This weapon is a single shot, center fire, metallic cartridge, bolt action rifle of .50 caliber.  The 32 5/8 inch round barrel is rifled with three wide grooves making one right hand turn in 42 inches.  Total length 51 7/8 inches.  The stock is 48 7/8 inches long, shaped at the butt to fit the shoulder.  The blade front sight is mounted on a lug that served as a bayonet stud and a slide leaf rear sight folding to the rear, mounted on the barrel just in front of the receiver.  1,015 Ward-Burton rifles were produced at the Springfield Armory in 1871, for trial in the field.  The arm was not too successful due to a mechanism insufficiently rugged for the military service. 

     Our specimen on the top of the bolt “WARD-BURTON PATENT” “DEC. 20 1859 FEB. 21 1871” in two lines.  The left side of the receiver is marked “U.S.” “SPRINGFIELD 1871” in two lines and an eagle.  The bands are marked “U”.  The top of the butt plate is marked “US”.  The inspector’s cartouche on the left side of the stock is not readable.  The bayonet is marked “US”.