Guns International #: 103119948
Seller's Inventory #: 247289

Category - Springfield Rifles - Antique - Springfield Rifles - Military

Category
Springfield Rifles - Antique
Springfield Rifles - Military

RARE Antique U.S. SPRINGFIELD M1870 SHARPS ALTERATION Military TRIALS Rifle SCARCE 1 of 1000 M1870 TYPE I Military Trials Rifle

Description:
RARE Antique U.S. SPRINGFIELD M1870 SHARPS ALTERATION Military TRIALS Rifle

SCARCE 1 of 1000 M1870 TYPE I Military Trials Rifle

Here we present an antique U.S. Springfield Model 1870 Type I Alteration Sharps Military Trials Rifle made in the early 1870s. This alteration used Sharps percussion straight breech actions, a New Model 1863 in this example. By the end of the Civil War, the U.S. Ordnance department found itself with hundreds of thousands of obsolete muzzleloading muskets, as well as thousands of obsolete percussion breechloading rifles and carbines. Due to financial restrictions within the Ordnance Department, the decision was made to alter these “obsolete” percussion arms to breechloading metallic cartridge arms. Initially the decision was made to implement a .58 caliber rimfire cartridge for use in the altered muzzle loading muskets, but by 1866, a centrally primed cartridge, officially designated the .50-70 Government, was adopted.

The majority of the cartridge alterations performed between 1867 and 1869 had been to carbines, with very few rifles altered. However, the Army decided that it wanted to issue the .50-70 Sharps rifled musket for infantry field trials in 1870. A minimum of 1,300 of these rifles were required for the Army field trials. Springfield undertook the alteration process, converting approximately 1,000 older percussion rifles, which would be the “Type I” alterations, and obtaining 300 new cartridge actions from Sharps for the last 300 guns, which would be the “Type II” conversion. These 300 cartridge receivers were the direct predecessor to what would become the Sharps Model 1874 Rifle. Many of the guns to be altered were late war, New Model 1863 Infantry Rifles that had not even been issued until after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. These 1000 Type I altered trials rifles used their original Sharps serial numbers, while the newly made Type II Rifles were serial numbered in their own unique sequence from 1 to 300.

The first 1,000 altered Type I rifles were issued to 16 different infantry and 2 artillery regiments, in numbers ranging from as few as 20 to as many as 100 rifles per regiment. They were issued on the company level, alongside U.S. M1870 Springfield Allin alteration “Trapdoor” rifles and U.S. M1870 Remington Rolling Block rifles. All of the rifles were chambered for the same .50-70 Government cartridge. 

The overall condition is near fine. Armory bright finish on the barrel with some muted case colors on the receiver. The action is excellent. The bore is shiny bright with sharp rifling. The stock shows use and remains solid throughout. There is a faint inspection cartouche on the left stock flat and a small boxed inspection marking on the underside of the wrist. Numbers match. A very nice example of a rare US military Sharps rifle!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 35 inches.

Caliber: .50-70 GOVT

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail!

Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

ancestryguns

$6500

#247289
 

Antique: Yes

Price: $6,500.00
Buy Now
Pay with