U.S. Model 1873 .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield

[Marcus]

Another one from the vaults. I had 2 of these - this one, and a really nice one that had the forend cut back a couple feet back in the days when these were "sporterized" by the various surplus dealers like Bannerman and sold as cheap hunting rifles/farm guns. I sold the one with the cut stock a few years ago, and this one has been sitting in the corner of my gun bunker for many years. As I was pulling various Mosin snipers and dragoons out to photograph and feature on this site a few days ago I saw the Trapdoor, and thought folks here might like to see it as the big single shot black powder rifles like the Trapdoor and Snyder represent an interesting era between the use of muzzle loaders and smokeless powder repeating rifles like the Mosins, Mausers, and other designs of the late 1880's to early 1900's era. I have a Spanish-American War captured Ludwig Loewe, Berlin, German made Spanish Model 1893 Mauser that I will also dig out and photograph - it should make a good comparison with this rifle, since both these models were fielded on opposing sides during this conflict....which proved the superiority of the Mauser repeating bolt action design over both the big single shots and the U.S. Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen .30-40 bolt action repeater that replaced the Trapdoor in U.S. service.

Externally it's in very good coverall condition with some traces of light pitting along the woodline on the barrel and receiver sides. I have never taken it out of the stock, so I don't know what it looks like underneath. Finish has gone to old patina. Bore is really clean - bright and shiny with sharp rifling. There is a little ding on the end of the barrel at the muzzle, but it doesn't look like it affects the muzzle crown.

Lock and breechblock are dated 1873. Serial number is 475300. The rear sight is the type used from the later 1870's to the early-to-mid 1880's and the serial number dates to 1889 and the Model 1884 version of this rifle, so the receiver is obviously a later replacement from the late 1880's or early 1890's for the rifle's original receiver.

[Marcus]

More photos

[desdem12]

Nice

[Junk Yard Dog]

It's dated 1873 because it is the model 1873, this is not a production date. The Model 1873/84 would have the Buffington windage adjustable rear sight. I have a collection of these from back in the days when they were only slightly less than outrageously priced. I shoot mine with my own loads, 45/70/405 , but with modern cases 65 grains is about all you will get in there. A serial number in that range would put this as produced in 1890, there is no star prefix so it's not one of the rifles built from parts.

[Ironnewt]

Nice example, Nice dog. we need more shots of him/her

[bunkysdad]

I love everything about these big bore rifles. Some day, some day.....

[Marcus]

Nice example, Nice dog. we need more shots of him/her

The dog is Lilly, a white female pit bull also known as "The Pink Puppy" because of the color around her eyes, ears, mouth, and underside. She's stone deaf, has been since birth - white boxers, white pit bulls, and Dalmations all have a genetic propensity for deafness. She is one of our rescue dogs, who came to us when she was about 5 months old. She was originally rescued from dog fighters in Kingman, Arizona, where she would have ended up as a breeder and/or bait dog.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Dog fighting...all right boys, fights over, everybody file outside and line up against that wall facing away from the officers, that's it, OK, hands clasped behind your heads, say 'em if you know 'em, you got 30 seconds. Make Ready!, Take Aim! Fire!

If you put me in charge of the world...

[bunkysdad]

Marcus I would be happy to see a lot more about your dog rescue. Mistreated animals is a horrible thing and it seems to always be in the news, every thing from small pets to horses. I am a dog lover. Our latest new dog is Calamity, a beautiful happy female Boxer.

[Brake Weight]

You can PM if you'd like. But how much is one of these worth in the real world? My grandpa has one and I don't anyone knows what it's real value is. I remember him shooting dogs out across the cow pasture as a kid. I also remember him loading up .410, I think, and shooting the invaders out of the marten houses he had. Good times with paw paw.

[musketjon]

The Model 1873/84 would have the Buffington windage adjustable rear sight.

Not necessarily so. I have a '73 made in '84 or 5 (s/n 277xxx) and it has the '79 rear sight on it and I have absolutely no doubt it is the original sight on that rifle. All the wear and patina is a perfect match.
Jon

[Junk Yard Dog]

Lack of funding made sure the armory would use every available old part before making a new one so it's no surprise they use the older sight. What is surprising is that they didn't update it later, but then again, no money. Todays military has no clue the sort of penny pinching they had to do back in the 19th century when there was no war, or at least no war the public thought was important going on.

[jones0430]

Congress didn't appropriate money to pay the Army for at least one year back in the late 1800s.