This Third Model 1875 Trapdoor Officer's Rifle was manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1885. The Model 1875 Officer's Model rifles were manufactured for sale to military officer's in response to requests for a high quality sporting rifle chambered for the 45/70 service cartridge. Springfield Armory manufactured a total of 477 Officer's Model rifles between 1875 and 1885. This rifle has the Type III features which include a detachable, checkered, half-pistol grip, cleaning rod with brass tip and ferrule, Model 1879 Buckhorn rear sight, folding tang sight with oval base, knurled trigger face, low arch breech block and "SWP/1885" final inspection mark stamped on the left side of the stock wrist. Standard Model 1875 Officer's Model features on this rifle include a 26-inch barrel with steel cleaning rod pipe, Hickory cleaning rod with brass tip and ferrule, folding Beech globe front sight, buckhorn rear sight, folding peep rear sight, and single set trigger. The rifle has a straight grain American walnut half-stock with checkered wrist and forearm and semi-gloss finish. The decorative, inlaid forearm tip is engraved and nickel-plated. The top of the barrel band, top of the receiver, breech block, barrel tang, hammer, side plate, breechblock latch, bottom of the trigger guard and buttplate heel are decorated with well-executed scroll engraving. The lock plate is roll-stamped with the Springfield eagle and shield followed by "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" in two lines. The top of the breechblock is roll-stamped: "U.S./MODEL/1873" in three lines. The left side of the barrel is stamped with "V, P, Eagle Head, P" proof and inspection marks. "R" is stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The left side of the rear sight is graduated from "1-5" and stamped "R". The rear sight leaf is graduated to "12" and stamped "R" on the right side. The rifle is correctly, not serial numbered. In addition to the "SWP/1885" final inspection mark, the underside of the stock is stamped with an encircled, script, "P' proof mark below the trigger guard finial. The barrel, barrel band, band spring, receiver, front and rear sight and buttplate are blued. The breechblock, side-plate, hammer, trigger, trigger guard and small components are color casehardened. Springfield Armory manufactured only 100 Type III Model 1875 Officer's Rifles in Fiscal Year 1885.

Excellent plus. This rifle remains in as issued condition and retains 99% of the original blue finish and 100% of the color casehardened finish. The rifle shows only very limited storage wear and is as un-fired. The markings, engraving and checkering remain in perfect condition. Wear is limited to several very minute storage marks on the stock and a small area of finish loss on the heel of the buttplate. The Springfield Armory Model 1875 Officer's Rifle is a unique U.S. military rifle. This is one of the finest U.S. Springfield Model 1875, Type III Officers rifles extant.