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Burgess Folding Slide Action Shotgun

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Burgess Folding Slide Action Shotgun
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Scarce and Desirable Burgess Folding Slide Action Shotgun, #3340, 12 ga., 19-1/2'' barrel, blue finish, checkered walnut stock, top of bolt hand-engraved ''Burgess Gun Co./Buffalo, NY, USA''. Innovative shotgun designed by 19th Century inventor Andrew Burgess, who established his own company in 1892 but which only lasted until 1899 when his company and patents were purchased by Winchester. This unique design functions by the sliding action of the wrist that operates the bolt to eject and reload. The Burgess folding shotgun in particular was the choice for bank messengers and prison guards who needed a compact arm that could be carried in a belt holster. It is interesting to note that in 1895 an armed man is said to have entered Theodore Roosevelt's office and fired six times before the startled future president could protest. Roosevelt, then president of New York City's Police Commissioners, discovered the intruder was a zealous gun salesman named Charlie Damon. I!
n spectacular fashion Damon was demonstrating the advantages of a recently introduced police shotgun made by the Burgess Shotgun Co. Using only blanks, he hoped to see its adoption by the NYPD. Condition is fine to near excellent. Barrel and mag tube retain approx. 96% lightly thinning and toning blue. Frame shows near 90% high polish factory blue, slightly thinning on left side with some spotting and flaking. Toe of buttstock with professional repair. Stock shows light scuffing, minor flattening to checkering, yet retains approx. 85% of its original factory varnish. Burgess hard rubber buttplate shows only light use, with professionally executed repair at toe of buttplate. Action is crisp, bore is bright. Folding stock Burgess shotguns are rarely found in high condition. (Walt Hallstein collection) Est.: $6,000-$8,000.