Was given a weird shotgun

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anarchist_ns

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I'm not a shotgun guy, so I have to ask the people in the know. I was given a really weird shotgun last night. I was told it's fairly old, and it looks it. It's a pump action, but the pump is located kind of in the stock. The only name I can find on it is Burgess. I picked it up late last night and haven't really had the time to have a thorough look at it or do a proper internet search of it. Can anyone give me some direction..?? Are they rare, or even collectible..? I have never seen one before so I don't really know. I'll post pics when I can. Thanks
 
This is a fairy early pump shotgun. They are not common. After the death of Andrew Burgess, Winchester acquired the assets of the company, but did not produce the gun. If it is complete, and in respectable condition, it would have some collector appeal.
 
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Its not a "pump", its called a slide action. Depending on condition, serial #,. ect at acution could start from $500-$1000 starting bid. My Grandpa had one untill the drunks sold all his guns when I was a kid.....
 
The action is operated by "pumping"/"sliding" the pistol grip.
There was even a folding variation marketed as a riot gun. The folded gun could be carried, loaded, underneath a coat, then folded out into operating configuration in a moment. 100 of these folding riot guns were purchased by Theodore Rossevelt for the NYS Corrections system. These guns were sold off in Canada in the '20s. The sporting guns were essentially the same gun, with a longer barrel, without the folding feature.
 
ronkytonk said:
Its not a "pump", its called a slide action. Depending on condition, serial #,. ect at acution could start from $500-$1000 starting bid. My Grandpa had one untill the drunks sold all his guns when I was a kid.....
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Ok slide action. Either way, weird design. I have never heard of one let alone seen one. Thanks fellas....:cheers:
 
tiriaq said:
The action is operated by "pumping"/"sliding" the pistol grip.
There was even a folding variation marketed as a riot gun. The folded gun could be carried, loaded, underneath a coat, then folded out into operating configuration in a moment. 100 of these folding riot guns were purchased by Theodore Rossevelt for the NYS Corrections system. These guns were sold off in Canada in the '20s. The sporting guns were essentially the same gun, with a longer barrel, without the folding feature.
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Unfortunately, it's not a folding one. Just the regular one.
 
tiriaq said:
The action is operated by "pumping"/"sliding" the pistol grip.
There was even a folding variation marketed as a riot gun. The folded gun could be carried, loaded, underneath a coat, then folded out into operating configuration in a moment. 100 of these folding riot guns were purchased by Theodore Rossevelt for the NYS Corrections system. These guns were sold off in Canada in the '20s. The sporting guns were essentially the same gun, with a longer barrel, without the folding feature.
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If it were the folding model would it be classified as a restricted or prohibited or would it be grandfathered as an antique?
 
It folds at the front of the receiver, so is completely inoperative when folded. The barrel assembly is fixed to the receiver by multiple vertical grooves, not unlike the Stevens 520.
No 12ga centerfire shotgun has antique status.
 
I'd looked up the Burgess in "The World's Fighting Shotguns" by Thomas Swearingen. If anyone is interested in non-sporting shotguns, this is the single best reference, although it is a bit dated now.
Just do a google for "Burgess Repeating Shotgun", there are lots of photos.
 
tiriaq said:
I'd looked up the Burgess in "The World's Fighting Shotguns" by Thomas Swearingen. If anyone is interested in non-sporting shotguns, this is the single best reference, although it is a bit dated now.
Just do a google for "Burgess Repeating Shotgun", there are lots of photos.
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That's it. Looks just like that, but most of the blueing is gone. However, the gun is not sloppy in operation.
 
Kool gun!! Congrats.
Is there a good chance that maybe it was a "brown" bluing back then ? kinda like an older plum color.. worn off rust look ??
...if your considering selling it, don't try and re finish it or reblue it...that old worn patina is what everyone looks for.
I've read where guys had old colts and refinished them. They got 3G's for it when it was redone. HAD they LEFT it alone as it was.....the value was 30 THOUSAND PLUS !!
 
kevin g said:
Kool gun!! Congrats.
Is there a good chance that maybe it was a "brown" bluing back then ? kinda like an older plum color.. worn off rust look ??
...if your considering selling it, don't try and re finish it or reblue it...that old worn patina is what everyone looks for.
I've read where guys had old colts and refinished them. They got 3G's for it when it was redone. HAD they LEFT it alone as it was.....the value was 30 THOUSAND PLUS !!
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Perhaps you are right, it's kind of a brownish color. I'd never touch it. I've watched enough shows on tv to know that. But thanks for the info. I'll put pics up as soon as I can.
 
anarchist_ns said:
Perhaps you are right, it's kind of a brownish color..
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Likely it was blued. Bluing is a form of interrupted rusting that turns blue when "carded" (the reddish colored rust gets sanded off by the card and leaves a bluish oxide behind).

When rust bluing ages, it turns a reddish-brown color and is called patina. (FWIW, there was also a form of bluing that is more gold-brown in color, but that's less common)
 
Guess the fall of the LGR has brought alot of firearms out of the woodwork. Lucky to have such a nice gun, now don't go firing modern shells out of it please...
 
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