LONG RANGE REPEATING RIFLE
Burgess Serial Numbers
Andrew Burgess was a well known Civil War photographer, designer of fire alarms and a prolific designer of firearms. He had nearly 600 firearms patents to his credit. Burgess approached Whitney with his design for a lever action repeating magazine rifle chambered in the .45-70 Government cartridge. It was hoped that this gun would be accepted in the military trials of 1878 to adopt a repeating rifle. Although not successful, Whitney continued production in sporting and military versions. It is believed by some that Whitney may have only contracted to manufacture 2000 of these guns.
Right and left view of 1st, 2nd and 3rd model Burgess rifles
Manufactured from late 1878 to early 1880
Total production estimated at less than 2000 rifles and carbines.
First model:
Serial numbers range from 1 up to approximately 700
Barrel address: faces right.
G.W. Morse, Patented Oct. 28th 1856 (this patent covers the recessed head of the cartridge in the breach)
45 Cal 70 Gr. C.F. near the breech faces left.
Tang markings: A. Burgess
Patented: Jan., 7th 1873
Patented: Oct. 19th 1875
Serial numbers: Numbers are all marked internally.
On the first model the serial number is located by opening the action and looking from the top of the receiver to the inside of the floorplate. When dissembled, most parts are numbered.
Features of first model:
This model has what is referred to as a rebated frame, which appears to be rather flat sided with a step at the front of the receiver. The dust cover has two small screws at the forward end, wedge attaches the nosecap to the barrel, magazine tube plug dose not have a screwdriver slot, and screw above where the lever enters the frame is on the right side only.
Top view of 1st and 3rd models
Second Model:
Serial numbers range from approximately 700 to 800 with some overlap. This model appears to be a transitional model between first and third models.
Barrel address: Same as first model.
Tang markings: Same as first model.
Serial numbers: Numbers are now marked externally. Numbers are now found stamped on the lower tang, visible by opening the lever.
Features of the second model:
Screw has been added to the left side of the frame above where the lever enters the frame, screw between the carrier and hammer screw on the left side of the frame has been eliminated.
Third Model:
Serial numbers range from approximately 800 to end of production.
Barrel address: Address now faces the left.
Tang markings: Same as first and second models.
Serial numbers: Same as second models.
Features of the third model:
This model has been completely redesigned. The receiver is no longer rebated, but rather now has a smooth more rounded appearance. The breechblock is thickened considerably, the two small screws on the dustcover have been eliminated, the forearm wedge has been replaced with a screw, and the magazine tube plug screw now has a slot.