cyclopsshooter
Member
Took some photos on the fly but have no experience with these. SN 412841 Has rod in buttstock.
Trapdoor Carbine.. What do I have here?
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AZAndy
Member
Is this a trick question? It's an 1873 Springfield, just like it says on the plate. ;-) Here's its Wikipedia page.
kBob
Member
I think he means that with the different dates on different parts and the style of sights it has what specific year model of 1873 Carbine is it.
What might it's history be?
That sort of thing.
Any minute now one of the Cult of the Trapdoors will cruise by and tell us what years a specific model of screw got used........
not a bad thing, Trapdoor Cultist. Just teasing in advance.
-kBob
What might it's history be?
That sort of thing.
Any minute now one of the Cult of the Trapdoors will cruise by and tell us what years a specific model of screw got used........
not a bad thing, Trapdoor Cultist. Just teasing in advance.
-kBob
The 1873 on the lockplate was used until 1878. The rear barrel band with the sight protector was introduced in 1890. The Buffington rear sight was first used in 1885.
A good book for this information is by Joe Poyer, "The 45-70 Springfield".
Here is a good website
http://trapdoorcollector.com/
Kevin
A good book for this information is by Joe Poyer, "The 45-70 Springfield".
Here is a good website
http://trapdoorcollector.com/
Kevin
cyclopsshooter
Member
Sorry, it does have the trig guard, took it off for photos.What 'm trying to figure out is if it is a legit carbine or a cut down, and value. Thanks for the help!
Curator
Member
Take a close look at the forearm end and look for plugged cleaning rod hole. A cut-down rifle stock will have this. Also a cut-down will have a thicker barrel at the muzzle. Your rear sight is marked "C" so that is correct for carbine after 1885.Military armories did swap parts when guns were repaired or rebuilt without concern for dates stamped on them. Yours appears to be an M84 carbine with a M90 sight protector that someone switched the breech block with an 1873 marked one.
cyclopsshooter
Member
Has a good bore by the way, strong lands, shiny, a few pits.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
According to the serial number your carbine was produced in 1888 so I would suspect that it is a mixmaster or perhaps altered by an east coast company called Bannermans in the early part of the 20th Century. I did a lot of research after posting a question about my recently purchased Trapdoor carbine and learned a lot!!! Remove the barrel from the stock and see if there is a ramrod groove concealed there to see if the stock is a real carbine stock. Either way, it appears you found a nice piece of history whether it has been altered or not.
Sorry to disappoint.
Guys get a trapdoor carbine with an 1873 breechblock mark and start thinking they have a Custer carbine.
First indication it isn't is the hole in the buttstock for a cleaning rod and broken shell extractor.
That feature was added in 1879 for obvious reasons.
Guys get a trapdoor carbine with an 1873 breechblock mark and start thinking they have a Custer carbine.
First indication it isn't is the hole in the buttstock for a cleaning rod and broken shell extractor.
That feature was added in 1879 for obvious reasons.
Curator
Member
The forearm end and muzzle look to be genuine carbine, not a cut down. You should be able to get a manufacture date from the serial number. Also the "inspector's cartouche" may be visible behind the rear lock screw on the sock assuming it has not been sanded off. I assume there is no sling swivel on the front of the trigger guard.A 1884 marked breechblock would enhance its value. Check out: http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/TrapdoorBlocks.html
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