GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
EXTRAORDINARY SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 TYPE III OFFICER'S RIFLE. SPRINGFIELD 1875 OFFICERS MDL NSN 45-70 Cal. 45-70 Absolutely outstanding and possibly the finest Springfield Officers Model known. This is a standard type III sporting rifle made in 1885 with 26″ rnd bbl, gold-washed Beach's patent front sight, 1200-yd, "ski-jump" rifle rear sight 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 silver plated brass-tipped hickory ramrod. Mounted in straight grain American walnut, half stock with checkered forestock & wrist with an orig M1873 buttplate without trap. Left side of wrist is marked with the rectangular "SWP / 1885" cartouche (Inspector Samuel W. Porter). It has 2-pc case colored trigger guard with serrated single set trigger. Bottom of wrist has an attached Frank Freund, Denver patented checkered pistol grip attachment. Tip of the forestock is inletted with an engraved foliate shaped silver plated pewter nosecap. Breechblock has 1873 markings and bbl standard Springfield "VP/eagle" proofs. Engraved lockplate is marked "U S / SPRINGFIELD" and eagle. Inside trigger bow is stamped with a "K" and "L". Lockplate, hammer shank, breechblock, top front of receiver, top tang, trigger bow & buttplate tang are all very nicely engraved in matching foliate arabesque patterns. There were about 100 type III rifles produced in 1885. These rifles were intended for purchase by military officers, with several high condition surplus guns known. This example, however, is so extremely fine retaining virtually all of its orig finish and plating it is doubtful it could ever be upgraded. PROVENANCE: Eric Vaule, 1993. CONDITION: Extremely fine+. Overall retains 99+% crisp orig finish with strong bright blue on bbl, brilliant case colors on lockplate, hammer, breechblock, top tang & trigger guard. Trigger bow is muted. Buttplate retains about 95% bright orig blue with only loss at rounded edge. Nosecap and ramrod tip retain virtually all of their orig bright plating with some thinness and wear on ramrod trip. 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. 51685-4 JS (40,000-50,000)