RARE TYPE III SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 OFFICER’S MODEL TRAPDOOR RIFLE.

RARE TYPE III SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 OFFICER’S MODEL TRAPDOOR RIFLE. Cal. 45-70. Spectacular rifle, one of only 100 produced in 1885 at Springfield Armory. Rifle has 26″ tapered rnd bbl with gold washed Beech’s combination front sight and Springfield Model 1879 ski jump ladder rear sight graduated on the left side to 500 yards and to 1200 yards on the ladder, with an “R” on both the left side of the base and on the staff. Bbl has standard Springfield Trapdoor proofs over chamber area, “1873” dated breech block and standard marked flat Springfield Trapdoor hammer & lockplate with two click tumbler. It is mounted in a wonderful straight grain half stock with checkered forestock and straight grip and has a fleur-de-lis pewter nose cap. It is secured with a sgl band retained by a spring keeper. Trigger guard is carbine style, made in two pieces without sling loop and the bottom tang is mounted with the auxiliary checkered walnut grip adapter. Top of wrist has the last style tang sight with oval base mounted directly into the wood inside a diamond shaped panel in the checkering. Buttplate is blued steel of musket/carbine style without trap. Bottom of bbl has a sgl round guide containing a hickory ramrod with unplated brass tips. Left side of wrist has a crisp “SWP / 1885” cartouche. Rifle has standard officer’s model engraving consisting of flowing foliate arabesque patterns on lockplate, breech block, thumb latch, top of receiver, bbl band, pewter nose cap, trigger guard & buttplate tang. Top tang is engraved in foliate patterns and the hammer in sweeping foliate patterns. According to numerous publications only 100 of these rare rifles were produced in 1885 during the months of April to June. Last recorded sales were in 1900. There were a total of 477 Officer’s Model rifles produced from 1875 through 1885 and were never issued but were available for private purchase by military officers. A few were awarded as prizes and to high ranking officers and in later years a few were possibly sold to private companies. According to The 45-70 Springfield Book II, Frasca, 400 of the 477 Officer’s Model rifles produced have been accounted for with sales records, etc. leaving only 77 not specifically accounted for. Of those it is believed that 25 rifles were shipped to San Antonio for distribution to officers which leaves only 52, or about 10% unaccounted for. Officer’s Model Trapdoor Springfields are not commonly encountered and when one is found they usually show moderate wear and use with the occasional piece exceptional and unused as is the rifle found here. Such rifles are a great treasure. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, appears to be new & unfired. Metal retains virtually all of its strong orig arsenal finish with bright blue with only a few freckles of pinprick rust just forward of the bbl band. Beech’s front sight retains virtually all of its orig gold wash. Lockplate, breech block, hammer & thumbplate retain about all of their orig arsenal case colors, strong & bright on lockplate and in sheltered areas of the hammer & breech block, lightly to moderately faded elsewhere. Trigger guard & trigger plate also retain about all of their orig arsenal case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Buttplate retains about 90% brilliant arsenal blue with wear on the heel & toe. Stock is sound with a few very minor nicks & scratches in the varnish and overall retains virtually all of its orig arsenal finish. Checkering is crisp & clean with only one small bruise in the forestock with the balance showing faint diamond point wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. 4-41842 JR279 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2498	$25,300.00	RARE TYPE III SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 OFFICER’S MODEL TRAPDOOR RIFLE. Cal. 45-70. Spectacular rifle, one of only 100 produced in 1885 at Springfield Armory. Rifle has 26″ tapered rnd bbl with gold washed Beech’s combination front sight and Springfield Model 1879 ski jump ladder rear sight graduated on the left side to 500 yards and to 1200 yards on the ladder, with an “R” on both the left side of the base and on the staff. Bbl has standard Springfield Trapdoor proofs over chamber area, “1873” dated breech block and standard marked flat Springfield Trapdoor hammer & lockplate with two click tumbler. It is mounted in a wonderful straight grain half stock with checkered forestock and straight grip and has a fleur-de-lis pewter nose cap. It is secured with a sgl band retained by a spring keeper. Trigger guard is carbine style, made in two pieces without sling loop and the bottom tang is mounted with the auxiliary checkered walnut grip adapter. Top of wrist has the last style tang sight with oval base mounted directly into the wood inside a diamond shaped panel in the checkering. Buttplate is blued steel of musket/carbine style without trap. Bottom of bbl has a sgl round guide containing a hickory ramrod with unplated brass tips. Left side of wrist has a crisp “SWP / 1885” cartouche. Rifle has standard officer’s model engraving consisting of flowing foliate arabesque patterns on lockplate, breech block, thumb latch, top of receiver, bbl band, pewter nose cap, trigger guard & buttplate tang. Top tang is engraved in foliate patterns and the hammer in sweeping foliate patterns. According to numerous publications only 100 of these rare rifles were produced in 1885 during the months of April to June. Last recorded sales were in 1900. There were a total of 477 Officer’s Model rifles produced from 1875 through 1885 and were never issued but were available for private purchase by military officers. A few were awarded as prizes and to high ranking officers and in later years a few were possibly sold to private companies. According to The 45-70 Springfield Book II, Frasca, 400 of the 477 Officer’s Model rifles produced have been accounted for with sales records, etc. leaving only 77 not specifically accounted for. Of those it is believed that 25 rifles were shipped to San Antonio for distribution to officers which leaves only 52, or about 10% unaccounted for. Officer’s Model Trapdoor Springfields are not commonly encountered and when one is found they usually show moderate wear and use with the occasional piece exceptional and unused as is the rifle found here. Such rifles are a great treasure. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, appears to be new & unfired. Metal retains virtually all of its strong orig arsenal finish with bright blue with only a few freckles of pinprick rust just forward of the bbl band. Beech’s front sight retains virtually all of its orig gold wash. Lockplate, breech block, hammer & thumbplate retain about all of their orig arsenal case colors, strong & bright on lockplate and in sheltered areas of the hammer & breech block, lightly to moderately faded elsewhere. Trigger guard & trigger plate also retain about all of their orig arsenal case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Buttplate retains about 90% brilliant arsenal blue with wear on the heel & toe. Stock is sound with a few very minor nicks & scratches in the varnish and overall retains virtually all of its orig arsenal finish. Checkering is crisp & clean with only one small bruise in the forestock with the balance showing faint diamond point wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. 4-41842 JR279 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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