POTD: A Colt Rilfe? The Colt-Burgess Lever Action Rifle
Sam.S 11.09.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! What’s a lever action rifle doing with Colt’s classic and collectible pony logo? The Colt-Burgess was an unusual and short-lived venture into Winchester’s territory in the 1880s. With the rivals encroaching into each other’s markets, Colt hired prolific designer Andrew Burgess to create a superior rifle to the Winchester 1873. The goal was to protect Colt’s dominant revolver business. Burgess delivered with a lighter and stronger rifle. But after only about 6400 were manufactured from 1883-1885, an informal ceasefire was reached – Colt exited rifles and Winchester halted revolvers. Balance was restored without destructive competition. Today the rare Colt-Burgess remains a fascinating footnote demonstrating the Wild West gun industry’s shaky boundaries. Brands casually probed rivals’ segments before restraining themselves.
“One of 2,556 rifles with an octagon barrel manufactured 1883-85. This is the only lever action firearm made in any quantity in Colt’s history”
Lot 38: Colt-Burgess Lever Action Rifle – Scarce Colt-Burges Lever Action Rifle. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved November 9, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1042/38/colt-burgess-lever-action-rifle.
