June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
According to Flayderman, a total of 424 Model 1867 Cadet rifles were manufactured from 1867 to 1868 at the Springfield Armory. The majority were shipped to the Westpoint Military Academy. It is one of, if not the rarest of all production U.S. Springfield trapdoors or conversions. It has numerous features that are unique to this rifle: the breech block featured a blackened finish, the undersides have deep arched cut-outs, and has a small firing pin with collar. Block is dated 1866 with eagle head. Left side of the breech plug has the same eagle head. The case colored hammer features the knurled shield pattern. Has a thin lockplate, case colored and stamped "U.S. SPRINGFIELD" with eagle, dated 1867 with serifs on numerals that run at an upward angle, and the '67' are smaller than the '18', as with the Smithsonian example and the example in the collection of Springfield research. Aside from the case colored lock and hammer, and the blackened breech block, the barrel and all other parts were finished in the white. Sports a single folding leaf rear sight typical of Allen conversions. Has the one piece soldered on front sight. Features a unique ramrod with slot and five ridges and unique barrel bands stamped "U". The walnut stock itself is a scaled-down version with smaller buttplate. There is no "P" on wrist. The left side of the barrel is stamped "L4". Left side of stock has two cartouche stamps: "ESA" at rear in oval for Erskin S. Allin and the forward "FWS" cartouche in rectangle for Fred W. Sanderson. This rifle did not come equipped with any sling swivels. The barrel length is 29-3/4" which is documented in the Smithsonian collection example and the book "Trapdoor Springfield" by Bud Waite and B.D. Ernst. The barrel length is erroneously listed as 32-1/2" to 33" in the books "Springfield Armory 1795 to 1968" by Ball and "Flayderman's Guide". The three known documented examples all sport 29-3/4" barrels with 48" overall length. This rifle remains in almost unfired condition. There is some age freckling at left side of breech. Hammer and lock retain traces of case colors but have basically turned a soft grey. Toe of buttplate shows evidence of some light cleaning. Walnut stock is in excellent to near mint condition with strong cartouche, proud to metal and a few dents on left flat. Action and bore are like new. It would be nearly impossible to locate a finer condition example of one of the rarest of all U.S. Springfield Trapdoor type rifles. This example is worthy of the finest Springfield collection.
Manufacturer
U.S. Springfield