This is an excellent example of a very scarce Chaffee-Reese bolt action repeating rifle as manufactured by Springfield Armory. This action was invented by General Reuben S. Chaffee and Jasper N. Reese in 1879, and it was one of the rifles selected by the Magazine Rifle Board of 1882 for field trials with only a total of 753 being produced. The magazine feed mechanism was a tube loaded through a trapdoor in the butt, employed a double ratchet which moved a cartridge forward one space each time the bolt was cycled. A cutoff switch on the right side of the receiver allowed for single shots while keeping the magazine fully loaded. The system was not popular with the troops in the field and only the initial order was made, making this one of the rarest issue weapons manufactured by Springfield Armory. The top of the left side of the receiver wall is marked "U.S. SPRINGFIELD 1884" and the barrel is standard configuration with the "V/P/Eagle Head" proofs of Springfield Armory towards the rear in front of the receiver. The rear sight is an 1879 Buckhorn pattern sliding leaf sight that is found on trapdoor rifles which is marked "C-R" on the left side. The front band has one sling swivel and one stacking swivel. The left side of the buttstock in front of the buttplate has boxed script "SWP/1884" cartouche with a circled script " P" proof mark stamped behind the trigger guard.

Very fine with 95% of the original blue finish on the barrel, rear sight and trigger guard, with some slight fading of the blue on the barrel bands and trigger guard with some minor spotting on the barrel. The casehardened receiver has "silvered" out overall with some areas that have tarnished with dried grease in others. The stock is also very fine and has minor handling marks with a clear and distinct cartouche with a very nice professional repair to a crack running laterally through the left side of the pistol grip area. The casehardened buttplate has 50% case colors covered with surface rust. A very scarce U.S. Chaffee-Reese bolt action rifle. These are rarely found in this very fine overall condition.