It is a hammerless "trapdoor" breechblock design, and was manufactured in limited numbers (the contract stipulated 30,000) as a full-length infantry rifle.

Colt also manufactured a few half-stock Berdan I cavalry carbine prototypes, but these were never adopted for Russian service.

The model 1870, or Berdan II, is a single-shot bolt-action with a distinctive short, pear-shaped bolt handle.

The bolt handle serves as the only locking lug for the action, and when closed, points upwards at a 30-degree angle, rather than horizontally.

It consisted of the same cartridge case and bullet, but with a lighter powder charge of only 4.5 grams, and was issued in six round pink paper packets.

By the late 1880s Russia began the process of replacing the Berdan with a high velocity and magazine fed rifle, and this resulted in the adoption of the Mosin–Nagant.

In 1892, a batch of 3,004 Berdan II rifles were converted to 7.62×54mmR for Russian service by arms makers in Belgium.

Markings on the Berdan rifle usually consist of the Imperial Russian double-headed eagle cypher on the top receiver flat.