This is a fine example of a U.S. Springfield Type I, Model 1875 Officer's Rifle that was manufactured c.1875-77. The rifle has a blued barrel and color case-hardened barrel band, receiver, breechblock, hammer, lock plate, trigger guard, and buttplate. The oil-finished black walnut stock has a checkered wrist and forearm with engraved German silver forearm tip. The rifle has the early features that include: (1)'high arch' breechblock marked "MODEL/1873/Eagle Head/Crossed Arrows/U.S.", (2) lock plate roll-stamped with the Springfield Eagle and shield motif followed by "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1873" in three lines, (3) small "V/P/Eagle Head" proof and inspection marks on the left side of the barrel and (4) Model 1873 rifle rear sight graduated to 400 yards on the right side of the base and 1,200 yards on the leaf. The barrel is fitted with a single ramrod pipe that secures a replacement hickory ramrod. The barrel has a dove tail mounted beach folding globe front sight with brass pin. A Springfield altered Sharps folding vernier rear sight is mounted on the stock wrist. The rifle is fitted with a single set trigger. The rifle has a carbine trigger guard with no sling swivel and a smooth trigger. The forearm tip, barrel band, receiver, breechblock, tang, hammer, lock platem and buttplate are all decorated with well executed open scroll engraving. "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. A encircled script "P" proofmark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the wrist checkering. The rifle is correctly not serial numbered. The Model 1875 Officer's Rifle was designed to provide Army officer's serving in the west with a high quality sporting rifle that chambered the .45-70 service cartridge. Springfield Armory manufactured approximately 125 of these scarce and desirable Type I Officer's Rifles between 1875 and 1877.

Very fine. The rifle is original with moderate handling wear and retains 80% of the blue and 30% case-hardened finish. The original blue finish on the barrel has faded slightly but shows only very limited handling wear. The case colors on the barrel band, receiver, breech block, hammer, lockplate, tang, trigger guard, and buttplate have faded to a smooth gray-brown patina with scattered patches of age discoloration. The buttplate has a silver-gray patina with larger patches of age discoloration. The armory markings and engraving remain crisp. The stock is in very good condition with moderate handling wear. The diamonds in the checkered panels on the stock and forearm are flattened slightly from handling. The stock has minor scattered handling marks, but no serious wear. The single set trigger functions perfectly. The original wiping rod has been replaced with a simple hickory ramrod. Early Type I rifles like this example were the most popular Model 1875 Officer's Rifles and are less frequently encountered than Type II or Type III rifles and typically show the most wear.