Skip to main content

Colt-Burgess Lever-Action Rifle: What's It Worth?

The Colt-Burgess lever-action rifle was manufactured from 1883 to 1885. It was an attempt to take advantage of the lever-action rifle market then dominated by Winchester.

Colt-Burgess Lever-Action Rifle: What's It Worth?

Question:

I have a Colt-Burgess lever-action rifle that I think was manufactured in 1885. It is in .44- 40 with a 25½- inch octagon nickel-silver barrel with full-length magazine. It has a “Rocky Mountain” front single blade and sporting-style buckhorn rear sight. The receiver has the distinctive sliding loading gate and oval ejection port. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trap. The stock and forearm are oil-finished walnut. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line address and patent dates: “COLT’SPT.F.A.MFG.CO.HARTFORD.CT.U.S.A./+PAT.JAN.7.73.OCT.19.75.APR.1.79.DEC.7.80.DEC.13.81.JAN.3.82+”. The Rampant Colt trademark is roll-stamped on the left side of the receiver. The serial number 43XX is stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger. I have heard about a similar gun with serial no. 44XX. What is the connection between this gun (44XX) and my gun (43XX)? Included are pictures of mine. Can you estimate the value of this gun?

 -R.W.M. of Appomattox, Virginia


Answer:

The Colt-Burgess lever-action rifle was manufactured from 1883 to 1885, a production life of about 21 months. It was an attempt by Colt to take advantage of the lever-action rifle market then dominated by Winchester. The gun’s unofficial name comes from its inventor, Andrew Burgess. The Burgess was offered in carbine and rifle versions, the former with round barrels and the latter with round, octagon or half- octagon barrels. It was only chambered in .44- 40 caliber. Some 6,403 (2,593 carbines plus 3,810 rifles) were manufactured. You have a standard octagon barrel rifle, the most common. From what I can make out from the supplied photos, condition seems to be OK, but not great; I’d say in about 20 to 30 percent shape. Assuming the rifle works, and the bore is in reasonable shape, according to the Forty-First Edition Blue Book of Gun Values, it’s worth between $2,950 and $3,450. As far as serial number 43XX versus 44XX is concerned, other than the fact one was made before the other, I don’t have immediate access to the Colt records so I’m unable to help you out there. If you wish to investigate this further you can contact Colt’s Archive Services at 860-554-8088, or coltarchives.com. For a fee, they may be able to supply you with letters containing more information on those rifles. 

-Garry James


Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Videos - News - Industry

Guns & Ammo Magazine: March 2023 Issue

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New Stocky's Rifle Stocks for 2023

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR)

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Suppressors

New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Rifles

New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New for 2023: TaurusTX 22 Compact

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Handguns

Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol

Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance.  Facing...
Optics

Acro Distance Challenge

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Guns & Ammo App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now