More than 550,000 .45-70 "Trapdoor" Springfield rifles and carbines were manufactured and issued to U.S. troops between 1873 and 1893. Of that number, only 477 were of the so-called "Officers" Model, making this one of the rarest of the late 1800s black powder cartridge rifles. And, as you might expect, a fine original in shooting condition can now fetch upwards of $10,000 or more. It's unlikely that you'll run into many shooters and hunters still putting one of these highly collectible "military sporting rifles" through daily use at the range or in the deer woods. Fortunately, Davide Pedersoli & Co. of Brescia, Italy is now offering a very faithful modern copy of this rare black powder cartridge rifle, and its available at a much more affordable price.

Like the original it replicates, the Pedersoli "Officers" Model of the famed single-shot comes with a blued 26-inch tapered round barrel, chambered for the standard .45-70 Government cartridge. The bore is precision broach rifled with 6 lands and grooves with a one turn-in-18 inches rifling twist. The receiver, breechblock, trigger guard, barrel band, butt plate and lock plate come with a beautiful color casehardened finish. Just like the originals, the Pedersoli "Officers" Model comes with a satin-finished American black walnut stock that's checkered at the wrist and fore-stock grip. It's also tipped with a pewter nose cap. Dixie Gun Works, E.M.F., Cherry's Sporting Goods and Flintlocks, Etc. all catalog this superb hunting rifle, and that's exactly what the original "Officers" Model Trapdoor Springfields were - hunting rifles.

Retail prices for the "Officers" Model will vary from $1,200 to $1,250, depending on whether the rifle comes with a barrel mounted rear sight. All feature a Creedmoor style tang sight, and single-set trigger for precise shot placement. For more information on this and other great black powder cartridge rifle models from our past, visit the Pedersoli website at: www.davide-pedersoli.com