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Fine U.S. Springfield Engraved Officer's Model 1875 Trapdoor Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
Fine U.S. Springfield Engraved Officer's Model 1875 Trapdoor Rifle
This is a fine example of an early Model 1875 Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifle as made by Springfield Armory at the special request of various U.S. Army Officers to the Chief of Ordnance. These rifles were not issued, but instead sold to Army officers for personal use. One of the attractions of serving in the American West was the excellent hunting. Each one of these rifles were individually made and to avoid the time consuming custom work, the Ordnance Department decided to standardize the "Sporting rifle" term and renamed it the "Model 1875 Officer's Rifle". This particular rifle features a 26" barrel with a folding front globe sight and the standard rear folding rifle sight graduated to 1,200 yards, and a tang mounted long range peep sight. The breechblock is marked "MODEL/1873/eagle head/crossed swords/US" and the lock is marked with the eagle shield motif and "U.S. / SPRINGFIELD / 1873" ahead of the hammer. The left rear of the barrel is marked with the "V / P / eagle head" proof marks and the buttplate tang is marked "U.S.". The breechblock, hammer, upper tang, lock, latch, buttplate tang, trigger guard and top of the barrel band are decorated with floral scroll designs. The barrel and rear sight are blue and the remaining parts are casehardened. Mounted with a checkered straight grip half stock with a wood ramrod with a nickel finished brass tip, floral scroll engraved German silver forend, dished cheek area and crescent iron buttplate.
BBL: 26 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 45-70
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: nsn
Condition: Fine. The barrel retains 40% original blue finish mixed with smooth grayish patina. The trigger guard has a smooth gray patina with strong faded original case colors remaining. The buttplate has a smooth silver gray patina. The lock has a smooth gray patina with strong original case colors in the protected area of the hammer. The remaining parts retain 60% of the original vivid case colors mixed with smooth silver gray patina. With the exception of some heavy wear on the right side of the forearm, the stock is very fine with a few minor dings and dents and with the exception mentioned above (dished cheek area) very crisp checkering. The markings and engraving remain crisp and clear. The action is excellent. A fine example of an original U.S. Springfield Officer's Model Trapdoor rifle.