This is a mint condition and all original Springfield Armory Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle that appears to be unissued. 

The serial number on this rifle is 471025, which places its date of manufacture to 1889.  Springfield Armory produced only 36,523 service rifles in 1889, which was the next to last year of standard service rifle production of the trapdoor rifle at Springfield Armory.  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 mint condition.  The barrel is 32.60” long with a 0.730” barrel diameter at the muzzle.  The barrel retains 99% plus of its original and beautiful blued finish along its entire length with the only noticeable wear noted at the muzzle from fixing of the bayonet.  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 “P” 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 “D” on the right side adjacent to the receiver.  Just below this “D” stamp is a witness line that aligns perfectly with a corresponding witness line on the forward section of the receiver.  The bottom, rear of the barrel has a “~” stamp, a small serif “B” stamp, and a large serif “P” proof stamp. 

The bore of the rifle is in mint, unissued condition with a mirror finish and strong rifling.  The rifling is as crisp as the day it was manufactured.  The chamber is in mint condition and is very clean and bright, retaining 99% of its original blued finish.  The Breech Plug and Tang is in mint condition.  The top of the tang and bottom portion of the plug retains all of the original and beautiful color case-hardened finish.  The Tang Screw is the correct single-slot type and is unmarred, and it retains all of its original blued finish.  The bottom of the tang has a serif “M” stamp. 

The Front Sight Stud remains tightly brazed to the barrel.  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, which retains 98% of its original blued finish.

The Rear Sight is the correct Model 1884 Rifle Sight, also known as the Buffington Rear Sight.  This particular sight is the Second Variation, and it is in mint condition, retaining 99% plus of its original blued finish.  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 original Windage Knob and Binding Knob are present, and both are in mint condition retaining virtually all of their original blued finish.  The single-slot base screw is present and is in mint condition with an unmarred slot.  The rear sight spring retains virtually all of the original blued finish as does the rear sight base.

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 is in fine condition, retaining 99% of its original blued finish with a storage wear mark noted on the bottom edge.  The Lower Band Spring retains all 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 also retains 99% of its original blued finish. The sling swivel is present and moves freely as does the stacking swivel, both of which retain the vast majority of their original blued finish.  The Front Band Spring retains all of its original blued finish and both bands remain solidly on the stock.

The Breech Block is a mint condition Seventh Type that is crisply marked “U.S./MODEL/1884,” adjacent to the hinge point.  The Breech Block retains 100% of the original color case-hardened finish on both the top and interior surfaces and is beautiful.  The breech face is very clean and also exhibits the majority 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 retains 98% of its original blue finish with wear noted on the thumb latch release portion.  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 that retains all of its original dark finish. 

The Receiver is the correct .45-70 type with gas ports milled into both the left and right sides.  The chamber area is in mint condition and retains virtually all of its original blued finish with almost wear noted.  The bottom of the receiver has a serif “H” stamp, and a serif “B” stamp.  The rear of the Receiver has the full serial number “471025,” without the characteristic heavy wear over the “5” from the cam latch assembly, indicating this rifle has been hardly ever used, if ever.  The Receiver retains 99% plus of its original dark oil quenched 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 very crisp.  The lock plate retains 100% of its original oil case-hardened finish with a small area of fading around the US Springfield stamp.  It is in beautiful, unissued condition.  The Hammer is the correct Third Type with beveled lip.  The cross hatching on the thumb piece is still crisply cut.  The Hammer retains 100% of its original oil case-hardened finish as does the Hammer Screw, which is the correct single slot type.  The interior of the lock plate also retains 100% of its original finish.  The Main Spring is in mint condition, retaining all of its original finish.  The 3-position Tumbler retains all of its original finish.  The Bridle retains 99% of its original finish as does the Sear.  The Sear Spring retains 100% of its original finish as do all three lock screws, all of which have unmarred slots.  This lock is in unissued condition.  The Hammer, and Tumbler, works correctly in all three positions and the Main Spring remains strong.

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 front of the plate has a serif “S” stamp, and the rear of the plate has a serif “M” stamp.  The Trigger Guard Bow is the correct Model 1863 pattern.  The Trigger Guard Plate, Bow and Sling Swivel all retain 99% of the beautiful, original blue finish, which was introduced on furniture at Springfield in 1885.  The bottom portion of the plate retains virtually all of its original blued finish as do both trigger bow screw nuts.  The original rear sling swivel is present, and it moves freely and retains the vast majority of its original blued finish.  Both single-slot wood screws are present, and both retain virtually all of their original blued finish with unmarred slots.  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 100% plus of its original oil case-hardened finish.  The trigger release is still crisp.

The Stock is the original Model 1873 Rifle Stock, and it is in very fine condition.  On the left stock flat is the correct, clipped corner, boxed, script “SWP/1889,” 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, just to the rear of a serif “B.” inspection stamp.  The interior barrel recess has a serif “H” stock maker’s stamp.  The stock exhibits a very few small dings and scratches with minor loss adjacent to the front edge of the trigger plate recess and around the lock plate recess.  There are also a few storage dings in the butt.  The stock is very solid throughout and it retains its original oil finish. 

The Nose Cap is still solidly in place is in mint condition, retaining 99% of its original blued finish.  The correct Model 1877 Rifle Butt Plate is present, and it retains 95% of its original blued finish with wear noted at the bend.  The interior of the plate retains all of its original finish with a “4” inspection stamp.  The tang is crisply stamped with the serif “U.S.” stamp.  Both single-slot Butt Plate Screws are present, and both are in mint condition retaining the majority of their original blued finish, even on the threads, with minor storage thinning wear on the heads.  The stock carries the correct Model 1878 Rifle Ramrod, Second Type, with cupped end.  The ramrod retains 99% plus of the original blued finish throughout 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 Springfield Armory Model 1884 Rifle from 1889 that, was clearly never issued.  This is a museum quality weapon that would be nearly impossible to upgrade.  This rifle remains in firing condition and operates perfectly.