Burr Puzzle

In this post, I shall talk about a type of interlocking puzzle called Burr puzzle.

Burr puzzle consists of at least 3 rods, which intersecting with each other at right angles. The most common and famous type is the 6 piece burr, where there are 3 sets of two rods intersecting with each other.
The way to solve this puzzle is first figuring out how to remove the first piece from the complete puzzle, and then the second piece, and finally the whole puzzle, and then try to restore the pieces back to the whole puzzle again.

Watch this video on assembling of a 6 piece burr puzzle:

Assembling of a 24 piece burr puzzle:


History of burr puzzle
Only little is known about the puzzle's early history, however it is certain that the puzzles were produced in Europe and Asia as early as the 18th century. The 6 piece burr puzzle were shown in toy catalogs as early as 1803. In 1928, Puzzles in Wood, a book devoted to the burr puzzle was published by Edwin Wyatt.
Burr puzzle used to known as 'Chinese' puzzle, due to mass production of the puzzle in the Orient since early 1900s, however, there is no evidence to show that the puzzle originated from there.
The puzzle got its name as burr puzzle from Wyatt, because the puzzle looks like a seed burr.