One not often seen
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:21 pm
Model 1875 Springfield Officers Model in 45/70.
Technically this might not be considered military as they were made at the Springfield Armory for sale to officers that were being posted to the frontier to use for sport hunting. A total of 477 of this model in 3 recognized variations were made. This one is a Variation II identified mainly by the single point mounting of the tang sight. (Which didn't work out very well...) These come up for auction fairly regularly on RIA. The problem of wanting one is the price that nice one's command. (Up to $30,000)
I fell into this one at very reasonable price as it is a long way from mint. Actually it show heavy, but honest use. the checkering on the stock is nearly worn off in areas. It came off a ranch in NE Washington that had been homesteaded in the 1890's and had been the "ranch gun" up through WW2. I had to replace the front ight with a replica of the original Beech sight. I fabricated the wiping rod and ferrule and made the tang sight from pictures and measurements of an original.
Technically this might not be considered military as they were made at the Springfield Armory for sale to officers that were being posted to the frontier to use for sport hunting. A total of 477 of this model in 3 recognized variations were made. This one is a Variation II identified mainly by the single point mounting of the tang sight. (Which didn't work out very well...) These come up for auction fairly regularly on RIA. The problem of wanting one is the price that nice one's command. (Up to $30,000)
I fell into this one at very reasonable price as it is a long way from mint. Actually it show heavy, but honest use. the checkering on the stock is nearly worn off in areas. It came off a ranch in NE Washington that had been homesteaded in the 1890's and had been the "ranch gun" up through WW2. I had to replace the front ight with a replica of the original Beech sight. I fabricated the wiping rod and ferrule and made the tang sight from pictures and measurements of an original.