Beginning in the 1950s, the U.S. firearm market was transformed by a nostalgia for long-discontinued historic guns. From television Westerns to the approaching Civil War centennial, a demand was created for everything from Colt single-actions to Springfield muskets that quantities of the original firearms were inadequate to meet. And so was born the replica firearm business that continues to this day.
In 1971, Harrington & Richardson chose to celebrate its 100th anniversary—along with the company’s heritage of building firearms for the U.S. military—by recreating “America’s first general-issue, breechloading rifle.” The Springfield “Trapdoor,” a design that originated with the 1865 Allin hinged-breech conversion of the Model 1861 rifle musket, continued in U.S. service through the Spanish-American War, with more than half a million produced. The Trapdoor was the iconic rifle of the U.S. cavalryman during the Indian Wars and was most famously used at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, an event that had its own centennial fast approaching.
For this special occasion, H&R didn’t choose to replicate just any old Trapdoor; the H&R 1871-1971 Centennial Commemorative Officer’s Model Springfield Rifle follows the form of a First Type Springfield Model 1875 Officer’s Rifle. This was a sporting rifle based on the military-issue arm and chambered in the government cartridge, produced at the armory for private sale to officers stationed on the frontier. During a production run from 1875 to 1885, a total of 477 Officer’s Rifles were assembled.
Like the original, the H&R replica has a 26" barrel (hence its “rifle” designation). Its stock is based on standard carbine furniture but is checkered on the wrist and fore-end area. A pewter tip caps the fore-end, and a cleaning rod is mounted beneath the barrel.
Also like the original, the H&R Officer’s Model is scroll-engraved on much of its metal surfaces, including the lock, breechblock, trigger guard and buttplate. While original Officer’s Rifles had both a tang-mounted aperture sight and barrel-mounted rear sight, the H&R replicas only included the former. An ovular brass plaque engraved with the model designation was supplied with the rifle, along with wood screws, should the owner choose to attach it to the buttstock.
While initially planned to be a limited edition, in 1972, H&R announced that “due to the outstanding reception of the Officer’s Model,” the company would be introducing more Trapdoor rifles. Its lineup would eventually include a dozen distinct patterns—all of which followed the basic style of the Model 1873 Springfield. In addition to cavalry carbines (22" and 26" barrels with standard and “deluxe” versions) and infantry rifles (32" barrel), there were numerous commemorative and specialty models, the rarest of which are the cased “Custer Memorial Issue” rifles, less than 100 of which were made. The Officer’s Model Rifle would be re-introduced as a standard catalog item as the Model 173 and was made from 1975-1981. Production of H&R Trapdoors ended in 1986 with the company’s demise.
H&R Trapdoors are a quality replica and are still often seen in the hands of re-enactors and single-shot target shooters. While following the early 1873 aesthetic, the H&R replicas use a “low-arch” breechblock and the updated wider, post-1879-type receiver. Unlike the originals, H&R Trapdoors use a cam latch with a separate thumbpiece shaft that is held in place by a set screw. Care must be taken to ensure that the tightness of the screw is maintained.
The model pictured is one of the first series of Officer’s Models made by H&R. Being in NRA Very Good condition (the cleaning rod has been re-stained at some point), it is valued at $750.
Gun: Centennial Commemorative Officer’s Model Springfield
Manufacturer: Harrington & Richardson
Chambering: .45-70 Gov’t
Manufactured: c. 1971
Condition: NRA Very Good (Modern Gun Standards)
Value: $750
