RARE COLT BURGESS LEVER ACTION BABY CARBINE.

SN 5377. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Usual configuration with 20″ rnd bbl, full magazine, barleycorn front sight and reverse mounted carbine ladder rear sight. Bbl has standard 2-line markings. Left side of frame has a staple and ring along with the Rampant Colt monogram. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut and straight stock and carbine buttplate with trap containing two pieces of an orig Colt brass and steel cleaning rod. Buttstock is unmarked and buttplate has the matching serial number inside the toe. Although buttstock appears to be unnumbered it may simply be obscured by oil staining or worn away from the front face where it would normally be found. It fits extremely well and leaves little doubt that it has been with this rifle virtually all of its working life. Accompanied by a Colt Factory Letter which identifies this carbine in cal 44-40 with 20″ bbl, nickel finish, type of stock not listed, and shipped to Hartley & Graham, New York New York, on February 9, 1884 in a 10 gun shipment. This carbine weighs 5-1/2 lbs versus the 7-1/2 lbs of a standard carbine. The Burgess Arms line was very brief with only about 6,403 rifles and carbines produced in the period 1883-1885. There is no information recorded as to why, after spending a substantial amount of money tooling up for this line, that Colt halted production after such a short run. It is firmly believed by most Colt and Winchester students that when Colt began producing lever action rifles Winchester simply displayed to them Winchester’s line of handguns, which they would not produce if Colt stopped production of rifles and carbines. Apparently a deal was struck and Colt stopped production after only these few rifles and carbines were made and Winchester never started production of handguns. According to Flaydermans Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 972 Baby Carbines produced and of that total only 216 were nickel plated, truly making this one of the most rare of Colt firearms. PROVENANCE: Collection of John Montague. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl retains 50-60% orig nickel with the balance cleaned to bright metal and scattered spots of pitting. Magazine tube also retains about 60% orig nickel with the balance cleaned bright metal and with spots of pitting. Receiver retains about 60-65% orig nickel, mostly on the left side, top and bottom edges. Right side is mostly cleaned bright metal with fine pitting. Left side is strong bright nickel mixed with pimpling. Hammer retains traces of nickel. Lever also retains traces of nickel with pitting on outer face. Buttplate retains nickel on the tang with the balance cleaned bright metal. Forearm has one crack over the loading gate area and a small chip by the top tang with an old ding in the comb and a gouge on left side of wrist, otherwise wood is sound with usual nicks, dings and scratches and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with frosty pitting. 4-53746 JR252 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 3141

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3141	$9,200.00	RARE COLT BURGESS LEVER ACTION BABY CARBINE. SN 5377. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Usual configuration with 20″ rnd bbl, full magazine, barleycorn front sight and reverse mounted carbine ladder rear sight. Bbl has standard 2-line markings. Left side of frame has a staple and ring along with the Rampant Colt monogram. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut and straight stock and carbine buttplate with trap containing two pieces of an orig Colt brass and steel cleaning rod. Buttstock is unmarked and buttplate has the matching serial number inside the toe. Although buttstock appears to be unnumbered it may simply be obscured by oil staining or worn away from the front face where it would normally be found. It fits extremely well and leaves little doubt that it has been with this rifle virtually all of its working life. Accompanied by a Colt Factory Letter which identifies this carbine in cal 44-40 with 20″ bbl, nickel finish, type of stock not listed, and shipped to Hartley & Graham, New York New York, on February 9, 1884 in a 10 gun shipment. This carbine weighs 5-1/2 lbs versus the 7-1/2 lbs of a standard carbine. The Burgess Arms line was very brief with only about 6,403 rifles and carbines produced in the period 1883-1885. There is no information recorded as to why, after spending a substantial amount of money tooling up for this line, that Colt halted production after such a short run. It is firmly believed by most Colt and Winchester students that when Colt began producing lever action rifles Winchester simply displayed to them Winchester’s line of handguns, which they would not produce if Colt stopped production of rifles and carbines. Apparently a deal was struck and Colt stopped production after only these few rifles and carbines were made and Winchester never started production of handguns. According to Flaydermans Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 972 Baby Carbines produced and of that total only 216 were nickel plated, truly making this one of the most rare of Colt firearms. PROVENANCE: Collection of John Montague. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl retains 50-60% orig nickel with the balance cleaned to bright metal and scattered spots of pitting. Magazine tube also retains about 60% orig nickel with the balance cleaned bright metal and with spots of pitting. Receiver retains about 60-65% orig nickel, mostly on the left side, top and bottom edges. Right side is mostly cleaned bright metal with fine pitting. Left side is strong bright nickel mixed with pimpling. Hammer retains traces of nickel. Lever also retains traces of nickel with pitting on outer face. Buttplate retains nickel on the tang with the balance cleaned bright metal. Forearm has one crack over the loading gate area and a small chip by the top tang with an old ding in the comb and a gouge on left side of wrist, otherwise wood is sound with usual nicks, dings and scratches and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with frosty pitting. 4-53746 JR252 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 3141 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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RARE COLT BURGESS LEVER ACTION BABY CARBINE.