Manufactured in 1880. The carbine has the 'short wrist' stock with cleaning rod butt trap, low arch breech block, and buck horn rear sight. The left side of the stock has the standard carbine sling bar and ring. The lock has a three-click tumbler and the hammer spur has fine checkering with borders. The carbine has a blued barrel, barrel band, lock plate, hammer, trigger guard and buttplate, casehardened breech block and tang with an oil-finished black walnut stock. The lock plate is marked with the eagle and shield motif ahead of the hammer followed by "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1873" (although the "1873" Date was officially eliminated on lock plates in 1878, dated lock plates continued to be installed for several years). The "1873" was restamped on their example. The breech block is marked "U.S./MODEL/1873" in three lines. The left side of the barrel is stamped with "V/P/Eagle Head/P" proof and inspection marks just in front of the receiver. The 4th pattern Model 1879 carbine leaf sight, adopted in July 1880 has a "C" on the left leg of the leaf and on the left side of the base. The heel of the buttplate is marked "US". The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with the final Ordnance inspection mark, "SWP" over "1880". The script "P" proof mark is stamped behind the triggerguard and a rack number "12" is stamped on the comb of the stock.

Refinished and remarked. Most of the artificially aged finish is present on the barrel, barrel band, hammer and butt plate. The receiver, lock plate and trigger guard show handling wear and have a blue-gray patina. The case-hardened finish on the breech block has been artificially aged to a mottled gray. The lock, barrel and breech block markings are crisp. The stock is in fine condition with minor handling marks, the spurious final inspection stamp and proof mark are sharp. This is a very good example of an original Indian War Model 1879 Trapdoor Carbine. From the Will Hoffeld collection.