GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EXTRAORDINARY SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 TYPE III OFFICER'S SPORTING RIFLE.SPRINGFIELD1875 TYPE IIINSN45-70Cal. 45-70 Outstanding Type III rifle with 26" rnd bbl, gold-washed Beach's configuration front sight, 1200-yd, ski-jump rifle rear right and tang sight with 3-1/2" staff inletted into the top of the wrist. Bottom of bbl has a single iron guide containing an orig brass-tipped hickory ramrod. Mounted in a nicely figured, straight grain American walnut half stock with checkered forestock & wrist with an orig Model 1873 buttplate without trap. Left side of wrist is marked with the rectangular "SWP / 1885" cartouche. It has 2-pc trigger guard with serrated single set trigger. Bottom of wrist has an attached checkered rnd knob grip adapter/finger rest. Tip of the forestock is inletted with an engraved foliate shaped pewter nosecap. Breechblock has 1873 markings and bbl standard Springfield inspector markings. Lockplate is marked "U S / SPRINGFIELD" and a small eagle. Interior parts are unmarked except for one small "H" on the gun hammer tumbler and a small "8" on the sear. Bottom of bbl is stamped "25" with a small serpentine mark and a tiny hammer-shaped mark. Bottom of receiver is marked with a small "B". Inside trigger bow is stamped with a "1" and another indecipherable mark. Lockplate, hammer shank, breechblock, top front of receiver, top tang, trigger bow & buttplate tang are all very nicely engraved in foliate arabesque patterns without background shading. According to various publications there were about 477 of these scarce rifles produced 1875 to 1885 at the Springfield Arsenal in 3 variations. There were about 100 Type III rifles produced in 1885. These rifles were intended for purchase by military officers but were not overly enthusiastically received and by 1885 sales were lagging with many going unsold. In the late 1880's the remaining stocks were used as prizes for shooting contests or gifts to high ranking officials. Regardless of their popularity, they remain a rare item to be found today with the majority showing heavy wear and little orig finish. CONDITION: Extremely fine+. Overall retains 98-99% crisp orig finish with strong bright blue on bbl, brilliant case colors on lockplate, hammer, breechblock, top tang & trigger guard. Trigger bow is moderately faded. Buttplate retains about 80% orig blue and the forend cap about all of its bright orig polish. Tang sight retains most of its orig fire blue. Wiping rod is crisp and near new. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore appears to be new and unfired. Museum quality specimen! 49403-7 JR (27,500-37,500)