This is a nice original example of a late U.S. Springfield Armory Type III, Model 1875 Trapdoor Officer's Rifle as manufactured between 1877 and 1881. These rifles were a badge of rank and distinction by U.S. Calvary Officer's that had to be purchased directly from Springfield Armory on a special order basis only. There were three different types, with only a total of 477 Officer's Models actually produced with only 125 Type III Models. These scarce rifles all exhibited select walnut stocks, with checkering on the forend and pistol grip area with a separate detachable walnut pistol grip. The receiver, breechblock, lock plate, hammer and tang, and barrel band are all decorated with a fine scroll engraving. The left side of the barrel is stamped "V/P/Eagle Head/P" proof and the underside of barrel has a single iron ramrod thimble, and is fitted with a hickory wiping rod with nickel plated knurled front ferrule and slotted rear ferrule. The top of the breechblock is marked "U.S./MODEL/1873" in three lines and the lock plate is marked with the Springfield Eagle/Shield motif ahead of the hammer followed by "U.S./SPRINGFIELD", surrounded by scroll engraving. The barrel has a dovetail mounted folding Beach front sight that has a combination folding blade and globe front sight with a buckhorn Model 1877 rifle rear sight. The top of the wrist of the stock has a late Type III folding vernier tang sight with the oval base. It is fitted with the two piece trigger plate and trigger guard bow that also has fine engraving and is fitted with a single set-trigger. The rifle is fitted with an oil finished walnut half-stock that is fitted with an engraved German silver forend tip, checkered wrist, forearm and detachable walnut pistol grip. The end of the butt has a solid steel buttplate stamped with a "U.S." on top of the heel. Since this is a late Type III rifle it has a correct boxed "S.W.P./1885" cartouche on the left side with a circled script, "P" proofmark behind the checkered panel on the underside of the stock. These rifles all have a blued barrel, color casehardened receiver and components.

Very good with the exposed metal surfaces having turned an attractive dark brown patina finish. The color casehardened parts have also faded and turned a silvery patina overall. The markings are clear and distinct. The top of the breechblock and edges of the receiver show some very minor old erosion, probably from use and storing in a saddle scabbard. The stock is very good with nice original dark walnut color overall showing handling marks and light pressure dents. The stock wrist, forend and pistol grip all show nice, original distinct checkering overall with light wear across the tops of the checkering. Although this rifle shows slightly more wear and use, it is still an original Model 1875 Officer's Model Trapdoor rifle that probably actually saw some frontier/Western use.