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. 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 and circled script "P" on the underside of the wrist.

Exceptionally fine. 85% plus original blue finish remains on the barrel with crisp markings, some mild edge wear, and some small patches of rough oxidation. The receiver has 80% of the original oil-quenched casehardened finish with small areas of a lighter gray patina. The stock is also very fine with crisp inspection cartouche, some small scattered dings, and a few small chips on the forend edges. Mechanically excellent.