Page 156 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 281
Rare U.S. Springfield Model 1879 Long Range Trapdoor Rifle with Desirable Bull Rear Sight - Serial no. 132177, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is one of approximately 183 Model 1879 Long Range Trapdoor rifles manufactured with special six-groove rifling
and a buttplate identical to a Hotchkiss rifle. This rifle is one of approximately 127 total Long Range rifles (including the Model 1881s) fitted with Freeman R. Bull’s windage adjustable buckhorn rear sight. A boxed script “SWP/1880” (Samuel W. Porter) inspection cartouche is marked on the left wrist. The Bull windage adjustable rear sight is graduated up to 1,200 yards on the ladder and is marked “R” on the left of the ladder and base. 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 letter “R” below what appears to be an upside down “F”. 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 smooth trigger. Blue finish with casehardened breechblock and barrel tang, and oil finished walnut stock. A circled “P” proof is marked behind the trigger guard tang. The unique straight profile Hotchkiss 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 a period leather sling. Information on these long range rifles can be found on pages 94-102 of “The 45-70 Springfield” by Albert J. Frasca. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus of the original blue finish and 70% plus of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the buttplate and breech block. The wood is also very fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 282
Rare Martially Inspected U.S. Spencer Arms Co. Slide Action Shotgun - Serial no. 2039, 12 gauge, 30 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Spencer firearm was the first successful American slide action repeating shotgun. This example is one of only 354 purchased by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department between 1886 and 1893. A notation in the 1885 Annual Report of the Chief of Ordnance revealed that these shotguns were used for guarding prisoners. The Spencer shotgun, however, was never formally adopted by the U.S. military. According to U.S. firearms expert and author Bruce Canfield, “A handful of martially marked specimens of these guns are extant today” (see “Complete Guide to United State Military Combat Shotguns,” page 17). The stock wrist has a David F. Clark “DFC” inspector mark on the right sight and Capt. Frank Heath “FH” script letter cartouche on the left side. The top of the barrel has the one-
line Spencer address/patent legend. The slide handle and buttplate are checkered hard rubber. George Moller’s tiny “GDM” collection mark is by the toe CONDITION: Fine as a surviving original martially marked Spencer shotgun. 70% of the Damascus pattern remains on the barrel and magazine and 30% original blue finish remains on the receiver, otherwise the shotgun has a smooth brown-gray patina. The slide handle is fine with a few blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. The buttstock is also very good with a small
repaired chip at the upper tang and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A rarely encountered martially inspected U.S. Spencer shotgun missing from even the most advanced public or private collections.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500 LOT 283 U.S. Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle with Rare Barringer Rear Sight - Serial no. 305182, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1885 with standard markings including “1873” marked breech block and “SWP/1885” cartouche. It has the standard features of the Model 1884 rifles apart from the sights which consist of a beaded blade (bead absent) dovetailed in a block near the muzzle, and a scarce, very desirable, elevation adjustable Barringer rear sight which is graduated from 100 to 1100 yards. A filler screw is visible where the original Buffington sight was removed. These sights were initially installed on Trapdoor rifles in 1894, an example of which that is only five serial numbers away from this one can be seen on p. 153 of “Trapdoor Springfield” by Waite and Ernst, as well as being installed on Krag-Jorgensen rifles for trial. Later, the sight was even installed on Model 1903 rifles for testing. “GDM”, George D. Moller Collection mark is on the toe of the stock. Includes a Rock Island Arsenal marked leather sling with “E.H.S.” inspector mark. CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish on the barrel and trigger guard and patters of the mostly silvered out original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth plum-brown patina or silvered case colors. The lightly sanded and reoiled wood is fine with some minor dings and scratches scattered throughout and legible cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000 LOT 284 Scarce U.S. Springfield Model 1881 Forager Trapdoor Shotgun - Serial no. 96, 20 gauge, 26 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only an estimated 1,376 Trapdoor 20 gauge “forager” shotguns were manufactured in the early 1880s and serial numbered 1-1376. They were designed for 20 gauge brass shotgun shells and were used by hunters and scouts primarily at western outposts in the late 19th century. Some were even used into the very early 20th century, primarily in Alaska. It has standard markings including “1881” dated breech block, “1873” dated lock, the correct two-click tumbler, special extractor, and carbine buttplate and trigger guard. “GDM”, George D. Moller collection marking, discreetly at the toe. CONDITION: Very good, 20% of the refinished blue finish and traces of the arsenal refurbished oil quenched case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some very light pitting at the muzzle. The lightly sanded and refinished wood is good with a couple patches of filler on the left, some scattered minor dings and scratches, and a hairline crack near the rear lock screw on the left. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
Collector’s Fact
Only 354 Spencer Slide Action Shotguns were purchased by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
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SERIAL NUMBER 96
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