The hickory cleaning rod has a silver plated brass tip and rear wiper. There are no visible inspection marks on the left stock wrist. There is an encircled, script, "P" firing proof stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard finial. The left side of the barrel is stamped with "V/P/Eagle Head/P" proof and inspection marks. The top of the breechblock is stamped: "U.S./MODEL/1873" in three lines. The engraving on Springfield Armory manufactured Officers Model Rifles does not encroach on the lock markings. The scroll engraving partially covers both the Eagle/Shield and the "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" markings. The lock plate is marked with the standard Springfield Eagle and Shield motif followed by "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1873" in three lines. The rifle has no folding tang rear as the hole has a fitted plug screw. The rifle has a single-set trigger and has a steel pipe on the underside of the barrel to support the cleaning rod. Rifles produced by the (Christian) Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, later reorganized as the Sharps Rifle Company, were originally offered from approximately 1851 until 1881, but quickly became a larger-than-life legend famous for their accuracy, power and rugged.
![u.s. model 1873 springfield trapdoor rifle will not extract u.s. model 1873 springfield trapdoor rifle will not extract](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1524/1342/products/on8765__7.jpg)
The rifle has a solid buttplate, carbine trigger guard with no sling swivel, two-click tumbler, second pattern hammer with impressed knurling and 'high arch' breechblock. The Lyman Model 1878 Sharps rifle is handsome, accurate and moderately priced. A German silver front sight blade is dove-tailed to the barrel. The rifle is fitted with a modified Model 1877 Rifle rear sight with 'steps' milled in the base for each elevation increment. The stock wrist, forearm and pistol grip have coarse checkering with two line borders. The forearm is fitted with an engraved pewter nose cap. The rifle has scroll engraving on the barrel band, receiver, breechblock, tang, hammer, lock plate, trigger guard and buttplate.
![u.s. model 1873 springfield trapdoor rifle will not extract u.s. model 1873 springfield trapdoor rifle will not extract](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1524/1342/products/on9271__06.jpg)
The rifle has a bright barrel and receiver and is fitted with an oil-finished walnut half-stock with detachable pistol grip and hickory cleaning rod.
![u.s. model 1873 springfield trapdoor rifle will not extract u.s. model 1873 springfield trapdoor rifle will not extract](https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/wp-content/uploads/images/auctions/391/images/lrg/49973a45x1.jpg)
Springfield Model 1873 Officer's Model Rifle.