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LOT 1151
U.S. Springfield Officer’s Model
1875 Type II Trapdoor Rifle
Attributed as Purchased by
Lieutenant Colonel Lafayette E.
Campbell - NSN, 45-70 Government cal., 26
inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This is an example of a scarce Type II U.S. Springfield Model 1875
Trapdoor Officer’s Model rifle, attributed as originally purchased by
Lieutenant Colonel Lafayette E. Campbell (May 9, 1845-May 3, 1919), a
prominent individual who was married to Margaret Dent, the daughter
of General Frederick Dent, who was the brother-in-law of Ulysses S.
Grant. Only a reported 477 total Officer’s Model rifles of three types 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, 252 are estimated to have been
this Type II configuration, manufactured c. 1877-1881, showing features
of the Model 1877 and 1879 rifles. An accompanying old museum
inventory type piece of paper with this lot reads “Springfield Rifle loaned
by Helen Dent Campbell [daughter of Lafayette Campbell]. Used by
Capt. Campbell in the west during the Indian Wars. This shoots a 45-70
bullet and was used for buffalo hunting. This is a specially made rifle that
was sold to officers and given as awards. Please do not handle this gun.
MHS ‘9897’ Jan. 1947.” An included scanned copy lists a number of these
Officers Model rifles sold and to what individual (source unknown) with
an example listed as sold on February 25 of 1880 to “Capt LE Campbell”
for $27.00.
Lafayette E. Campbell was born May 9, 1845 in
Dayton, Ohio. He began his military career when
he enlisted as a private in Company F, 3rd Iowa
Cavalry on June 20, 1862. Twice wounded during
the Civil War, Campbell was promoted to the rank
of First Lieutenant with the 3rd U.S. Volunteer
Cavalry on February 22, 1865. As a member of
the 33rd U.S. Infantry, Campbell was promoted
to 1st Lieutenant October 11, 1868, and in 1872 he accompanied the
Hayden Expedition to Yellowstone National Park. He was stationed for
five years in and around Fort Sully, Dakota Territory and later at Fortress
Monroe, Virginia. Lafayette E. Campbell married President Ulysses S.
Grant’s niece, Margaret Lynde Dent on October 5, 1875 in Washington
D.C. The couple moved to the Post in San Antonio, Texas, later known
as Fort Sam Houston, where Campbell served as the quartermaster
officer in charge of construction. Over the next several years, Campbell
oversaw the construction of numerous military structures, and reportedly
purchased this U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Officers rifle on February
2, 1880 during this time period. His work constructing Fort Logan,
Colorado is considered to be one of his most important legacies, with
construction beginning on this facility in July of 1888, with this Officers
rifle likely nearby him for protection in the turbulent west. He retired from
the U.S. Army on December 11, 1892 with the rank of Major. A special
act of Congress awarded Lafayette E. Campbell a brevet promotion to
Lieutenant Colonel on February 19, 1903.
The Officer’s Models 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 with a “1” assembly number under the receiver, on
the set trigger components, and on the inside of the trigger guard
bow. In function, the rifle is a standard trapdoor rifle with a low-arch
breech block. However, it is embellished with
traditional acanthus scroll engraving on the forend
cap, barrel band, receiver, breech block, lock, hammer, trigger
guard and buttplate. The lock has the standard markings including a
federal eagle behind “U.S./SPRINGFIELD”, the breech block is marked “U.S./
MODEL/1873”, standard “V/P/eagle head” proofs on the upper left of the
barrel at the breech, a circled script “P” proofmark behind the checkered
panel on the underside of the stock, “US” on top of the buttplate, shorter
26 inch barrel fitted with a folding combination blade and globe Beach
front sight, Model 1879 buckhorn rear sight graduated 1-5 on the left
side of the stepped base and 6-11 on the ladder, Springfield peep sight
mounted on top of the wrist, traditional style wood cleaning rod with
nickeled and knurled tip mounted below the barrel, single set trigger,
walnut sporting stock with checkered forend and wrist, and a detachable
checkered walnut pistol grip. Includes relevant consignor supplied
research documents.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original blue finish on the barrel with some
areas thinning to a smooth brown and some scattered light scratches,
vivid patterns of original case colors visible in protected areas of the
breech with silvering and smooth gray/brown patina on the balance of
the exposed casehardened surfaces, scattered natural brown freckling
indicative of some western use, and sharp well-executed scroll engraving
overall. Stock is also fine with distinct edges, some light dents, scratches,
and nicks, and defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. This U.S.
Springfield Officer’s Model 1875 rifle would make a fine addition to any
U.S. military firearms collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 17,000
Collector’s Fact
According to ".45-70 Springfield" by Frasca,
of the approximately 477 U.S. Springfield
1875 Officer's Model rifles produced, about
252 were in the Type II configuration.
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