This arm was approved by the Ordnance Board of 1882, appointed for the selection of a magazine arm for our service.  The mechanism, bolt action, with the chamber closed by a sliding and rotating breech bolt, could be loaded when the bolt was drawn rearward, through a 5 round tubular magazine located in the butt stock and covered by a trap.  The .45-70-405 cartridges were fed forward by the action of the bolt, two ratchet bars engaging the shells successively, on a conveyor principle.  Drawing the thumb-piece to half-cock locked the bolt in safety position.  The magazine cut-off, a small lever at the right front of the receiver, permitted the arm to be used as a single loader. 

753 Chaffee-Reece rifles were made at the Springfield Armory in 1884. 

     Our specimen is marked on top of the receiver “U.S. SPRINGFIELD 1884”.  The bands are marked “U”.  The top rear of the barrel is marked “V” “P” eagle head.   The left side of the stock has carved “CHL”.  The bayonet is marked “US”.  The scabbard is marked “E.F.J.” “EE”.