Burgess 1878 Military Carbines: .45-70 Before Winchester

Published on April 7, 2020
Duration: 18:41

This video provides an expert-level deep dive into the Burgess 1878 Military Carbine and Sporting Rifle, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. It details Andrew Burgess's innovative lever-action design, its production by Whitneyville Armory, and its competition against Winchester in Army trials. The review highlights the unique locking bar mechanism, caliber capabilities (.45-70 Government), and the reasons for its limited commercial success, including jamming issues and ammunition sensitivity.

Quick Summary

The Burgess 1878 rifle was notable for its strong single long locking bar mechanism, designed to handle the .45-70 Government cartridge, and was produced by Whitneyville Armory. Despite its mechanical advantages over competitors like the Winchester 1876, it faced issues with jamming and ammunition detonation, hindering its commercial and military success.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Andrew Burgess
  2. 00:53Early Designs and Caliber Importance
  3. 01:50Whitneyville Armory Production
  4. 03:40Mechanical Action Explained
  5. 05:00Loading Variants: Top vs. Side
  6. 06:35Carbine vs. Rifle Configurations
  7. 07:221878 Army Trials and Failures
  8. 08:48Commercial Issues and Ammo Detonations
  9. 11:28Legacy and Patent Licensing
  10. 15:28Markings and Morse Patent

Frequently Asked Questions

What made the Burgess 1878 rifle unique in its time?

The Burgess 1878 featured a novel and robust single long locking bar mechanism, which was stronger than the Winchester 1876's toggle-link system and allowed it to reliably handle the powerful .45-70 Government cartridge, a significant feat for lever-action rifles of the era.

Why did the Burgess 1878 rifle fail to achieve widespread military adoption?

Despite its strong action, the Burgess 1878 suffered from jamming issues, particularly with its side-loading mechanism. Additionally, dangerous ammunition detonation problems with certain .45-70 loads and competition from more reliable designs contributed to its limited success.

Who manufactured the Burgess 1878 rifle?

The Burgess 1878 rifle was produced by Whitneyville Armory, which was operated by Eli Whitney Jr. Whitneyville served as a manufacturing partner for independent firearm inventors like Andrew Burgess who lacked their own production capabilities.

What is the significance of the G.W. Morse patent marking on the Burgess 1878?

The G.W. Morse 1856 patent marking found on Burgess 1878 rifles is believed to have been included by the manufacturer, Whitneyville Armory, possibly to preemptively address potential patent infringement claims during the rifle's production, even though Morse's patent predated Burgess's design.

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