Have
you ever heard of a folding shotgun? I hadn’t until I was introduced to the
Burgess Folding Slide-Action Shotgun, made in the 1880s.
Andrew
Burgess (1837-1908) was a photographer, arms inventor and manufacturer, who apprenticed
with Mathew Brady in 1855. In late 1864, he undertook an extended tour of the
war-torn South following the American Civil War, photographing as he went. He
is said to be the one who took the photograph of President Abraham Lincoln that
is used on our currency.
Burgess
received his first patent (no. 119,115) on September 19, 1871 on an improvement
to the Peabody rifle. In all, Burgess registered 894 patents. In addition to
manufacturing his own guns, he produced designs for Colt, Marlin, and the
Whitneyville Armory. He founded the Burgess Gun Company in Buffalo, NY, in 1893,
to produce his folding shotgun. In 1899, Burgess sold the company to Winchester,
who promptly discontinued production of folding shotgun, reportedly to
eliminate the competition.
The
folding slide-action shotgun went into production in 1884. It had a 6-round maximum
load in the magazine below 19-20” barrel. The shotgun has an iron sleeve over
the stock wrist that activates the bolt and breech mechanism when slid
backwards. It’s hinged on the underside of the receiver with a lift lever on
top to release the barrel so it can be folded. A waist holster was made to go
with it with loops to secure it to a belt.
These
shotguns could be purchased in in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. It
was advertised as being especially adapted for police service, express
messengers like Wells-Fargo agents and shotgun messengers, U.S. 
Marshals,
prison and bank guards. Pat Garrett had one in his wagon the day he was killed.
Marshals,
prison and bank guards. Pat Garrett had one in his wagon the day he was killed.
The shotgun was
also used by police and prison guards in New York. In 1895, a zealous gun
showman and salesman arrived at the New York City’s Board of Police Commissioners
office of Theodore Roosevelt with a Burgess folding slide-action shotgun
concealed under his coat. He proceeded to pull the gun and fire six shots—blanks,
thankfully--into the ceiling. An impressed Mr. Roosevelt placed an order for
the guns for the guards at the Sing-Sing prison, among others.
VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
NRA Museum:
Curator’s Corner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IOC55jB58Q
The Burgess Folding Slide-Action Shotgun
Forgotten Weapons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXvmGtLYwKA&t=1s
See you next month!
Tracy
What a fascinating idea, Tracy. A folding shotgun. Andrew Burgess was obviously a talented inventor--and photographer, as you point out. It's too bad Winchester shelved the idea.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Tom. I'd love to shoot one, but they're only found in museums or private collections. Did you notice in the Forgotten Weapons video he only unfolded it once?
ReplyDeleteNow this is a gun to consider including in a story. This is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI just (as in 5 min ago) acquired one of these..not the folding but a Burgess slide action....amazing is all I can say. The demascus on the barrel is very unique to say the least.
ReplyDelete