The buttplate case colors have faded to silver-gray patina with scattered age spotting. The barrel band and trigger guard show minor handling wear with approximately 50 60 60 percent original case colors fading to bright finish. The barrel retains 95% of the slightly faded original blue finish 85% of the casehardened finish on the receiver, breechblock, tang and hammer remains strong case colors. (Springfield Research may be able to identify who purchased this rifle, or to whom it was presented.)Ĭondition: Excellent. This rifle is numbered 45 on the upper stock forward of the buttplate. Springfield Armory manufactured only 477 of these fine rifles between 18. The Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifles were manufactured to provide Army officers with a high quality sporting rifle chambered for the. The rifle has a blued barrel and color casehardened barrel band, receiver, breechblock, lock plate, hammer, tang, trigger guard and buttplate. An encircled script 'P' proof mark is stamped on the underside of the stock at the terminus of wrist checkering. The left side of the barrel is stamped with the Springfield, 'V/P/Eagle Head/P', proof and acceptance marks. In addition to the open scroll engraving, the lock plate is roll-stamped with the Springfield 'Eagle and Shield' motif and 'U.S./SPRINGFIELD' 1873 in two lines 'U.S.' is stamped on the buttplate heel centered by engraved scroll work.

The breechblock has the standard, three-line, markings, 'U.S./MODEL/1873'. The receiver is, correctly, not serial numbered. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted front sight with nickel-silver blade. The rifle was ordered with the tang mounted peep sight and globe front sight found on most Officers' Model Trapdoor Rifles. The rifle has a single set-trigger, two-position tumbler, carbine trigger guard without stacking swivel, hammer with oval knurled panel and 1877 Buckhorn 'R' (rifle) marked rear sight. The barrel is fitted with a single ramrod pipe that secures a hickory ramrod with slotted ferule and milled head.

The straight grain walnut stock (rich patina) has checkered panels that remain sharp on the wrist and forearm. In addition to the Type I features, the rifle has well-executed scroll engraving on the forend cap, barrel band, receiver top, breechblock, tang, cam latch, lock plate, hammer, trigger guard and buttplate. The rifle features the distinctive Type I checkered walnut half-stock with detachable, checkered pistol grip, high-arch breechblock, rounded, nickel plated forend tip, nickel plated front and rear ramrod tips. This is an excellent example of a Type I Officer's Trapdoor Rifle that was manufactured by Springfield Armory between 18. One of small group bearing 1881 inspectors' markĪ superior early production example subsequently became the US Model 1875 Model 1873 Springfield First Type Officer's Sporting Rifle, 45-70 Caliber Hover over 'Arms & Militaria' above for more categories

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