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Winning Bid US $1255 First bid $1250 Quantity 1 # of bids 2 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

RARE!! Springfield Armory, M1871 Ward-Burton Rifle, Cal: .50-70, MFG: 1871-72, S/N: None, Bolt action single shot rifle, 32 1/2'' barrel.

HISTORY: After the Civil War the US Military realized their muzzleloaders were obsolete needed to adopt a standard issue breech loading metallic cartridge rifle after their use with cavalry during the Civil War & from observations of other European nations adopting them. The Military would first turn to Erskine S. Allin, Master Armorer at Springfield, with his conversion of the Springfield musket to a trapdoor breech loader. This was originally going to be a stop gap for the Military before they could adopt a ground up designed Breechloader. Between 1870-72 The US would start trialing many different breech loading designs & comparing them to the Converted Springfield Muskets & the new ground up built Allen Trapdoor Springfield. One of these rifles was The Ward-Burton rifle. Designed & patented by gunsmith Bethel Burton. General William G. Ward played a Key role in getting the rifle tested by the military with his military connections. The Ward-Burton rifle was the first true bolt action used/tested by the US military (The Krag was the first adopted). The rifle is uniquely modern for 1871 with dual sets of rear locking lugs on the bolt body. 1,011 Rifles & Carbines would be made at Springfield Armory for testing in 1871-72, they were never serialized as they were prototypes for testing. The 1871 Ward-Burton rifle would first see testing with the army 13th infantry division. The carbines which were made in very limited numbers would see testing with the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, & 9th U.S. Cavalry companies. Most of these units would also be issued with M1870 Trapdoor Springfields & other breech loading trial rifles. These guns did some combat use, most notably the carbines that were issued to Cavalry units during the Yellowstone expedition, & with units stationed in Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, & Kansas. Filed reports across the board concluded that the rifle was unfit for military use based on a couple factors, there was problems with parts breaking & with accidental discharges because how this rifle functions is normal today, but was a brand-new invention back then. Troops had problems knowing if the rifle was loaded, cocked, or de-cocked leading to the accidental discharges. In total The Ward-Burton rifle has 95 reports on it & not one recommended it for adoption. Ward & Burton would submit their rifle again in 1878 for the magazine rifle trials, now with a tube magazine under the barrel, but it did not get into the trial stage mostly because of the reputation of the 1871 rifle. All the other Rifle designs would be rejected over the updated Trapdoor-Springfield in 1873 despite it originally being meant as a stop gap.

CONDITION: The straight wrist Black Walnut stock is very good with various nicks, dings, & scratches from use/age. There is a '' crack on the right side of the stock in the bolt handle cutout. The bottom of the wrist has a ''P' in box cartouche. The left flat of the stock has the two inspector stamps ''JWK'' (John W. Keene), & ''ESA'' (Erskine S. Allin), cartouches are faded but still visible/ legible. The metal was finished in ''National army bright'' AKA left unfinished when it was made, the metal has now toned to a mix of gun metal gray & speckled brown patina. left side of the receiver marked with a American great eagle, ''U.S.'', ''SPRINGFIELD 1871''. The top of the bolt is marked ''WARD BURTON PATENT'', ''DEC20.1859 FEB 21.1871'', marking is partially faded. Both barrel bands are marked ''U''. the upper extension of the buttplate marked ''US''. The bore is fair. It's bright but has roughness/pitting & worn rifling. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with a flip up ladder U-notch rear sight. The stock carries a steel buttplate, bare steel with speckled patina. The rifle has both bottom sling loops & has the cleaning/clearing rod. The rifle also comes with the correct M1855 musket socket bayonet that these rifles were issued with. Bayonet is bare still with brown patina, blade marked ''US'' over ''F'', markings have been buffed/cleaned at some point. A unique rife & interesting rifle that helped pushed firearm development forward here in the United States. Antique, No FFL Req. - Value: 2500 to 5000

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Price

RARE!! Springfield Armory, M1871 Ward-Burton Rifle, Cal: .50-70,... Item # 4439 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $1255

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