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LOT 75
Rare U.S. Springfield Armory Officer’s Model First Type Trapdoor Rifle - NSN, 45-70 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, checkered walnut stock. This rifle has the features characteristic of the 125 Type I Officer’s Model Rifles manufactured between July 1, 1875 and March 30, 1877. These features include: (1) “1873” dated lockplate, (2) early, ‘low-arch’ breechblock marked: “MODEL/1873/
Eagle head/Crossed Arrows/U.S.”, (3) hammer with oval, stamped, knurling, (4) small “V/P/Eagle head” proof marks on the left side of the barrel, (5) M1873 rear sight graduated from 50-400 yards on the right side and to 1200 yards on the leaf, (6) Springfield Armory alteration of Sharps Vernier tang sight, (7) checkered black walnut half-stock with no pistol grip, (8) smooth trigger, and (9) hickory cleaning rod with
nickel-plated tips. The rifle has the distinctive features that characterize all Officer’s Model Rifles including: (1) cadet style butt plate, (2) two position tumbler, (3) carbine trigger guard with barrel band with no stacking swivel (4) single set trigger and (5) two-position, folding globe front sight. The rifle, correctly, is not serial numbered and has no proof or inspection marks on the stock. The barrel is blued and the trigger guard, receiver, breech, hammer and butt plate are have a color casehardened finish. The butt plate toe, receiver tang, breech block, top of the receiver, hammer, cam latch, side plate and upper barrel band are all skillfully decorated with scroll engraving. The bottom of the trigger guard is engraved with an oval panel depicting a buck deer. The oil finished walnut half-stock has deeply cut checkering on the wrist and forearm and has a nickel-plated nose cap decorated with deeply cut scroll engraving. Designed as a high-quality sporting rifle for Army officers in
the American West, the Springfield Officer’s Model Rifle is unique among U.S. military small arms; only 477 of theses very desirable were manufactured between 1875 and 1885.