US Springfield 1873

[JanetRae]

I have a US Springfield 1873 and was wondering if anyone had any info on this gun? The serial number is 45405 and i was wondering how to find the year it was made.
It's in excellent condition. I've read a little about it on the net and i'm curious about the value and history of the gun. Any info is very welcome
Thank you!

 

[Reloadron]

This link will help with your rifles year of manufacture. Additionally, in the other thread you posted in there was a link to the Trapdoor Collectors website, that should be informative also.

Ron

 

[JanetRae]

Thanks Ron I did try the second link you mentioned, but i couldn't figure it out...

 

[AlexanderA]

On these, sometimes the serial number is not a good indication of when the gun was made (assembled). Those were days of tight budgets. Receivers were made, then set aside for years until funds were available to make complete rifles. And when the receivers finally were used, they weren't necessarily picked in serial number order. Furthermore, there was a huge inventory of leftover Civil War parts (trigger guards, buttplates, etc.) that had to be used up. It might be best to look at the features (especially the sights) to get a rough idea of when the gun was made.

For example, I have serial # 424,9xx, which is marked "Model 1884," and I also have serial # 96,9xx, which is also marked "Model 1884" but is really a Model 1889 because of the rod bayonet. Obviously the way earlier serial number was assembled into a rifle several years later than the supposedly "later" serial number. (The model designations are marked on the breechblocks and not on the receivers.)

 

[Reloadron]

Yes, this site can be confusing to navigate. They have links to pages every which way. I hope the serial number link helped. I had a minty one made in 1889 with a nice cartouche on the stock but sold the rifle years ago. Finding another nice one is on my bucket list.

Anyway, that trapdoor collectors site is actually pretty god but takes work to navigate well and learn things. Sorry about that part.

They really are great rifles and fun to shoot with the proper loadings of ammunition. Do you plan to shoot this rifle or are you just curious about it?

Also Alexander makes a good point and he has a few.

Ron

 

[JanetRae]

The fellow, Keith, that has the site Trapdoors.com just called me
I was surprised because i didn't know that i navigated the site well enough to actually get a phone call!
He said that the gun was made in 1875.I wasn't sure what i planned on doing with the gun; it's in excellent condition~ my husband wants to shoot with it.

 

[Reloadron]

my husband wants to shoot with it.

Sounds like a good idea to me as it was designed to be shot.

They are a very enjoyable rifle to shoot. As I mentioned I miss the one I parted with years ago. There are plenty of good factory made loads for them to be had.

Ron

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Please don't post two threads asking the same question in two different forums. That's considered bad manners.