OB - EXCELLENT- all original parts; over 80% original finish; sharp lettering, numerals and design on metal; unmarred wood.

Manufactured c. 1876. An included copy of a letter of provenance addressed from Charles B. Layson of Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc. and dated April 16th, 2015 states, "Springfield Model 1873, serial number 71601, was one of two rifles presented by Theodore Roosevelt to his friend and hunting companion, Albert Ross, Admiral USN, circa 1914. Admiral Ross was the first Commandant of the Naval Training Station of the Great Lakes, Illinois, raising the flag on July 1st, 1901. This information comes from an affidavit written by Mrs. Alice Carey [not included, unsubstantiated], who was Admiral Ross' granddaughter. She states that he and Theodore Roosevelt were fishing and hunting partners for many years, and that the President obtained these two rifles from Ft. Trumbull, in Trumbull, CT. She further states that her mother, Albert Ross' daughter actually lived on his ship from 1898 to about 1904 when she was in her teens. It is interesting to note that the serial numbers of the two rifles in Mrs. Carey's statement are 71601 and 71618 [also in this auction, lot XXX GXLM2-1043], only 17 numbers apart."