Whitney-Burgess-Morse
Whitney Arms Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1878
Also known as: Whitney-Burgess Model 1878, Whitney Burgess Morse Model 1878, Whitney-Burgess-Morse Sporting Rifle
Overview
The Whitney-Burgess-Morse is a lever-action repeating rifle chambered in .45-70 Government, produced by the Whitney Arms Company from 1878 to 1882. Designed by Andrew Burgess with patents drawing on the work of George W. Morse, it used a dropping-block action operated by a distinctive serpentine finger lever, mechanically different from Winchester's toggle-link design. It was among the first repeating rifles offered in the full-power .45-70 Government cartridge and was originally entered in the 1878 U.S. Army Ordnance trials before being redesigned and marketed as a sporting and express rifle for large game such as deer, elk, buffalo, and bear.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4025 g (142.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1118 mm (44.02") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 8 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Muzzle Velocity | 411 m/s (1348 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2215 J (1634 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45-70 Government · primary — also known as .45-70, .45-70 Govt, 11.6x53mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Tubular Magazine, Side Loading Gate, Saddle Ring, Serpentine Finger Lever, Dropping Block Lever Action
Production
Estimated total produced: 3,000 · Production years: 1878-1882
Fewer than approximately 3,000 produced before Whitney's acquisition by Winchester; an extremely rare collector's rifle today.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Andrew Burgess
Discontinued: 1882
Notes
Fewer than roughly 3,000 were made. The sporting version added a side loading gate on the right of the receiver and a civilian stock. Whitney's firearms business was acquired by Winchester in 1888, which then ceased production to remove a competitor to its own lever-action line.
Background
Entered in the 1878 U.S. Army Ordnance trials, the rifle performed admirably but was rejected; Whitney then redesigned it as a civilian express rifle. When Winchester bought the Whitney works in 1888, it promptly halted production to keep this capable .45-70 repeater from competing with its own lever guns.