A few weeks ago I mentioned in this thread that I had been looking for a nice 1873 Springfield trapdoor in shooting condition to add to my eclectic pile.
After looking on line at poorly lit crappy pictures of over priced derelicts from the scrap heap with
bogus descriptions by sellers who knew little to nothing about these guns, I had just about given up.
However, there is a website run by a man who co-wrote what is supposed to be one of the seminal works on the trapdoor. Another poster mention his site in the above linked thread. As it turned out, I had discovered the site just a few weeks before and had already had a couple of conversations with the man who runs it.
Not only are the pictures of his Springfield's for sale well lit and high def, his descriptions are to the point and easily understandable even for a dummy like me. It doesn't hurt that he also "wrote the book" so to speak.
Anyway, I finally chose one from his current selection and asked him to pick out a nice bayonet and scabbard to match. It just arrived last week, and I'm tickled pink with the rifle I got. Below are some pictures.
Here was the first shot outdoors in the bright sunlight.
It's a model 1873 made in 1879 with a bright and shiny bore that would easily rate a 9 out of 10. The barrel has 85 to 90% bluing still present with some thinning where a spring clip front sight protector had been mounted at one time. The barrel bands, receiver, trigger guard, butt and lock plates are more like 50 to 60% blue, but those parts tend to show the brunt of the wear.
closer view
The case colors are still vivid on the protected underside of the breech block---with its upper surface having turned to a pewter/silver finish. (common occurrence) Both the inspector's date and the firing proof cartouches in the wood are easily readable-indicating that the stock has never been sanded, but is also not beat up like many. All in all---not bad for a 140 year old war horse that was handled at some point by careless infantry grunts and then lord knows who for the next 110 to 120 years. The bayonet and scabbard are also in excellent condition with the leather frog still being supple and smooth.
Using a flash indoors made the case colors on the under side of the breech block really pop
Here's a shot with some reproduction and a few period authentic props
close up of the same setting with breech open
I've got some .405 grain cast bullets on the way to reload, but in the meantime found some Black Hills brand cowboy action commercial stuff locally. A LGS had 3 dusty boxes on hand that they wanted to close out, so I got them for $20 a box instead of the usual $36 they cost on line.
I haven't been shooting since very early last year. Then I had cataract surgery, which led to some minor but on going complications. I will be going to my optometrist Friday for a new prescription, and after my new spec's are ready, I'll be off to the range to try this baby out.
Cheers
After looking on line at poorly lit crappy pictures of over priced derelicts from the scrap heap with
bogus descriptions by sellers who knew little to nothing about these guns, I had just about given up.
However, there is a website run by a man who co-wrote what is supposed to be one of the seminal works on the trapdoor. Another poster mention his site in the above linked thread. As it turned out, I had discovered the site just a few weeks before and had already had a couple of conversations with the man who runs it.
Not only are the pictures of his Springfield's for sale well lit and high def, his descriptions are to the point and easily understandable even for a dummy like me. It doesn't hurt that he also "wrote the book" so to speak.
Anyway, I finally chose one from his current selection and asked him to pick out a nice bayonet and scabbard to match. It just arrived last week, and I'm tickled pink with the rifle I got. Below are some pictures.
Here was the first shot outdoors in the bright sunlight.
It's a model 1873 made in 1879 with a bright and shiny bore that would easily rate a 9 out of 10. The barrel has 85 to 90% bluing still present with some thinning where a spring clip front sight protector had been mounted at one time. The barrel bands, receiver, trigger guard, butt and lock plates are more like 50 to 60% blue, but those parts tend to show the brunt of the wear.
closer view
The case colors are still vivid on the protected underside of the breech block---with its upper surface having turned to a pewter/silver finish. (common occurrence) Both the inspector's date and the firing proof cartouches in the wood are easily readable-indicating that the stock has never been sanded, but is also not beat up like many. All in all---not bad for a 140 year old war horse that was handled at some point by careless infantry grunts and then lord knows who for the next 110 to 120 years. The bayonet and scabbard are also in excellent condition with the leather frog still being supple and smooth.
Using a flash indoors made the case colors on the under side of the breech block really pop
Here's a shot with some reproduction and a few period authentic props
close up of the same setting with breech open
I've got some .405 grain cast bullets on the way to reload, but in the meantime found some Black Hills brand cowboy action commercial stuff locally. A LGS had 3 dusty boxes on hand that they wanted to close out, so I got them for $20 a box instead of the usual $36 they cost on line.
I haven't been shooting since very early last year. Then I had cataract surgery, which led to some minor but on going complications. I will be going to my optometrist Friday for a new prescription, and after my new spec's are ready, I'll be off to the range to try this baby out.
Cheers
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