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LOT 252
Outstanding U.S. Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle with Bayonet - Serial no. 473146, 45-70
Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Blade front and “R” marked Buffington rear sight, with “V/P/(eagle head)/P” and “A” stamps on the breech of the barrel, “SWP/1889” cartouche on the left of the wrist, and a “U.S./MODEL/1884” marked low arch breechblock. The blued lock is “U.S./
SPRINGFIELD” marked, with a three-click tumbler. “US” marked steel buttplate. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a “US” marked socket bayonet, scabbard, Watervliet Arsenal leather frog, brown leather sling, detachable front sight hood, and wood tampion. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% original blue finish, and 99% original case colors. Stock is also excellent with minimal handling evidence and an exceptionally crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet and scabbard are very fine with some spots of very light pitting, and the frog is also very fine with light wear. A stunning 1884 Trapdoor that would be near impossible to improve upon! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 253
Exceptional U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle - Serial no. 14648, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1874. Fixed blade front sight and stepped base 1,100 yard folding ladder rear sight mounted with slotless screws. The left rear of the barrel is correctly absent of any proof marks. (This practice started on the Model 1873 at approximately serial number 50,000). Early oil quenched casehardened high arch breechblock marked “MODEL/1873/eagle head/crossed arrows/US”, lock marked with the eagle/shield motif followed by “U.S./ SPRINGFIELD/1873” ahead of the hammer, fixed stacking hook on the front band (only one like it this writer has witnessed), two click tumbler and iron cleaning rod with a serrated slotted head and swollen shaft. Oval “ESA” (Erskine S. Allin) cartouche on the left wrist. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes “US” marked (faint) leather sling and wood tampion.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 85% original blue finish with some light muzzle wear, some patches of light spotting, and the front band turned mostly to a silver patina. Stock is very fine with some chipping visible in the ramrod channel and an exceptionally crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. An exceptional example of an early 1873 Trapdoor! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 254 U.S. Springfield Model 1884/90 Trapdoor Carbine with Pistol Grip - Serial no. 448085, 45-70 Government cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These so called “Model 1890” carbines are Model 1873, 1877, and 1884 carbines that were altered by fitting a front sight protector and a special high hump barrel band that cradles the front of the rear sight ladder to protect it when slipping into a carbine boot. This example is a Model 1884 carbine with the 1890 sight alterations. Boxed script “SWP/1889” cartouche marked on the left of the wrist. “S.P.FC23” marked on the
left rear of the butt stock. Period fitted with a checkered steel pistol grip. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a three-piece cleaning rod and tool inside the butt compartment. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% original blue finish with some light thinning and muzzle wear, and scattered mild oxidation on the barrel band and receiver. 85% muted original case colors remain on the breech block with some patches of light pitting. Stock is fine with original raised wood grain, scattered light scratches and pressure dents, specks of white paint, and a chip at the lower right corner of the cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 255
Exceptional U.S. Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle with Pistol Grip - Serial no. 244284, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Blued barrel, receiver, hammer, trigger guard, buttplate and barrel band. Casehardened breechblock and receiver tang. Left side breech end of barrel marked with “V/P/eagle head” proofmarks. Low arch breechblock marked “US/MODEL/1873”. The lock plate is marked with the American eagle next to “U. S./SPRINGFIELD”. The heel of the buttplate is marked “US”. The oil finished walnut stock is marked with the boxed “SWP/1883” final inspection cartouche on the left wrist. An “M” over a circled “P” is stamped in the grip area. The rifle has a hooded blade front and Buffington rear sight, two-piece trigger
guard and trigger bar assembly, serrated trigger, iron cleaning rod and smooth buttplate with no trapdoor. Metal checkered pistol grip on the bottom of the wrist. Some of these grips are reported to have been a period add-on by military competition shooting teams for practice rifles. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% original blue finish with some light handling marks and a patch of small chips in the middle of the barrel. 95% plus original vivid case colors with some light thinning concentrated towards the top of the breechblock. Stock is also excellent with sharp edges, some light dents and scratches, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500 LOT 256 Springfield U.S. Army Model 1871 Rolling Block
Rifle - NSN, 50-70 U.S. Govt cal., 36 inch round bbl., bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 10,000 U.S. Army Rolling Block rifles were manufactured c. 1871-1872 by Springfield Armory under a royalty agreement with E. Remington & Sons. “MODEL 1871” marked on the left side of the receiver and an eagle and shield over “U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1872” marked on the right side. The upper tang is marked with the two-line Remington patent date markings. Equipped with a blade/bayonet lug front sight and 1,000 yard folding ladder rear sight. Full length stock with two barrel bands and an end cap, a circled script “ESA” (Erskine S. Allin) cartouche marked on the left of the wrist, and “US” and “D14” marked on the buttplate tang. CONDITION: Very good, retaining mostly bright surfaces on the barrel and bands with scattered light pitting, and 30% plus vivid original case colors on the frame strongest
on the left with traces of case colors on the right and the balance turned to a gray patina. Wood is also fine with scattered scratches and dents, and a nice cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
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