Strange Trapdoor Springfield

JohnP606 · March 4, 2012, 04:53 PM

I picked up a rifle in good condition because I thought it was a good price and I did not have a trapdoor rifle. When I used the TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD book by Waite and Ernst as a reference, I got lost and I am not sure what model I have.
It may be stamped US MODEL 1873 (but really, really looks looks like it is stamped 1878). The serial number is 520292. The lock is stamped US SPRINGFIELD. The stock date looks like 1891, but could be a bad 1881 stamp. There is a fancy circle P. Also the word or name PAGE is very nicely stamped, not carved, in the stock near the buttplate. The rear sight is missing the cover. It has a trapdoor buttplate. It has a Ramrod Bayonet. The front sight is like the 1880 Ramrod Rifle, without the hood.

I paid $700 and would like to know, "What have I got"?

Hawg · March 4, 2012, 05:20 PM

A spare parts build.

JohnP606 · March 5, 2012, 02:25 AM

I did some more research and was wondering if it was an 1888 with a 1873 replacement bolt?

Hawg · March 5, 2012, 04:46 AM

The models were 1870, 1873, 1879, 1880, 1884, 1888 and 1889. The Trapdoor has no bolt. It has a breech block. Pics would help.

Old Time Hunter · March 5, 2012, 04:39 PM

Actually the .45-70 Trapdoors started with the 1873, then the 1884, and then the 1888. Any of the TD's prior were either Allin conversions or .50-70's. All the other years generally were configurations of the previous stated "model" years. Therefore, they are '73's, 84's, or 88's.

For more info, go to: http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/index.html

March 4, 2012, 04:53 PM	#1
JohnP606 Junior Member Join Date: March 4, 2012 Posts: 2	Strange Trapdoor Springfield I picked up a rifle in good condition because I thought it was a good price and I did not have a trapdoor rifle. When I used the TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD book by Waite and Ernst as a reference, I got lost and I am not sure what model I have. It may be stamped US MODEL 1873 (but really, really looks looks like it is stamped 1878). The serial number is 520292. The lock is stamped US SPRINGFIELD. The stock date looks like 1891, but could be a bad 1881 stamp. There is a fancy circle P. Also the word or name PAGE is very nicely stamped, not carved, in the stock near the buttplate. The rear sight is missing the cover. It has a trapdoor buttplate. It has a Ramrod Bayonet. The front sight is like the 1880 Ramrod Rifle, without the hood. I paid $700 and would like to know, "What have I got"?

March 5, 2012, 02:25 AM	#3
JohnP606 Junior Member Join Date: March 4, 2012 Posts: 2	1888 I did some more research and was wondering if it was an 1888 with a 1873 replacement bolt?

March 4, 2012, 05:20 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	A spare parts build.

March 5, 2012, 04:46 AM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	The models were 1870, 1873, 1879, 1880, 1884, 1888 and 1889. The Trapdoor has no bolt. It has a breech block. Pics would help.

March 5, 2012, 04:39 PM	#5
Old Time Hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2006 Location: Hinterlands of Wisconsin Posts: 488	Actually the .45-70 Trapdoors started with the 1873, then the 1884, and then the 1888. Any of the TD's prior were either Allin conversions or .50-70's. All the other years generally were configurations of the previous stated "model" years. Therefore, they are '73's, 84's, or 88's. For more info, go to: http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/index.html