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, making it one of the rarest manufactured by the armory. 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, retains 85% plus original blue finish with the balance mainly a smooth grey patina with some light brown spotting on the barrel towards the muzzle. 70% mottled original case colors remain on the receiver. The wood is very fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches and a small chip near the magazine cutoff. Mechanically excellent.