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U.S. Engraved Officers Sporting Springfield Model 1875 Trapdoor Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 12,000.00 USD
U.S. Engraved Officers Sporting Springfield Model 1875 Trapdoor Rifle
This is an example of an early example of the Model 1873 "Sporting Rifle" as custom made by Springfield Armory at the special request of various U.S. Army Officers to the Chief of Ordnance. Each one of these rifles were individually made and to avoid the time consuming custom work, the Ordnance Department decided to standardize the "Sporting rifle" and renamed it the "Model 1875 Officers Rifle". This particular rifle features a 26" barrel with a folding front globe sight and the standard rear folding rifle sight graduated to 1,200 yards with a long range peep sight added on the top of the wrist. The breechblock is marked "MODEL / 1873 / eagle head / crossed swords / US" and the lock is marked with the eagle shield motif and "U.S. / SPRINGFIELD / 1873" ahead of the hammer. The left rear of the barrel is marked with the "v / P / eagle head" proof marks and the buttplate tang is marked "U.S.". The breechblock, hammer, upper tang, lock, latch, buttplate tang and top of the barrel band are decorated with floral scroll designs. Mounted with a half stock with a wooded ramrod with brass tip, silver decorative, lightly engraved ferrule and ill-fitting crescent iron buttplate.
BBL: 26 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 45-70
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: nsn


Good. The metal surfaces have a smooth mottled brown and gray patina with traces of blue scattered on the barrel, mostly in the protected areas. There is some minor pitting on the lock, trigger guard, trigger guard plate and breechblock. The stock is good as sanded, repaired and varnished. The trigger guard plate and buttplate are ill-fitting and there are some cracks in the filler used and overall some minor dents, dings and scratches. There is some of the checkering pattern visible on the top of the wrist. The markings and engraving are clear. The action is fine. A solid representation of an early Officers Sporting Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle.