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LOT 1229 Exceptional U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Trapdoor Officer’s Rifle - NSN, 45-70 Government cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is an exceptional original example of a late U.S. Springfield Armory Type III, Model 1875 Trapdoor Officer’s Rifle as manufactured in 1885. These rifles were a badge of rank and distinction by U.S. Calvary Officer’s that had to be purchased directly from Springfield Armory on a special order basis only. There were three different types, with a total of only 477 Officer’s Models manufactured, and only 100 Type III Models. These scarce rifles all exhibited select walnut stocks, with checkering on the forend and pistol grip area with a separate detachable walnut pistol grip. The barrel band, receiver, breech block, lock plate, hammer, upper tang, and buttplate tang are all decorated with fine scroll engraving. The left side of the barrel is stamped “V/P/Eagle Head/P” proof and the underside of barrel has a single iron ramrod thimble, and is fitted with a hickory wiping rod with a brass knurled front ferrule and slotted rear ferrule. The top of the low-arch breechblock is marked “U.S./MODEL/1873” in three lines and the lock plate is marked with the Springfield “Eagle/Shield” motif ahead of the hammer followed by “U.S./SPRINGFIELD”, surrounded by scroll engraving. The barrel has a dovetail mounted folding Beach front sight that has a combination folding blade and globe front sight with a buckhorn Model 1879 rifle rear sight. The top of the wrist of the stock has a late Type III folding vernier tang sight with the oval base. It is fitted with the two-piece trigger plate and trigger guard bow that also has fine engraving and is fitted with a single-set serrated trigger. Oil finished walnut half-stock with an engraved German silver forend tip, checkered wrist, forearm and detachable checkered walnut pistol grip. The steel buttplate is stamped “U.S.” on top of the heel ahead of engraving. Since this is a late Type III rifle it has a correct boxed “S.W.P./1885” cartouche on the left side with a circled script, “P” proofmark behind the checkered panel on the underside of the stock. These rifles all have a blued barrel, color casehardened receiver and components. CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 85% plus attractive original blue finish with some patches of very light pitting on the sides of the barrel and some scattered light flaking on the barrel band, tang sight, and buttplate. 95% plus vivid original case colors remain on the breech block, hammer, lock plate and trigger guard. The well-executed scroll engraving is sharp and deep. Stock is also excellent with original oil finish, extremely sharp checkering, a scratch at the right of the buttplate, some light handling marks, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional example of a U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Officer’s rifle is likely one of a handful that were not sold in 1885 and held by Springfield to later be sold as surplus, and would be difficult to improve upon! Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000
Collector’s Fact
According to authors Frasca and Hill in The .45-70 Springfield, a total of only 477 Officer’s Model Springfield Trapdoor rifles were produced, of which only 100 as Type III, the smallest quantity of the three types.
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