1873 Springfield Just looking for info on it

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beckwith17

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Hey guys, I just got an 1873 Springfield rifle and I'm just curious as to where I can find information about it as far as manufacture date, etc. It's been passed down to me from my father, and it was originally owned by my great grandfather. He bought it between the late 1890's to early 1900's. The serial is 26785 and it has the letter "R" stamped inside the trap. I'll take some pics tomorrow and try to upload them so you all can take a look at it too. I'm pretty excited about it, although I'm going to have to start loading my own shells if I want to shoot it. It's too much of an heirloom for me to consider taking it to the range on a regular basis though. Thanks for the any help you can give me.
 
It's too much of an heirloom for me to consider taking it to the range on a regular basis though.
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Nah, your great-granddad would be proud to know it was still being used. Just don't try to make a supermag out of it and it will last for several more generations.
 
I have a Trapdoor that my grandfather used to shoot on New Years each year. I, as a young, stupid 18 year old (that would be over 25 years ago), shot it with some reloads I bought at a gun show. They were hot and I got a hairline crack in the stock where the breech ends. Stupid.

I do shoot it with some light loads using 405 gr cast bullets and IMR3031. Shoots 3-4" groups pretty consistently. Fun rifle.
 
Thanks for the welcome Guys. I'm going to be honest, these pics aren't the best. I'm going to try to get out tomorrow or the next day and take some pics in the sunlight. I also only have a 50 mm lense with me right now so I can't get the whole rifle in there.

As the story always goes, the grandfather that owned the Springfield only had the one rifle, so he took it hunting with him no matter the game. He would shoot squirrels with it by "barking" them or shooting under them so the concussion would kill them. The last picture includes a 16 ga. Rem 870 Wingmaster that was owned by another great grandfather. He bought it right before he died in the early1950's. It's the shotgun I killed my first squirrel with, and the one my dad always took rabbit hunting.
 

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That's a nice piece of history you have there.
Just keep the loads light. Wouldn't want to damage a nice piece like that.
I'm definately jealous.
 
Thats a beautiful rifle you got. Just dont shoot any of the hot loaded rounds through it. But with the 45-70 you dont really need to. The old black powder loads will shoot clean through most game.
 
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