Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Rifle
Springfield Armory (US Government) · Rifle · Discontinued · 1875
Also known as: Model 1875 Officer's Model, 1875 Officer's Trapdoor Rifle, Springfield Officer's Model
Overview
The Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Rifle is a single-shot breech-loading rifle chambered in .45-70 Government, built at the Springfield Armory as a deluxe presentation-grade arm for U.S. Army officers. Based on the Model 1873 'Trapdoor' service rifle with its hinged breechblock, it features a 26-inch barrel, a checkered walnut stock tipped in white metal fore and aft of the breech, a single-set trigger that functions as a hair trigger, and a globe front sight paired with a buckhorn barrel sight and a graduated tang peep sight for long-range target work. Fewer than 500 were produced during its ten-year manufacturing run.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3629 g (128.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1143 mm (45.00") |
| Barrel Length | 660 mm (25.98") |
| Action Type | Trapdoor |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Trigger Pull | 18 N (4.0 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 411 m/s (1348 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2215 J (1634 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1005 m (1099 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 3 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45-70 Government · primary — also known as .45-70, .45-70 Govt, 11.6x53mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Hinged Breechblock, Checkered Stock, Single Set Trigger, Globe Front Sight, Buckhorn Rear Sight, Tang Peep Sight, White Metal Forend Tip
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1875
Production
Estimated total produced: 477 · Production years: 1875-1885
Fewer than 500 produced across three periods of manufacture; exact figure commonly cited near 477.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Springfield Armory
Discontinued: 1885
Notes
Sold to officers who wished to purchase a fine sporting arm; the tang peep sight was graduated for long-range shooting to roughly 1,100 yards. Made in a small number of variant configurations over three periods of manufacture.
Background
Unlike the plain issue Trapdoor service rifles carried by enlisted men, the Officer's Model was a private-purchase luxury arm offered to commissioned officers who wanted a refined sporting rifle, complete with fine checkering, engraved furniture, and set trigger. Its rarity and craftsmanship make surviving examples highly prized among collectors of American martial arms.