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Collector’s Fact
One of only 753 U.S. Springfield Chaffee- Reece Model 1882 Trials rifles produced.
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LOT 3231
Documented Experimental Nickel Plated U.S. Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor Rifle with Bayonet - Serial no. 40665, 50-70 U.S. Govt cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut stock. This experimental nickel plated Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor rifle is one of only 87 reported issued in total with serial numbers
observed between 37040-40924. The included copy of a May 15th, 1871 dated hand-written letter from Chief of Ordnance, Alexander B. Dyer, addressed to the Commanding Officer of Springfield Armory directs shipment of these nickel plated rifles to the commanding officers of the Department of the Platte in Nebraska, Leavenworth Arsenal in Kansas, and Fort Monroe Arsenal in Virginia, and lists this rifle by serial number as part of the leavenworth Arsenal shipment. It has the standard fixed blade front and 1,000 yard notch/folding ladder rear sight, an “1863” dated lock, “1870” dated breechblock, matching serial numbers at the breech, “H 4440” on the right of the breech end of the barrel, “CSC” marked behind the lower tang, and three cartouches on the left flat of the stock including “ESA” of Erskine S. Allin. A “GDM” collection mark is at the toe. Includes US socket bayonet and leather sling. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% of the original nickel finish with some light frosting and areas of light flaking. Stock is fine with some light dents and handling marks, and two pin holes on the right rear from a previous collection tag. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet is very fine with some scattered light pitting. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500 LOT 3232 Remington Rolling Block Conversion of a Springfield Rifle-Musket with Bayonet - Serial no. 6, 50 CF cal., 39 5/16 inch round bbl., bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. After the Civil War, the U.S. Government and state militias had stockpiles of leftover muzzle loading rifle-muskets, and sought ways to convert them into breechloaders for use with metallic cartridges. This rolling block rifle-musket is marked with serial number “6” on the left of the upper and lower tangs (hidden by the stock), right of the lower tang, left of the barrel at the breech, on the extractor, rear face of the forearm, and front face of the buttstock. The barrel is sleeved to .50 caliber. The Remington address and patent marking is marked on the upper tang. A “GDM” collection mark is at the toe. Includes US socket bayonet and leather sling. CONDITION: Extremely fine, retaining bright surfaces on the barrel, bands, breech block, hammer, and buttplate. 85% plus vivid original case colors on the receiver with only light flaking at the top front edge, light fading on the tangs, and some scattered light spotting on the right. Wood is very fine with some scattered light pressure dents and handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet is fine with some scattered light pitting. An attractive rare early breech loading rolling block conversion rifle-musket that would make a fine addition to any U.S. military collection. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3233
Very Fine U.S. Springfield Chaffee-Reece Model 1882 Magazine Bolt Action Trials Rifle with Bayonet - NSN, 45-70 Government cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These rifles are based on designs by General J. N. Reece (often misspelled Reese) and Reuben Chaffee, and approved for production and field use by the Ordnance Department in 1882 for testing alongside the Lee and Hotchkiss bolt action magazine rifles. Only 753 were manufactured at Springfield Armory in 1884, making this model one of the rarest manufactured by the armory. Colt manufactured the original test rifle. The rifles
were sold as surplus after trials. Many were damaged and simply sold as scrap. This example has standard markings and features, including a “SWP/1884” cartouche on the left side of the butt. A “GDM” collection mark is at the toe. Includes a US socket bayonet and period leather sling CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% plus original blue finish with some light muzzle wear from bayonet mounting, 60% of the faded original case colors, scattered light freckling and areas
of brown patina. Stock is also very fine with mild pressure dents concentrated mostly at the rear of the stock, a chip at the toe, a small crack behind the receiver, some scattered light scratches, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet is fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 3234
Exceptional U.S. Springfield Massachusetts Marked Model 1877 Transitional Trapdoor Rifle with Bayonet - Serial no. 105841, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model 1877 was manufactured from 1877 to 1878 and has attributes of both the Model 1873 and the Model 1879. Only around 20,000 of these rifles were manufactured, making them much scarcer than the other standard models. Standard blade front sight and “R” marked 1,100 yard curved base folding ladder rear sight. Marked “MASS” on top of the breech. “ESA/1878” cartouche. A “GDM” collection mark is at the toe. Includes “MASS/U.S.”
marked socket bayonet, scabbard, leather frog with “MASS” in raised letters on the brass plaque, and leather sling with carved initials “JJ OC”. CONDITION: Excellent with 95% original blue finish on the barrel and receiver, some light muzzle wear, some light flaking on top of the front band, 85% plus original case colors, and half of the original finish on the buttplate. Stock is also excellent with minimal handling evidence and an exceptionally crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. The accessories are fine with some patches of light pitting on the bayonet, mild spotting on the scabbard, and light wear on the frog. An exceptional example of a scarce 1877 Trapdoor! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000 LOT 3235 U.S. Springfield Model 1865 First Model Allin Conversion Breech Loading Rifle with Bayonet - NSN, 58 RF cal., 37 3/4 inch round bbl., bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model 1865 First Type Allin Trapdoor design was invented by Erskine S. Allin, Master Armorer at Springfield Armory, as a solution to converting the massive surplus of, then outdated, muzzle loading rifled-muskets manufactured during the Civil War to a more modern breech loading design. Only 5,000 of these First Model Allins (also known as the Model 1865) were manufactured by altering existing rifle-muskets to the Trapdoor system in order to allow loading from the breech end with a .58 rimfire metallic cartridge. After only one year of production, Springfield shifted to manufacturing the simpler .50-70 centerfire Model 1866 rifles, making any surviving First Models rare and desirable. This example features an “1865” dated lock, and “US” marked buttplate. Includes a US socket bayonet. One of the two extractor screws is absent, and the firing pin retaining screw is broken. CONDITION: Very good, scattered light brown surface patina overall, darkened traces of oil-quenched casehardened finish on the breechblock and hammer, and strong patterns of muted case colors visible on the lock with sharp markings. Stock is very good with some handling marks and dents. Mechanically good with a broken firing pin retaining screw. The firing pin is included separately. Included bayonet is very good with brown patina and some light pitting. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750