May 23rd 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2015
Between July of 1875 and June of 1885 a total of approximately 500 special Officers Model trapdoor Springfields were manufactured, none of which had serial numbers, and orders were restricted to commissioned military officers only. Each were special ordered and the list of customers reads like a "Who's Who" of Western history. Because they were not serial numbered it is impossible to know which Western personage owned this particular rifle. They are amongst the most highly sought after U.S. military rifles every manufactured, and given their historic lineage, time factor, and location of which these were shipped, makes any fine condition all original surviving example a true prize in a military or Western collection. Features include 26" full round barrel; blued finish; case colored frame and breach block; beautiful engraving on sideplate, hammer, release, breach block, frame, tang, trigger guard, buttplate, and barrel band. The ornate engraved pewter nose cap is set into American walnut that is coarsely checkered. There is an oak ramrod with a silver finial. Sights include folding globe front, a military style folding rear, and a long range tang. Barrel is stamped with the "VP" eagle proof. Block is stamped "U.S. Model 1873". Sideplate is stamped "U.S. Springfield 1873". Top of buttplate is stamped "U.S.". Barrel band is stamped with a "U". Gun is 100% original in all respects. The barrel retains virtually all of the soft blue finish starting to patina. Traces of color on breach block. Wood is excellent with no cracks or chips, albeit the fore arm checkering does show some use. The original cleaning rod is excellent. Action is perfect. Strong clean bore. Simply a beautiful example of an early Second Model Officer's rifle. Chambered for the .45 - .70 Govt. cartridge. Fig. 8-35- Rear sight. Start of production thru #294,000 can be seen on page 139. "The 45-70 Springfield" by Poyer & Riesch. Slot-less screw. Also pictured on page 242- Type 3. Square cuts under hinge pin lug on Type 1 and early Type 2. Type 2 engraved block using 3rd or 4th Model Breech Block. Beach combination globe front sight on page 243. Second variation tang rear sight with single screw round base. This was a transition tang sight from 1st Model to 2nd Model. Type 2 nose cap. This is a transition model. Basically, a 2nd Model.