Harrington & Richardson 1873 Springfield Trapdoor Officer Model .45-70 Gov
SOLD FOR: $2,025.00
LSB#: LSB260415RR011
Make: Harrington & Richardson
Model: Model 1873 Trapdoor Officer
Serial Number: 6936
Year of Manufacture: Circa, 1970s
Caliber: .45-70
Action Type: Single-Shot Forward Pivoting Breech-Block “Trapdoor” Rifle
Barrel Length: 26”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into the barrel. There is a tang style peep sight installed.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a single piece wood half length stock with a barrel band, pewter forend cap, straight wrist with detachable semi-pistol grip, straight comb, and semi-crescent buttplate. The LOP is 13 1/4″ from trigger to buttplate. There are light scratches, scuffs, and compression dents throughout. There are some light finish chips on the left side. There are no cracks. Overall this stock is in Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is minor fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. There are some light scratches and handling marks. There are a few light corrosion freckles scattered throughout. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall this rifle is in Good to Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The rifle has a half-cock safety. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This Harrington & Richardson Model 1873 Trapdoor Officer Model is a handsome circa-1970s reproduction-style single-shot rifle chambered in .45-70 Government. Patterned after the Springfield Trapdoor Officer’s Model, it features a 26″ barrel, forward-pivoting breechblock action, blued and case-colored finish, half-length stock, pewter forend cap, barrel band, detachable semi-pistol grip, semi-crescent buttplate, and tang-style peep sight. The beaded front sight and tang peep arrangement give it a refined sporting and target-style presentation, making it more elegant than a standard military Trapdoor configuration.
Condition is Good to Very Good overall, with the rifle retaining about 95% of its metal finish. The metal shows light scratches, handling marks, and a few scattered light corrosion freckles, but the screw heads remain sharp and the markings are clear. The one-piece wood stock is also in Good to Very Good condition, showing light scratches, scuffs, compression dents, and some small finish chips on the left side, but no cracks. The pewter forend cap, detachable grip, and case-colored action give the rifle strong visual appeal despite the modest handling wear.
The bore is a major strength, remaining bright with sharp rifling, no erosion, and only minor fouling, rating 9.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, and the rifle retains its half-cock safety, though it has not been test fired. As with any used firearm, a thorough cleaning and inspection are advisable before use. Overall, this is an attractive H&R 1873 Trapdoor Officer Model in .45-70 Government, offering excellent bore condition, solid mechanics, strong remaining finish, and a desirable Officer-style configuration suited for black powder cartridge shooting, collection, or display. Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF