Burgess Gun Co. Slide Action, Blue 32″ 12 Gauge Take-Down Wrist Grip Pump Shotgun 1892-98 Antique

SOLD FOR $1,525.00
LSB#: 
180508SH01

Make: Burgess Gun Co.

Model: 12 Gauge Shotgun

Serial Number: 2047

Year of Manufacture: 1892-1898

Caliber: 12 Gauge 2 1/2″. Note: This shotgun was developed during black powder cartridge times and use of modern ammo should be discouraged.

Action Type: Grip/Wrist Slide/Pump Action Takedown Shotgun

Markings: The barrel is marked with patent dates. The top of the bolt is marked “BURGESS GUN CO. / BUFFALO, N.Y. U.S.A.”. The bottom of the slide assembly at the front, forward of the trigger guard, is marked with the serial number. The buttplate is marked “BURGESS / GUN CO.” around an embossed dog’s head holding a bird.

Barrel Length: 32”

Choke: Improved Modified, Fixed

Sights / Optics: The gun is mounted with a single front bead and the top of the bolt assembly is grooved to provide a sighting plane.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a three-piece set with a checkered forend and grip and smooth buttstock. The forend has many scattered light-moderate compressions, drag lines and scratches with scattered bruising. The checkering is smooth with areas on the bottom nearly gone. The grip has a few scattered light compressions, a hairline crack at the front edge on the right side and another hairline crack going back from the right-rear corner of the trigger guard. The buttstock has discoloration and wear in the wrist where the grip/slide moves over it, scattered light to moderate compressions, drag lines, nicks and bruises and a chip loss at the toe. There is some dark residue at the heel which may be from a repair. The LOP measures 14 1/8” to the back of the checkered hard rubber butt plate. The plate has a chip loss at the toe matching that in the stock, a few scattered light marks and wear and what appears to be water damage at the heel and toe, in about Good condition. The stocks rate in about Good-Very Good overall condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue, Damascus Barrel

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. There is light erosion throughout the bore.

Overall Condition: This gun retains about 2% of its metal finish. The remaining finish is in protected areas such as around the front of the trigger guard, the side faces of the trigger guard and in the radiused portions of the receiver flats. The barrel has a few spots of dark discoloration from oxidation with most of the surface worn to white with very light mottled patina and swirl damascus patterning. There are a few scattered light marks in the barrel. The receiver flats show many but very light scratches and scuffs and mottled light patina. The bolt and slide assembly have similar patina mottling with fewer light marks. The Screw heads range from tool marked with strong slots (nosecap, top tang) to moderately disfigured with poor, possibly unusable slots (grip screw). The markings are clear. Overall, this gun rates in about Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel can be removed by opening the action and depressing a button on the right-front of the receiver. We have not test fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Burgess Gun Company made slide action repeating rifles and shotguns from 1892-1899, making far more shotguns than rifles. Their mechanism is somewhat unique with the slide handle being the grip, not the forend. To someone used to a traditional pump-action, this is a little awkward at first, but after some handling it’s not too bad. For someone who had never operated a repeating shotgun of any kind, it likely would have felt just fine. The quality of manufacturing was considered fine, but Winchester didn’t want competitors in the repeating shotgun market and bought out the company in 1899, withdrawing the design from the market and never utilizing it again. This shotgun is in about Very Good condition with strong mechanics, a decent bore and a very interesting history and mechanism. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Antique shotgun can be transferred in California.

Burgess Gun Co. Slide Action, Blue 32" 12 Gauge Take-Down Wrist Grip Pump Shotgun 1892-98 Antique
Burgess Gun Co. Slide Action, Blue 32″ 12 Gauge
Take-Down Wrist Grip Pump Shotgun 1892-98 Antique