Silver plated 45/70 Springfield Commemorative rifle! (Now wiith Pics!!!!)

[fourfingersofdeath]

I found one of these the other day. It looks unfired, the silver plate under the trapdoor looks brand new, but the externals show a bit of tarnishing. The wood is exceptional and it has a silver hand stop under the grip and tang sights. Has anybody ever heard of these? It has a plaque as well which was supposed to go on a case I suppose and it is marked 1 of 1000 and it came out in 1977, it is marked 1877-1957 I think. I really think it is 1 of 1000 but the enormity of that didn't sink in at the time. If it wasn't for the silver I would have bought it there and then because the wood and the way it is finished is so good. It is selling for about $4-500 dollars Aust above the price of a standard Pedersoli Trapdoor. Dang, I'm gonna go have another look. Mick.


Trouble is, if I own it I gotta shoot it, I don't know how silver and BP go together, but I can't imagine it would be a good mix.

UPDATE:

It is a Harrington and Richardson. I remember when these cam eout. I drooled over the ads in Guns and Ammo (pretty much the only regualr yankee mag available at that stage). Lots of pics of it available at my photobucket site, go to the Single Shot and Target Rifles page. Here is a direct link to the page (I think!).
http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/Single%20Shots%20and%20Target%20Rifles/

A few shots to get ya dribbling:









This posting photos is habity forming (but fun) more at photobucket,
It is expensive, but I think I'll have to get it to match my BPCR. (You know, I actually only have one 45/70 at the moment, that is indeeeeed
a sad state of affairs, ain't it! Any excuse will do.

Thanks, Mick.

[St. George]

Is it a Pedersoli - or a Harrington and Richardson?

And - is it an Officer's Rifle or a Carbine?

There's a difference.

Silverplating shouldn't be a problem - thousands of guns were silverplated and decorated far before the advent of smokeless powder, and they're still in good shape - so long as their maintenance was kept up.

If not, well...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[fourfingersofdeath]

It is an Officer's Model I think, the Bbl is about 24" Seems a shame to take it into the bush hunting, but is sure is pretty! Mick.

[fourfingersofdeath]

I just looked up the gun dealer that distributes Pedersolis in Australia, The commemorative one is only $AU100 dearer than a new Officer's Model, WhOOO HO!!!!!! I'm gonna check that one out again. MIck.

UPDATE: See above, first post.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

That rifle is AWESOME!

I'm gonna have to get one ... just as soon as I win the Lottery! 

[St. George]

It's interesting - but it's not an Officer's Rifle, by a long shot.

It's some kind of a decorated Carbine - the saddle ring and bar gives it away.

The Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Rifle was held to a standard - and so was the Harrington and Richardson commemorative version as a faithful copy.

The barrel length is 26".

The forestock features a white-metal nosepiece - cast into the stock, and is cut for a hickory wiping rod, with nickel-plated brass ferrules at each end.

They're pretty distinctive - and have a 'sporting gun' look to them.

I seem to remember seeing this version in a catalog of some kind - but can't remember where - perhaps it was a Pedersoli catalog.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[fourfingersofdeath]

I'm sure I used to see the ads in an American gun mag, and at that time the only gun mag we got was Guns and Ammo. I remember that there was a standard one and a special run of 1000 which were sliver and a heap more expensive. They described these 1000 as Officer's carbines, they must have made a mistake with them, as this rifle also has a plaque regarding the run of 1000, 1877 to 1977.

I think, impractible as this rifle is, I'll never see another like it and it is only a couple hundred dearer than a standard Pedersoli and I'll never have an opportunity to own another like it.

One of the sales clerks let slip on the phone today that the shop go it at a good price, maybe I might be able to arm wrestle them down some 

I'll be in touch.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Good luck!  And if ya get it ... shoot one for me, OK?