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SIMILAR RIFLES PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK
THE .45-70 SPRINGFIELD BY FRASCA
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.
LOT 3240
U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Trapdoor Officer’s Rifle - NSN, 45-70 Government cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/ 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
casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is an example of a late U.S. Springfield Armory, U.S. Model 1875 Trapdoor
Officer’s rifle. 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 the left side with a circled script, “P” proofmark behind the checkered panel on the underside of the stock. These
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
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 professionally made modern replacement hickory cleaning rod with nickel plated 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/1873”, 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
rifles all have a blued barrel, color casehardened receiver and components. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 85% refinished blue finish on the barrel with some light surface pitting at the muzzle, light scratches around the rear sight base, and a re-soldered ramrod ferrule (that has been painted in order to cover up). The trigger guard is refinished. 70% muted original case colors on breech block and lock plate, hammer refinished with some light surface pitting on top of the breech block. Engraving remains sharp throughout. Stock is very fine with crisp checkering, some light scratches and handling marks, and a crisp, enhanced cartouche. Mechanically excellent. This is an attractive solid representative example of a Type III U.S. Springfield 1875 Officers Model trapdoor rifle.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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