~ Lightning and Burgess Rifle Repair Records ~

The Hintlian Colt Special Order Ledgers are complemented by numerous other period kept ledgers of the time, all held in our archives. One such incredibly important grouping of original ledger materials are the Rifle Repair Records for both Lightning and Burgess Rifles.  These records began as an informal chronicle of the beginnings of the Lightning rifle project, written and chronicled by Colt Employee and head of the Colt rifle department Frank Weatherhead in December of 1884. Soon, though, they became more comprehensive and evolved.

Weatherhead was instrumental to Colt's rifle department during these years.  By late 1884, the Burgess lever action rifle project was drawing to a close to make way for the slide-action Lightning repeating rifle line.  Frank Weatherhead was responsible for keeping and recording massive amounts of information from this time period and his notes offer a truly unique window into the Lightning Rifle project. Weatherhead spent time assembling new rifles as well as reworking rifles in need of repair that were sent in to the factory, and was one of the original three assemblers of Burgess rifles/carbines that later worked on the Elliot/Lightning project. His writings from December 1884 through January of 1900 include more than 6000 serial numbers of new and repaired rifles. Included in this range of serial numbers are both Burgess models and all three Lightning model rifles as they were introduced. Weatherhead was the lead assembler for the beginning phases of all three Lightning models, including the Medium frame, Large frame, and Small frame.

 

The serial range for the guns recorded in the Assembly/Repair ledger records are below. The earlier entries in any of the sections were dedicated to assembly, while later found entries pertain mainly to repair. 

Burgess Rifle: SN 83 through 6404 (Repair records only)

Medium Frames: SN 1 through 84,153 (Assembly and Repair records).

Large Frames: SN 1 through 6516 (Assembly and Repair records). 

Small Frames: SN 1 through 39989  (Assembly and Repair records). 

 

Many of the entries, like in the images seen below that are taken from the April 1893 and December 1898 sections, list who/whom sent the rifle in for repair.  Whether the data Weatherhead compiled confirms a production date or the caliber/features, the added possibility of being able to establish further provenance is most intriguing.

Pricing For Colt Rifle Archival Letters:

We offer an Archival Record Letter service, drawing from Weatherhead's original ledger notes.  Prices for the letters are $45.00 for basic information entries.  These may include dates, repairs made, notes, or assembly dates.  For entries with names of whom sent in a rifle for repair, named entry letters are priced at $60.00 a letter.

These include an embossed archival printed copy of your letter sent to your addresses in the USA (foreign mailed letters will require quoted postage).  A PDF copy will be emailed to you showing the entry and information as well.  Discounted prices offered for digital copies of the letter, sent to you via PDF form only are available for a $10.00 discount from above.

 

Reach Out to Inquire About Your Rifle's Possible History!