Page 84 - 4091-BOOK2

LOT 1094 Excellent and Rare U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Lee Vertical Action Single Shot Trials Rifle - Serial no. 40, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These rare Model 1875 rifles were manufactured by Springfield Armory under the supervision of inventor James Paris Lee. On June 23, 1874, Congress approved “For the purpose of testing Mr. Lee’s breech loading gun under the direction of the Secretary of War the sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby appropriated.” After one year, 143 rifles were completed using the appropriated $10,000, working out to a cost of approximately $69.93 per rifle. The Model 1875 Lee drew inspiration from the Martini and Peabody series of single shot falling block rifles. The biggest change introduced by Lee was the use of a combination hammer and breech lever; from a decocked
position, a push forward on the hammer drops the breech block and ejects a spent cartridge case, and when a new round is chambered the breech block automatically pops back upwards to a closed position via spring pressure. Once closed, the hammer can be thumbed back to a locked half-cock position for carry or all the way back to full-cock ready for firing. These rifles were found capable of a rate of fire of about 40 rounds per minute. Blade front sight doubling as a lug for a socket bayonet and 1,100 yard Model 1873 folding ladder rear sight. Serial number “40” marked on the right of the hammer and underneath the breech block (requires disassembly to view). The upper tang is stamped “U.S.” above “PAT. MAR. 16. 1875.” It has two “U” marked barrel bands. The front band has stacking sling swivels, and the trigger guard has a single swivel through the front. The smooth straight grip stock is stamped with Master Armorer Erskine S. Allin’s oval script “ESA” inspection cartouche ahead of the left stock wrist and a small “B” inspection letter ahead of the circled script “P” proof stamped behind the trigger guard. “US” marked buttplate tang. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus attractive original blue finish on the barrel with some light wear around the muzzle from bayonet mounting, 90% plus oil quenched casehardened finish on the receiver, 70% oil quenched casehardened finish on the trigger guard and buttplate, with sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Stock is excellent with attractive original raised grains and rich oil finish, some light handling marks, distinct edges and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
Collector’s Fact
Only 143 U.S. Springfield Vertical Lee Model 1875 rifles were produced.
LOT 1095
Fine U.S. Burnside/Springfield Spencer Model 1865/1871 Conversion Repeating Infantry Rifle - Serial no. 18646, 50 RF cal., 32 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Spencer repeating rifles and carbines were by many accounts the best firearms
of the Civil War and were highly regarded by the troops that received them. After the war, the U.S. Army was drastically reduced from well over a million men
down to just 11,000-27,500 depending on the year. The government
also had large stockpiles of various arms which required numerous types
of ammunition. Naturally, the more troublesome arms were sold as surplus. The significant advantages of the Spencer and its popularity among troops and
officers undoubtedly led to many being retained. In the immediate post-war years, Spencers remained widely used by the cavalry while many infantrymen were stuck with obsolete muzzle loaders. As the War Department tried
to standardize the Army’s weaponry, it made sense that the Spencers, especially those manufactured too late to see combat, were considered for conversion alongside the massive stockpiles of Model 1861 and 1863 rifle-muskets. 1,108 Spencers were chosen by the
Springfield Armory for alteration to infantry rifles in 1871. The conversions consisted of replacing the short carbine barrels with 32 1/2 inch round barrels numbered to the guns with three groove rifling, .50 caliber bores, and blade, notch, and folding ladder sights. The short carbine forearms were replaced by musket length forends secured by two barrel bands with a nose caps and a slotted ramrods. Stabler cutoffs were added to allow use a single shot breech loader while retaining the ability to use the ammunition reserve in the magazines if needed. The stocks retained the saddle rings and corresponding bars and had “ESA” oval cartouches. CONDITION: Very fine with 70% of the arsenal blue finish and 50% case colors remaining. The blue on the barrel has faded to a lighter tone but remains even. The balance of the casehardened components have gray and brown patina. There are some spots of oxidation and scattered minor marks and scratches throughout. The wood is fine and has some small dents and minor scrapes common from handling and storage. There are some spots of darker oil staining. The markings remain mostly crisp throughout, including Erskine Allen’s cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 1096 Outstanding U.S. Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle - Serial no. 407136, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Left breech end of barrel marked with “V/P/eagle head” proofmarks, “US/MODEL/1884” marked low arch breechblock, American eagle with shield next to “U.S./SPRINGFIELD” on the lock plate, boxed script “SWP/1888” final inspection cartouche of Samuel W. Porter stamped on the left stock wrist,
circled script “P” proof stamp behind the lower tang, blade front and Buffington ladder rear sight, two-piece trigger guard and trigger bar assembly, serrated trigger, iron cleaning rod, and smooth buttplate marked “US” on the heel.
CONDITION: Excellent plus overall, nearly as issued, retains 98% plus original blue and 99% vivid case colors with spots on the middle barrel band, minor finish wear around
the muzzle, attractive original raised grains in the stock with a few deep gouges visible on the right, distinct edges and an exceptionally crisp cartouche and firing proof. Mechanically excellent. This is an outstanding example of a U.S. Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor rifle that would be extremely difficult to improve upon! Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
82