^Lot 4332 VERY RARE HIGH CONDITION SPRINGFIELD ARMORY US

MODEL 1875 LEE VERTICAL ACTION RIFLE. Cal. 45-70 Govt. In 1874, James P. Lee approached congress to allocate funds for the development of his vertical breech loader design as a potential replacement for the Springfield trapdoor rifle. The design improved the speed of the shooter. This was done through a speedier reload process by pushing the hammer forward which would drop the breech block and automatically extract the spent cartridge. A total quantity of only 143 of these martial rifles were mfg by Springfield Armory under supervision of the inventor in 1875 for testing. Ultimately the government did not accept the M1875 as a standard longarm making it a rare experimental prototype that is rarely found today. It is fitted with a 32.5" blued bbl with a block front sight and the correct Springfield 1873 rifle rear sight. The only marking visible on the bbl is a "2". The bbl is held with 2 blued steel bbl bands, the forward of which has sling & stacking swivels. The top tang is marked with "US" behind the hammer and the "PAT MAR 16. 1875." roll stamp. The stock bears the script font oval ESA inspectors proof from Erskine S. Allin the master armorer and chief inspector for Springfield Armory during the period. The buttplate is smooth steel. CONDITION: Overall excellent-very fine. The bbl retains 97% of it's orig blue with some muzzle bayonet wear. The rear sight retains nearly all of its fire blue. The receiver is 98% with some mild high edge wear. Trigger guard has a few minor spots of finish rub wear retaining 90% of the factory blue. Buttplate retains 90% of the orig blue with some toe & heel wear. The stock is very fine with great markings and final proof cartouches. Bore is very fine with nice rifling and a couple of small light patches of pitting. (01-29218/ZAL) ANTIQUE $6000-8000