Fine Springfield Model 1888 .45-70 Trapdoor Rifle c. 1888
This is a very fine, probably unissued, and all original Springfield Armory Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle. The serial number on this rifle is 445398, which places its date of manufacture to 1888. Springfield Armory produced 35,025 rifles in 1888. The Model 1884, which was the second model of the .45-70 trapdoor service rifles, was manufactured at Springfield Armory from 1886-1890.
The Barrel on this Rifle is in fine condition. The barrel is 32.60” long with a 0.730” barrel diameter at the muzzle. The barrel retains 98% of the original blue finish with almost no wear noted except for a very few minor scratches to the finish. The left, rear side of the barrel has the serif “V” view proof stamp over the serif “P” firing proof stamp over the eagle head over the second serif “V” firing proof stamp, indicating proof firing with a special 80 grain cartridge of the assembled barrel, receiver, and breech block. The top of the barrel has a serif “A” barrel inspector’s stamp and another, a serif “R” on the left side adjacent to the receiver. The bore of the rifle is in very good plus condition with a mirror finish and strong rifling with only minor frosting in the lands and grooves, mainly towards the muzzle. The chamber is also in mint condition and appears to have been fired very little after proof testing. The Breech Plug and Tang both retain 99% of the original color case-hardened finish. The Tang Screw is the correct single-slot type and is unmarred and it also retains all of its original blued finish.
The Front Sight Stud remains tightly brazed to the barrel and it retains 98% of its original blued finish. The Front Sight Blade is the correct Fourth Type with rounded top rear that was used from August 1887 until the end of production. The Front Sight Blade is still tightly pinned into the stud. This rifle also has the Model 1883 Buffington Front Sight Cover installed. The sight protector is in mint condition and retains 98% of its original blued finish.
The Rear Sight is a mint condition and correct Model 1884 Rifle Sight, also known as the Buffington Rear Sight. This particular sight is the Second Variation. The sight is graduated to 2,000 yards with the leaf marked in 25-yard increments from 200 to 1,400 yards on the right and in 50-yard increments from 15,00 to 2,000 yards on the left. The right side, top of the leaf has the correct serif “R” for rifle stamp. The open “buckhorn” sight is on the slide, which was used for rolling fire set at 266 yards. The top of the slide has the second open sight, which is a “u” shaped aperture. The bottom of the arrow shaped opening at the bottom of the slide is the third “u” shaped open aperture. There are two closed apertures, one at the top and one at the bottom. Both arrow lines, (on the right for the right-side range markings; and the angled line on the left for the left-side range markings) are still visible. Both the Windage Knob and Binding Knob retain all of their original finish as does the leaf, slide and rear sight base. The single-slot base screw is unmarred. The Rear Sight is in very fine condition.
The Lower Band is the correct Model 1885 Lower Band with the dish at the top to accommodate the Model 1884 Rear Sight. The Band is correctly marked with the serif “U” stamp, and it retains 98% of its original niter blue finish and is in mint condition. The Lower Band Spring retains 99% of its original blue finish. The Upper Band is the correct Model 1874 Rifle Upper Barrel Band with the larger “U” stamp, which was incorporated in 1879. The Band retains 99% of its original niter blue finish. The Lug also retains the majority of its niter blue finish, and the lug pin remains solidly in place. Both the sling swivel and stacking swivel are present and both retain the vast majority of their original niter blue finish. The Front Band Spring retains 99% of its original blued finish and both bands remain solidly on the stock.
The Breech Block is a mint condition Eighth Type that is crisply marked “U.S./MODEL/1884,” adjacent to the hinge point. The Breech Block retains 98% of the original and very vivid color case-hardened finish on the top (external) and interior sides. There is only minor freckling on the top portion. The colors are as sharp internally as the day this rifle was manufactured. The breech face is very clean and also retains virtually all of its original color case-hardened finish.
The Cam Latch is the correct Third Type with the unground rivet properly exposed leaving the square-shanked rivet visible. The Cam Latch contains the majority of its original blue finish with minimal wear noted on the sharp edges. The Cam Latch works perfectly, and the breech block is very tight when in battery with no movement noticed. The original firing pin is present with a still sharp, pronounced striker end.
The Receiver is the correct .45-70 type with gas ports milled into both the left and right sides. The breech block recess area is in very fine condition and retains 99% of the original blue finish. The rear of the Receiver has the full serial number “455398,” without the characteristic wear mark adjacent to the last number from the cam latch assembly, which is an indication that this rifle was seldom used. The Receiver remains in fine condition and retains 98% of its original dark, oil case hardened finish.
The Lock Plate is the correct Third Type with the large shield on the eagle. Both the eagle and the serif “U.S./SPRINGFIELD” stampings remain clear. The lock plate is in mint condition and retains all of its original blued finish. The Hammer is the correct Third Type with beveled lip. The cross hatching on the thumb piece is still crisply cut. The Hammer retains 95% of its original oil case-hardened finish as does the Hammer Screw, which is the correct single slot type. The Hammer, and Tumbler, works correctly in all three positions and the Main Spring remains strong. Both original Lock Screws retain virtually all of their original tempered blue finish.
The Trigger Guard is the correct two-piece type used up until the Model 1888 Rifle with the single-piece design was adopted. The Trigger Guard Plate is the correct Model 1863 pattern with rounded pads, which was used almost exclusively on Model 1884 production. The Trigger Guard Bow is the correct Model 1863 pattern. The Trigger Guard Plate, Bow and Sling Swivel all retain the majority of the beautiful pale niter blue finish, which was introduced on furniture at Springfield in 1885 and it is in very fine condition, with only small areas of wear and fine corrosion staining along the edges. Both single-slot wood screws are present, and both retain virtually all of their original blued finish. The Trigger is the correct Second Type with longitudinal grooves and an angled tip that points to the bottom of the guard with cross-hatched grooves. The Trigger retains virtually all of its original oil case-hardened finish with no wear at all on the checkering. The trigger release is still crisp.
The Stock is the original Model 1873 Rifle Stock in mint condition. The lock mortise is very crisply cut. On the left stock flat is the correct, clipped corner, boxed, script “SWP/1888,” cartouche of Springfield Master Armorer Samuel W. Porter, who held this position at Springfield from 1879-1894. The cartouche is still very crisp and visible. The bottom of the stock wrist has the correct circle, script “P” firing proof stamp and a serif “U” inspection stamp. The stock has only a very few minor dings, but no cracks or chips are noted. The stock retains its original oil finish.
The Nose Cap is still solidly in place and retains 98% of its original finish. The ramrod retainer is in mint condition. The correct Model 1877 Rifle Butt Plate is present, and the tang retains 90% of its original blue finish with numerous small old corrosion staining spots, particularly at the bend, where there is some pitting present. The tang is stamped with the serif “U.S.” stamp, below a serif “C” inspection stamp. The back side of the butt plate retains 90% of the original blue finish. Both original butt plate screws are present, and both retain considerable original blued finish with unmarred slots. There is wear at the shoulder of the butt plate and there are isolated areas of old staining on the back of the plate. The stock carries the correct and mint condition Model 1878 Rifle Ramrod, Second Type, with cupped end. The ramrod retains 99% plus of its original blued finish and still attaches securely when stowed. All of the original finger cannelures at the other end of the ramrod remain crisply machined.
This is a mint condition and incredibly beautiful Springfield Armory Model 1884 .45-70 Trapdoor Rifle from 1888 that was probably never issued. This rifle appears almost exactly as it did when it left Springfield Armory in 1888 and would be difficult to upgrade.