1884 US Springfield Trapdoor

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Hello friends and neighbors // I lucked into this for $250 at a local gun store. Even a butchered Buffington sighted rifle is a dream come true for me, my first .45-70. Any info is appreciated, even if you say it is a Bannock.

Pics first,,, I just spent 30 min typing about the .45-70 only to have a broadban error LOL. So pics in the first post then additional info in short posts.
Rifle(cutdown),serial#562659,US Model 1884 at top of breech lock,bore


All I can find missing is the main spring, Dixie guns parts had one for $15.00, it is on the way.
Rifle disassembled, mainspring missing

Does anyone see something else missing?

 

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Here are more pics/
-Wooden Stock Stamps/Cartouche ---


-Barrel markings (top)- -----



-Barrel markings(bottom) and action pics-

 

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All I have done so far is clean the stock with 0000 steel wool and Lemon oil furniture polish, as per rcmodel. The cut down areas of the stock look as old in color as the rest. I also lightly used 0000 SW with CLP on the Metal parts.

The bore cleaned up with a patch of Hoppes#9, 3 brush strokes, six more dry double patches and it was clean as a whistle. One patch with oil before pic.

**I found an old bore cleaning cloth behind the door on the butt plate but decided not to use it.

Serial# 562659
Rear sight---Buffington double knurled knobs and an R (rifle)on .
Trigger--- Grooved
Hammer---checkered top, double click tumbler

Boxed, SWP over 1893 -- left side of shoulder stock at wrist//// Final inspection cartouche
B.D.R. and a P in a circle --- bottom of shoulder stock behind trigger guard
E,, B (6?,8?) ,, 19 ---top of shoulder stock ///( Issue information)

Barrel markings:

R--left side rear
V,P, Eagles head logo, 1-- top, left of center
A---top, center
K---bottom, rear, center
J,x?,P,V---bottom,center, (4 inches above K) **the x is offset to the left and might be a logo instead of an x

****Are all of these barrel cartouches Ordnance Dept. proof marks?

 

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Hello friends and neighbors // I also would like to use this for deer this season. If anyone knows of over the counter ammo that is safe to use in this firearm and powerful enough for 120lb whitetail. I'd appreciate the tip.

Thanks for any info or links concerning the serial # and other markings/stamps/cartouches. I have read a good bit at Trapdoorcollector.com and other sites.

 

[Jim K]

I can answer on a couple of those markings. The SWP is Samuel W. Porter, the chief armorer at Springfield; his mark appears on almost all trapdoors and a very few Krags. He died in June, 1894. That boxed mark, which collectors call the "cartouche" is the final inspection and acceptance mark.

The eagle head and VP is the proof mark, along with the circled P on the stock. The other marks are of various inspectors who checked different parts. At this date, no one knows who they were.

Jim

 

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Jim Keenan,Thanks for the much respected input.

Where the B.D.R. is located ( in front of the circle P) on my rifle,I have seen other initails on different rifles. I wish I could remember what they were, I'll keep looking,,the search is half the fun.

 

[Jim Watson]

The 405 gr factory load is within Trapdoor pressure limits, the 300s are a bit hot.
Some say that a jacketed bullet will be hard on the old mild steel barrels, though. Maybe somebody here has experience one way or the other. I do not sully the barrels of my BPCRs with copper... or nitro.
The Ultramax Cowboy load is a cast 405 at 1100 fps which is close to the old .45-55-405 carbine load and will do anything necessary to a deer.
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,6157.html

 

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Jim Watson, Thank you for the much respected info.

I am glad the 405 will work safely in the rifle and cleanly take a whitetail.

Once I install the mainspring and front sight there are five happy whitetail hunters ready and waiting to see if we can hit the mark with the old Springfield.

Of course if it does prove to be a shooter I better get my deer quick or there will be four grumpy deer hunters impatiently waiting their turn.

 

[Curator]

Too bad someone cut this fine old rifle down but 50 years ago they weren't worth much. It appears this might actually have been an 1888 model. The one with the flimsy ramrod bayonet, based on the single piece trigger guard and the serial number range. These rifles were the last trapdoors made and are usually in good condition as they didn't get much use. It will make a fine "sporter' and great deer rifle.

 

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Curator , I agree and am glad to have the opportuntiy to use it for hunting.

I'm sure many Trapdoors were shortened for hunting/sport after the newer model lever and bolt action rifles took over.

I wish there was more info on the issue stamps (top of stock).

I had found a site that will check the serial number, now I have to refind it . lol