I have a chance to possibly purchase an 1873 Springfield trapdoor marked 1881. So far I have only been provided one fuzzy picture and it looks to be a carbine. I know that several of these have been cut down or even fake. Everything looks legit from talking to the guy on the phone, but I was wondering if everyone could provide me Solid advice on determining if it is an original carbine. I had him measure the barrel and he said it was 22 inches long. When asked, he said there was no hole or slot for a cleaning rod at the end of the stock. It sounds like the cartouche and markings are all intact. I can see in the picture that it does have the saddle ring and bar on the left side. I think he will be fair on price but this is a model I am unfamiliar with. Sounds like serial number is somewhere in the 184xxx range. I will hopefully go see it tomorrow. I will have to decide on the spot whether to take it as we are a few hours apart. What should I be looking for?
Advice on 1873 Springfield
- Thread starter kdave21
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The rifle cleaning rod slot filled with matching wood from the cut-off stock is a dead giveaway.
And some of the cut-down rifles are so skillfully done you need 10X magnification to see it!
rc
And some of the cut-down rifles are so skillfully done you need 10X magnification to see it!
rc
Also look for any sign of a sling swivel cut in the bottom of the buttstock, and a sling swivel or boss for one on the front of the trigger guard. The rear sight should also be marked with a "C". The carbine buttplate has a trapdoor with a side-swing cover; the rifle buttplate is plain.
As rcmodel says, the cleaning rod hole can be neatly filled, and the swivel bar installed, but the other things are less easily faked.
Jim
As rcmodel says, the cleaning rod hole can be neatly filled, and the swivel bar installed, but the other things are less easily faked.
Jim
Speedo66
Member
I had a cut down rifle converted to carbine length. I bought it knowing what it was, and paid accordingly.
Call me a wuss, but I sold it because my shoulder couldn't take a full box at one sitting.
With the curved steel butt plate and less weight, it kicked like a mule. At least to me.
Call me a wuss, but I sold it because my shoulder couldn't take a full box at one sitting.
With the curved steel butt plate and less weight, it kicked like a mule. At least to me.rcmodel
Member in memoriam
That was always a problem when they were in military use.
See this old link about that.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=555150&postcount=4
rc
See this old link about that.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=555150&postcount=4
rc
Ooops, my bad! Highpower is correct. There is no swivel in the buttstock of standard trapdoor rifles. FWIW, cadet rifles don't have any sling swivels; for some reason, West Pointers were not allowed to sling their rifles, so sling swivels were not put on cadet rifles. And just in case someone was getting ready to point this out, the very rare Model 1886 carbine did have sling swivels on both the butt and the upper band, plus the standard sling ring. (Don't ask why; some board recommended it.)
Jim
Jim
Lots of information about the Springfield Single Shot Rifle can be found here;
http://trapdoorcollector.com/
Kevin
http://trapdoorcollector.com/
Kevin
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