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LOT 3147
Desirable U.S. Springfield Officer’s Model 1875 Type I
Trapdoor Rifle - NSN, 45/70 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Only 477 of Officer’s Model rifles were manufactured by the Springfield
Armory between 1875 and 1885 to fulfill the request by U.S. Army officers for suitable sporting rifles for use in hunting and target shooting. Of those, 125 are
estimated to have been this Type I configuration, manufactured c. 1875-1877. These are easily among the most desirable of all the rifles manufactured by
the Springfield Armory thanks to their rarity, quality, and connection to military officers. They are not serial numbered, but this rifle is marked “226” on the inside of the trigger guard bow and a faint marking that appears to be “61” or “64” on the stock just behind the upper tang. In function, the rifle is a standard Model 1873 trapdoor rifle with a high-arch breechblock. However, it is embellished with
According to "The .45-70 Springfield" by Frasca and Hill, of the 477 U.S. Springfield 1875 Trapdoor Officer's Models produced, approximately 125 are in the Type I configuration.
traditional acanthus scroll engraving on the forend cap, receiver, breechblock, lock, trigger guard, and buttplate. The lock has the standard U.S. Springfield markings including an eagle and shield behind “U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1873,” and the breechblock is marked “US/MODEL/1873”. The underside of the barrel has “P/P,” and the underside of the breech has “N” and “8.” The backside of the breech plug has “3” and “1” There are standard proofs on the upper left of the barrel at the breech, a circled script “P” on the stock behind the checkering, and “US” on the buttplate tang. It features a 26 inch barrel fitted with a folding combination blade and globe Beach front sight, a Model 1877 rear sight graduated 1-5 on the left side of the base and 6-12 on the ladder, and a modern replacement peep sight mounted on the wrist with an oval base. It also has a single set trigger, a traditional style cleaning rod with a nickeled tip, and shorter sporting stock with an engraved and nickel plated end cap, checkered forend and wrist, and a detachable checkered pistol grip. Included
correspondence between collectors studying these rare rifles indicates the rifle also has “26” on the seer and guard plate and has a web type connection for the set trigger and seat supports on the trigger guard plate. The rifle was in the collection of Lewis E. Yearout of Montana, and he received a certificate of recognition for his display of Officer’s Model Trapdoor rifles at the NRA annual meeting in Salt Lake City in 1978.
CONDITION: Fair. The iron mostly displays dark burnished gray and brown patina, and there is extensive mild pitting. The engraving remains crisp. There is a braised repair on the upper tang. The forend cap retains 90% of the original nickel finish. The wood is also fair and has a crack visible in the forend with the barrel dismounted, a larger chip absent above the lock as well as some smaller slivers and cracks around the lower edges of the lock mortise and the upper tang, crisp checkering, light scratches and dings, and some edge wear. Mechanically fine. This is a very rare rifle with a lot of character. Only around 125 of these Type I Officer’s Model 1875 Trapdoor rifles
were manufactured.
Provenance: The Lewis E. Yearout Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
LOT 3148
Remington-Keene Magazine Bolt Action Rifle in Desirable .45-70 - NSN, 45-70 Government
cal., 24 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. E. Remington & Sons manufactured approximately 5,000 Keene magazine rifles (in all configurations)
between 1880-1883. This model was the first magazine fed rifle produced in quantity by Remington. A tubular magazine and carbine style forward barrel band
like those used on classic lever action saddle ring carbines and many shotguns is fitted below the barrel that is loaded using a loading gate at the bottom of the
action much like standard slide action shotguns. The hammer at the back of the bolt must be manually cocked for each shot. Production was limited in part due to competition with the
Winchester-Hotchkiss rifles as well as the more modern Remington-Lee. They were used by the Indian Police and others in the West in the late 19th century. Features a straight grip stock and round
barrel with fixed front and folding ladder rear sights. The bolt has the Remington address and Keene patent markings, and the “45/70” caliber designation is marked on the left of the receiver. “PPP3” is
marked on the left of the barrel at the breech.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 97% professionally restored blue finish, with some areas of light pitting on the buttplate and bright surfaces. Stock is very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled with some scattered light scratches, an absent section below the left of the breech, a filled in section on the right behind the wrist, a crack to the right of the trigger, and a crack ahead of the buttplate tang. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
92 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500