SOLD Very Nice 1873 Trapdoor

[Dusty Morningwood]

SOLD This is a nice example of a well preserved Model 1873 Springfield trapdoor rifle.  Chambered in .45-70, of course. The 32.5" barrel has a grey patina, as does the receiver.  Traces of case color in the chamber under block.  Bore is Good Plus, bright with scattered pitting.  Has the 1879 sight upgrade. Typical. The stock is in very good condition, with minimal handling marks and a couple of sharp striations.  The SWP 1881 and Circle P cartouches are sharp and crisp.  Buttplate has some rust. Noted Trapdoor expert Richard Hosmer said of this rifle: " During the 1881-82 period, SA fabricated some arms for the militia, using parts (locks, buttplates, bands, screws, etc.) from the 1879 turn-in of all arms under 50000, with new receivers, barrels and stocks. They were marked with a star, and were not counted in the number of new arms produced, leading to a hiccup in the number vs. date estimates. Most such arms were carbines. Many have "1873" lock plates. That is a very nice example, definitely above average." Can't argue with that!  $800+ Shipping.

[Uriah, SASS # 53822]

Accord to Farsca & Hill, The .45-70 Springfield, they’re no definitive answer as to the star in the serial number. The authors guess that it could be an arm that was sent back for cleaned and repair. 1881-1882 stock dates. 
 

The same machine that was used for the serial numbers, I guess was applied. There’s no way it was a hand stamp, from the orientation of the star and the depth.

 

A good arm.

 

Uriah

[Dusty Morningwood]

32 minutes ago, Uriah, SASS # 53822 said:

Accord to Farsca & Hill, The .45-70 Springfield, they’re no definitive answer as to the star in the serial number. The authors guess that it could be an arm that was sent back for cleaned and repair. 1881-1882 stock dates. 
 

The same machine that was used for the serial numbers, I guess was applied. There’s no way it was a hand stamp, from the orientation of the star and the depth.

 

A good arm.

 

Uriah

On another forum a poster said something similar, or that rifle was fitted with parts from damaged arms.  In the words of my old friend from Maine: Hard tellin', not knowin'.

[Dusty Morningwood]

btt

[Cholla]

1. WHAT DOES THE STAR MEAN AFTER THE SERIAL NUMBER?

   The star suffix (which occurs in several different styles, the most common of which looks like a five-petal flower) was used by Springfield to denote arms made with a combination of new and salvaged parts, to be held in reserve, or issued to and/or used by groups like the National Guard.

   An order was issued, in late 1879, for all arms below 50,000 to be turned in. Parts from those guns which were turned in, but having new receivers, barrels and stocks, are the starred arms. They are "interesting", but not rare, and no pricing premium is justified.

   Over the years, many theories have been advanced for the star, but the above explanation is now accepted as fact. The typical starred arm will be a carbine, in the 170,000 - 200,000 range, having an SWP/1881 or SWP/1882 cartouche, though rifles in the 140,000 - 170,000 range and a few cadet rifles are known. The starred arms were made in small batches throughout the 1881 and 1882 production periods. No "duplicate" numbers (starred and unstarred) are known to have ever been presented. The starred arms were NOT counted in the "new production" totals of arms fabricated at Springfield.

   As a sidebar here, NO feature(s) changed at 50,000! The receiver width had already been increased (Oct 1878 at 96300) long before the recall order was issued, so, the REAL mystery is - why did they not simply recall ALL of the narrow-receiver arms? We believe it was a cheap way to supply the National Guard with inexpensive arms. The funds for the starred arms program came from ARMING & EQUIPPING the MILITIA.

https://www.trapdoorcollector.com/FAQ.html

[Cholla]

I am just throwing this out there... This gun may have been made with some parts salvaged from guns used the Little Big Horn. Just putting that thought up the flag pole.

[Dusty Morningwood]

29 minutes ago, Cholla said:

I am just throwing this out there... This gun may have been made with some parts salvaged from guns used the Little Big Horn. Just putting that thought up the flag pole.

Yeah.  That's the ticket! 

[Dusty Morningwood]

BTT w/Lower Price.

[Dusty Morningwood]

BTT

[Solomon Kane 18264]

Does this rifle need to go through an FFL? 

[Dusty Morningwood]

2 hours ago, Solomon Kane 18264 said:

Does this rifle need to go through an FFL? 

Nope! Antique straight to your door fully insured.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Boink!