Lot 254 : Spectacular "Near New" Type III U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifle
Rock Island Auction - Moline - 06 September 2008
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Title:
Spectacular "Near New" Type III U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifle
Description:
Spectacular "Near New" Type III U.S. Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifle
This is an unbelievable example of a near new and probably UNFIRED third model (type III) 1875 US Springfield Model Officer's rifle. The Springfield Officer's Model Rifle was one of the most elaborate and finely made rifles ever manufactured by the Springfield Armory, and were certainly the creme-de-la-creme of the trapdoor models that Springfield Armory ever produced. Only a total of 477 of these rifles were produced between 1875 and 1885, with only one hundred Type III Rifles manufactured in 1885. These rifles were all hand built by the most trusted and talented top assemblers at Springfield Armory, exhibiting master level work. Each part being hand polished and hand fitted/assembled because these were all a special order rifles, being private purchase rifles intended for the most discriminating officers in the 1880 time period. The level of detail of the metal to wood fit is just outstanding, certainly rivaling any of the master custom gun makers today. Only this rifle was produced/assembled over "125 Years" ago! The distinguishing features of the type III rifles are the large oval base for the tang rear sight, the longer forend tip in front of the barrel band, the longer German silver nose cap with leaf pattern that extends underneath the forend with the more detailed coverage of engraving. It also has the nickel plated ramrod tip, which was used on both the type II and type III rifles with the 1885 inspector cartouche. It is fitted with the later pattern 1879 rear sight correctly marked with "R" on the left side of the base and the folding leaf is graduated to 1200 yards and also marked "R" for rifle. It is fitted with the original gold plated beech style folding front sight and is correctly fitted with a "single set" trigger. The rifle has the correct and original type III style of scroll engraving that is found on top of the breech block, the firing pin hump, the side-plate, side of the hammer as well as on top of the tang of the breech plug and the underside of the trigger guard. This style and coverage is exactly as shown on page 42 and 43 of the 45-70 Springfield by Frasca and Hill. Additionally the inside of the trigger guard has the correct two letter "LK" initials of the Springfield engraver. The top of the 'low arch' breech block has the standard three-line marking: "U.S./MODEL/1878". The center of the barrel is stamped with a small "R" between the rear sight and the receiver and the left side of the barrel is stamped with "V/P/Eagle Head/P" proof and inspection marks. The heel of the buttplate has the standard "U.S." marking followed by elaborate scroll engraving. The receiver, correctly, is not serial numbered. The rifle has the original light walnut officer's model stock that has been hand fitted with the attached walnut pistol grip that exactly matches the stock both showing an extremely nice hand cut checkering on the sides as well as on the forend of the rifle. The left side of the stock has the correct boxed "SWP 1885 final acceptance cartouche with circled, script "P" firing proof stamped on the underside of the stock behind the wrist checkering. This rifle exhibits near 100% of it's original hand polished and rust blued finish on the barrel, barrel band, receiver and buttplate, with the only noticeable wear spot on the edge of the heel of the buttplate, probably from just sitting in a rack over the years. The breech-block, breech plug and tang, hammer, lock plate and trigger guard have a color case-hardened finish with vivid case colors. A letter from noted firearms authority Eric Vaule dated August 18, 1993, agrees with our assessment of this spectacular Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifle.
Condition:
Near mint/new with 99.8% of the bright original blue finish remaining with only the very top-tip edge of the buttplate heel showing any wear and that has to certainly be from sitting in a rifle rack. The breech block, trigger-guard, hammer and lock plate exhibit 99%+ of the color case hardened finish. The stock also has 99.9% of the original hand rubbed oil finish showing only a few very, very minor handling on the left side. The checking overall is just crisp with no marks or over runs, nothing. In looking at the face of the breech block and down inside the action, it is certainly the conclusion of this describer that this rifle is "UNFIRED" after 125+ years. After many years of describing collector weapons for Rock Island Auction company this is certainly the finest Springfield Officer's Model Trapdoor Rifles I have ever seen!
