Page 143 - 83-BOOK3

45-80-500 cal., 32 5/8 inch rou
LOT 3228 Rare U.S. Springfield Model 1881 Long Range Trapdoor Rifle - Serial no. 162450, nd bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is one of 151 total manufactured Model 1881 Long Range Trapdoor rifles found in the 162000-162500 serial range with six-groove rifling and a buttplate identical to a Hotchkiss rifle. This rifle is one of 127 Long Range rifles fitted with Freeman R. Bull’s windage adjustable buckhorn rear sight. A boxed script “SWP/1881” cartouche is marked on the left wrist. The left rear of the barrel is marked with
“V/P/eagle head/P” proofs, and the top of the barrel at the breech with the letters “H/G/R”. The breechblock is marked “U.S./MODEL/1873” and the lock plate is marked with the eagle/ shield motif and “U.S./SPRINGFIELD”. Three-click tumbler and serrated trigger. Blue finish with casehardened breechblock and barrel tang, and oil finished walnut stock. A circled “P” proof is marked behind the trigger guard underneath the uncheckered walnut detachable pistol-grip. The unique straight profile buttplate has no “US” marking on the tang as
normally found on standard
issue Trapdoor rifles. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion and period leather sling. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 90% plus original blue finish with some light muzzle wear, some light flaking on the rear sight and hammer. Receiver and breech block retains 85% original muted case colors. Stock is very fine with some light scattered storage marks, scuffs below the middle of the barrel, chips at the toe of the stock, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 3229
Exceptional/ Very Scarce U.S. Springfield Model 1877 Transitional Trapdoor Rifle with Rare Bull Rear Sight - Serial no. 77841, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, alnut stock. Approximately 20,000 Model 1877 rifles were manufactured from 1877-1878 with attributes of both the Model 1873 and the Model 1879, and are considered much rarer than the other standard models. Circled script “ESA/1877” (Erskine S. Allin) cartouche on the left of the wrist. Stock wrist thickened from the previous model and a longer 10 1/2 inch comb. Standard blade front sight and rare Freeman R. Bull modified windage adjustable “R” marked 1,100 yard curved base folding ladder rear sight as usually found on long range rifles. Standard three-groove rifling with “V/P/eagle head” proofs at the breech. “U.S./MODEL/1873” marked high-arch breech block. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion and period leather sling. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% plus attractive original blue finish on the barrel with light muzzle wear, some light flaking on the end cap, light corrosion on the cleaning rod, and sharp markings. Receiver and breech block retains 80% dark oil quenched colors. Stock is excellent with raised grain and rich oil finish, some light scattered dings and handling marks, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3230
Exceptional U.S. Springfield Model 1866 Second Allin Conversion Trapdoor Rifle with Bayonet - NSN, 50-70 U.S. Govt cal., 36 5/8 inch round bbl., bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Designed by Erskine S. Allin, Master Armorer at Springfield Armory, to correct multiple problems encountered with the Model 1865 conversion rifles. Approximately 25,000 Civil War era muzzle loading rifle-muskets were converted at Springfield Armory to Allin’s Model 1866 breech loading system and rechambered to .50-70 CF. The Model 1866 received it’s baptism by fire in the hands of U.S. troops in the Hayfield Fight and Wagon Box Fight, both a day apart on the 1st and 2nd of August 1867 along the Bozeman Trail, in which the severely outnumbered U.S. troops successfully held off several hundred Native American warriors. This example is dated “1863” on the lock and “1866” on the breech block. The left stock flat is marked with a boxed script “HSH” cartouche. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a US socket bayonet, H. G. Haedrich leather sling, and wood tampion. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining the original Armory bright polish on the barrel, bands, buttplate, and trigger guard. The breech block retains 85% plus of the original black oil-quenched casehardened finish. The lock retains 97% vivid original case colors with some light fading on the hammer. Stock is excellent with distinctive edges, light handling marks, a patch of dings to the left of the trigger, occasional small chips, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very fine. An absolutely stunning example of a second model Allin conversion rifle. Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
w
Collector’s Fact
1 of only 127 Springfield Model 1881 Long Range Trapdoor rifles produced with Freeman R. Bull’s windage adjustable buckhorn rear sight.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500 141