October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/1/2018
This is the first example of this rare carbine we have ever seen. Barrel is stamped "GW MORSE PATENTED OCTOBER 28 1856" on barrel. Caliber is stamped "44 CAL. 70 GR. CF". Tang is stamped "A BURGESS PATENTED GANY 7TH 1873 OCTOBER 19TH 1875". This rifle uses the Burgess system as the inventor, Morse, has the 1856 patent for the solid head reloadable cartridge case and the gun is actually referred to as a Whitney Burgess 1878 1st Model carbine. Features round barrel, dovetail front sight, military folding leaf rear sight, full length walnut forend, barrel band, forend tip, saddle ring and stud, "S" lever, walnut stocks and rifle butt. This example has the loading gate. The 1st Model carbine has the unusual bolt with three screws that can be seen on page 35 in the book "The Burgess Long Range Repeating Rifle Model 1878" by Dale Olson. Full length pictures of this carbine can be seen on pages 30 and 33. CONDITION: Metal retains the majority of the reapplied blued finish that is now thinning on the frame. Walnut stocks have been refinished and are shy to metal. Well defined rifling with minor abrasion and frosted grooves. Fine action. This carbine is so rare, most collectors have never seen one. It's all there and is scarce enough to warrant an expert restoration.