October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
SCARCE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 1ST TYPE OFFICER’S MODEL TRAPDOOR RIFLE.SN 65 Cal. 45-70. Usual configuration with 26" tapered rnd bbl, Beach’s style combination front sight and 1300 yard rifle ladder rear sight. Breech block has high arch and standard “1873” markings. Lockplate also has standard “1873” markings with an eagle. Lockplate, hammer, breech block, top tang, thumb lever and receiver extension are beautifully engraved with foliate arabesque patterns without background. Mounted in a 1-pc walnut halfstock that has elaborate engraved leaf pattern silver plated nosecap with coarse checkered forearm and straight grip. Buttplate is 1873-style without trap and has a matching engraved tang. Top of the wrist is mounted with a Sharps windage adjustable tang sight that has 3-1/2" staff. Bottom of the bbl has a single iron guide containing a brass & silver plated hickory cleaning rod. Bottom of receiver, under the wood, is marked with an inspector initial “F”. Inside the lockplate are found the inspector initials & numbers “66”& “65. Trigger plate is mounted with first style single set trigger and is hand marked on the inside toward the rear with the assembly number “67”. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms and other publications there were only about 125 of these rifles produced 1875-1877. Altogether there were only 477 Officer’s Model rifles produced between 1875-1885. They were intended for sale and presentation to military officers and dignitaries, however by the early 1880s sales had waned and the remaining stock were probably sold to one of the major distributors. Engraved on upper chamber is the name "J.H.Rollins" this is a period engraving, Believed to be James Henry Rollins Class of 1859 United States Military Academy West Point. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 80-90% strong, orig arsenal blue with thinning areas with some fine pinprick rust; bottom of bbl shows a fine line of wear from the ramrod; receiver has mixture of patina and case colors faded to silver elsewhere with a battered area on both sides of receiver hinge; breech block & top tang retain mottled case colors, moderately faded on rear half of breech block; lockplate & hammer are mostly a silver/gray patina, bright colors inside shank of lockplate. Wood is sound with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Ramrod is a contemporary replacement with white metal appendages. TDW
Model
1875 Officers Model Trapdoor