Rare And Desirable Original Third Model Springfield Trapdoor Officer’s Rifle Circa 1880

A Rare And Desirable Original Third Model Springfield Trapdoor Officer’s Rifle Circa 1880.

26 inch round barrel. 45-70 caliber. Of all the rifles carried during the American Western Expansion and the Indian Wars none is more emblematic and romantic than the Springfield Trapdoor Officer’s rifle. With its elegant form, scroll engraving by F.W. Martin decorating the hammer, lock plate, triggerguard, breechblock, buttplate and breech, engraved pewter fore-end tip and checkered wrist and fore-end, as well as its vernier tang sight the Officer’s Model is one of the most distinctive American martial arms.

Carried by Medal of Honor winner, Tilton, as well as General George Armstrong Custer these are storied rifles. With a total of 477 made all are very scarce. This is a genuine well used example with well worn checkering but quite well defined engraving on the steel parts. The attachable pistol grip is missing and the vernier sight is an old replacement.

This is an Officer’s Model that has the look of a rifle that was carried in the American west and would be perfect for display with Native American artifacts or a U.S. cavalry display. The wear is all honest from hard use on the frontier. The action is good and the bore is well worn from use but not corroded. The wood ramrod is a correct replacement.

This is not a rifle that was purchased by an officer and never used but a real survivor carrying with it all the romance of the West.