Only 5,000 of these rifles were manufactured by Providence Tool Company in 1869-1870 for the Roberts Breechloading Arms Co. of New York City. The design was patented by Brigadier General B.S. Roberts in 1867. They were originally manufactured for the New York National Guard but were ultimately sold to the State of South Carolina after the legislature in New York failed to appropriate the necessary funds. They were reportedly used until around 1890 and suffered a high loss rate due to braking parts and thus surviving examples, especially those in high condition like this one, are very rare and desirable. It has the standard Civil War era rifle-musket sights and furniture, an "1864" dated Springfield lock, and a casehardened breech marked "ROBERT'S PAT/JUNE. 11. 1867" on the left. Pulling up on the lever opens the breech and cocking the hammer pulls back on a tab on the lever and closes the breech. Includes a standard socket bayonet.

Fine overall with mostly bright barrel and furniture, some oil staining, 40% casehardened finish on the breech, and some signs of light pitting and marks. The otherwise fine, re-oiled stock has some tiny hairline cracks at the nose and tail of the lock and general storage type dents and scratches. It is mechanically fine other than that the hammer does not always lock firmly in full-cock and will fire from half-cock.