These rifles are based on designs by General J. N. Reece (commonly misspelled Reese) and Reuben Chaffee and approved for production and field use by the Ordnance Department in 1882 for testing alongside the Lee and Hotchkiss rifles. Only 753 were manufactured at Springfield Armory in 1884. Colt had manufactured the original test rifle, but their quoted price per gun and production time were too high. The rifles were ultimately sold off as surplus after trials. Many were damaged and simply sold as scrap. This example has standard markings and features including the crisp "SWP/1884" cartouche on the left side of the butt. It also has a set of finely carved "J.E.S.F." initials on the left side of the butt and is fitted with a military pattern leather sling.