Offered here is an extreme rarity in Wild West firearm collecting. It is believed to be one of only a handful of these trapdoor sporting rifles that remain in existence, as built by Spangenberg & Co. circa 1880-1881. This example is unmarked, but is readily identified by its many similarities to a marked specimen previously sold by Rock Island Auction Company (auction 77 lot 3215). The specially made hammer "finger prints" it as the fine work of George F. Spangenberg. George F. Spangenberg arrived in Tombstone in 1880 and opened a gunsmith and locksmith shop. Selling new and used firearms, cutlery and sewing machines, Spangenberg's shop attracted an array of Tombstone's most famous and infamous citizens. His shop was located on 4th Street adjacent to the OK Corral on Fremont Street where the legendary gunfight between the Earp brothers, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan, and Doc Holliday and the Clanton brothers, Billy Clairborne and the McLaury brothers occurred on October 26, 1881. A bit of a feud had developed between the loosely considered lawmen and the gang of outlaws who were members of a gang in the Tombstone area known as "The Cowboys". As the story goes, the Earps and Doc Holliday were going to the OK Corral to disarm the gang who were carrying guns, which was against the law in Tombstone at the time. The Earps and Doc Holliday confronted the gang near the OK Corral on Fremont Street by Fly's Photography Gallery and the Harwood House, and the rest is history. At the time of the shootout there were a couple of gun stores in Tombstone. One was owned by Samuel L. Hart, which was on Fremont Street across from the OK Corral, and the other was owned by George Spangenberg. Prior to the gunfight, Earp ran into his future assailants buying cartridges at Spangenberg's. Purportedly, Spangenberg's also sold the Earp brothers the ammunition they used in the gunfight. Spangenberg built this high quality sporting rifle around a U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor barreled action with the barrel shortened to an even 30 inches from it's original length of 32 5/8 inches, the addition of a dovetailed German silver blade front sight, Sharps Borchardt Model 1878 rear sight, Springfield lock with the face resurfaced (original markings removed in the process) in order to fit flush with the wood, specially made hammer, and an attractive walnut multi-point checkered half stock with coin silver forend cap, raised cheekpiece on the left and crescent iron buttplate. The barrel is secured to the stock by a single barrel key with oval escutcheons. The high quality of this rifle points original ownership to a wealthy member of Tombstone society. Consignor research is included.

Fine with charming frontier patina, the barrel retains half of the period brown finish, with a mix of smooth brown and silvery gray patina on the lock, breech block and action with traces of period blue finish on the breech block, some scattered patches of light pitting, and scattered light freckling. Stock is also fine with crisp checkering, some scattered scratches and dents, a few chips, attractive figure and wood grains, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. A great rarity and a physical reminder of the famed gunfight at the OK Corral for the serious Wild West collector. If you're looking for Old West history, here it is! Don't let this one get away!