its unmatched impact on American expansion and firearms development.
Why Did They Stop Making Lever-Action Rifles?
You’ll find lever action evolution wasn’t about complete discontinuation—manufacturers shifted focus rather than stopped entirely. Semi-automatic and bolt-action designs offered superior accuracy, faster reloading, and military applications by the early 1900s.
You’re seeing reduced demand as hunting preferences changed and modern cartridges required stronger actions. However, companies like Marlin, Winchester, and Henry continue producing lever-actions today, proving the mechanism’s enduring appeal for specific applications and traditional shooting sports.
How Much Is the Colt Enhanced Patrol Rifle?
Looking for current Colt Enhanced Patrol Rifle pricing details? You’ll find the CR6920 EPR typically retails between $1,200-$1,400 depending on configuration and dealer markup.
This isn’t the historical Colt-Burgess lever-action from the 1880s, but rather Colt’s modern AR-15 platform rifle designed for law enforcement and civilian markets. Pricing fluctuates based on market conditions, availability, and specific barrel lengths.
You should verify current MSRP through authorized Colt dealers for accurate quotations.
Did Colt Make a Lever-Action Rifle?
You’ll find that Colt’s experimentation with lever-action mechanisms occurred during the 1880s when they briefly entered Winchester’s dominated market segment. Through archival documentation, you can trace Colt’s single foray into lever-action rifle production to the Burgess model, manufactured from 1883-1885. You’re looking at only 6,403 units produced, chambered in .44-40 Winchester. This represents Colt’s strategic attempt to diversify beyond their revolver expertise into long-gun markets.
Conclusion
You’ll find the Colt-Burgess represents a fascinating crossroads in American firearms evolution—a lever-action anomaly in Colt’s revolver-dominated catalog. While you can’t overlook Winchester’s market pressure that ultimately killed this innovative rifle, you’re examining a testament to 1880s manufacturing ambition. If you’re considering acquisition, you’ll need deep pockets and patience; original specimens command premium prices. For collectors, it’s the proverbial white whale—rare, historically significant, yet mechanically sound when properly maintained.
0 Comments