In October 1873, the National Rifle Association held its annual prize match at Creedmoor. There was a special "State Prize" match between teams of marksmen from various New York National Guard units using some of the 15,000 New York state contract Remington rolling block rifles. The Annual Report of the National Rifle Association indicates that 14 "Gold and silver mounted" rifles valued around $75 each were presented by Remington to the top marksmen from each team. Private Leon Backer of the 22nd Regiment New York National Guard was the highest scoring individual in the match overall and won both this prize rifle and a gold medal valued at $100 that was presented by Adjutant General Rathbone. The 22nd was also the winning team and won a silver trophy valued at $500 and presented by the Commander-in-Chief of the State of New York. The rough original value of this rifle adjusted for inflation would be around $1,500. To put that in better perspective, the average annual income for a laborer adjusted for inflation was only around $11,000 or $20,000 for a skilled worker. This was the first year matches were held at the famous Creedmoor range, and the National Rifle Association was formed just a couple of years earlier to promote marksmanship. The middle barrel band is inscribed "LEON BACKER," and the rear band is inscribed "Oct. 10th 1873." The barrel is nickel plated and has a standard military blade front sight, scroll engraving, and a gold plated military notch and folding ladder rear sight. The barrel bands are silver plated and have scroll and border engraving and "B" on the left sides. The frame has essentially full coverage factory interlaced scroll engraving along with fine border designs, crosshatch patterns, and the three-line address and patent marking ending with the 1871 patent. The buttplate and forend cap are also nickel plated and engraved. Sling swivels are mounted to the upper barrel band and the trigger guard, and a standard military style cleaning rod is fitted below the barrel. "12957" is on the left side of the upper and lower tangs, and "1" is also on the bottom of the forearm cap, the band spring, bottom of the barrel and barrel lug, front of the action, rear of the forearm, and left side of the upper tang. The front of the stock wrist has "2" (left) and "7" (right). The inside of the forearm has "APPEL" in large letters in pencil (indicating it was formerly in the well-known Remington collection from New York), and the back of the forearm also has a "3." "HP/V" is marked to the left of the barrel lug.

Fine with 90% plus of the original nickel plating which has mostly frosted but remains bright in the protected areas, strong original silver plating in the inside of the barrel bands, 70% original gold plating on the rear sight, gray and brown patina on the frame, crisp engraving and markings, minimal light pitting/oxidation, and general mild wear. The wood is fine and retains most of the high polish varnish finish and has numerous mild scrapes and dings throughout, slightly heavier wear on top of the comb, and a few minor flakes. Mechanically excellent. This is very attractive rifle overall and is especially desirable thanks to its factory presentation to the winning marksman of the 1873 State Prize Match at the first Creedmoor matches one year prior to the famous international match against the Irish team.