1873 US Springfield Trapdoor

cajuncutter · February 1, 2009, 12:21 PM

Any ideas what the gun would be worth or a fair asking price? We dug this out of my buddies shop and he is considering letting it go to fund other projects. It was passed down his family though his "step" grandfather. It has no sentimental value to him and he has no idea of any history of the riffle. The bayonet is attached and has been since he could remember his father taking possesion of it. We did not dare attempt to remove it. Anyway any help or ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Louis

cajuncutter · February 2, 2009, 11:03 PM

No collectors here? BTT

James K · February 3, 2009, 09:23 PM

About all anyone can tell from those pictures is that it is a trapdoor rifle probably the Model 1873. The condition could be OK, but it has a coating of rust and what appears to be dirt that really don't help the value, but must be cleaned VERY carefully or the value could be ruined. It appears to be missing the cleaning rod, but looks otherwise to be complete, but in poor condition. Without better information and better pics (cropped would also help), I couldn't give anything but a WAG on value.

Jim

cajuncutter · February 3, 2009, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the reply. We took it out today with some reloads my buddys father had loaded some years ago. This thing is cool, of course we ducked and took best cover we could on the first shot

. After that we put 15 rounds down the tube. Cool gun!

Tom2 · February 4, 2009, 11:35 AM

Appears to be missing the screw on the hammer too. Soaking the bayonet in Kroil for a while should get it off of there. Might even give it a week or two to soak in if it does not work overnite. Then tapping it with a plastic or even rubber mallot might break loose the rust or whatever is holding it in place. I don't know what the handloads are, but if they are not something that is a blackpowder equivalent for pressure in a gun in that condition, yea, I would run away too. Really nice ones will run over 1000$ nowadays, but rusty beat ones are alot harder to sell. You might only get a few hundred from a buyer or even less from a dealer if he makes an issue of the condition. Not the worst I have seen for sale though. Just was apparently not stored well for a long time. But a hundred years ago surplus trapdoors were worth peanuts so got no respect?

Tom2 · February 4, 2009, 11:41 AM

Might be useful to look at the www.trapdoorcollector.com website for information about them and links to other sites.

cajuncutter · February 7, 2009, 08:31 AM

Thanks much for the response. I have not checked my thread in several days. I did find that site and have been reading up. I may contact the fellow and see what it would take to get in their circle to sell the gun. My buddy is not worried about breaking the bank on selling it. Just something to get rid of so he can apply it to a project. Speaking of powder. We were looking around at all of his fathers reload stuff and found over 26 pounds of powder. 1lb metal cans unopened with $2.88 price tags from TGY LOL A lot of the powder contains nitroglycerin

. We did find a lot of recipes that are age/powder appropriate.

TEDDY · February 7, 2009, 04:00 PM

cleaned with bayo it could bring $500.the gov sold a lot of those for $1.5 and 1000rds for $3.00 alot of NG units had them.

February 4, 2009, 11:35 AM	#5
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	Appears to be missing the screw on the hammer too. Soaking the bayonet in Kroil for a while should get it off of there. Might even give it a week or two to soak in if it does not work overnite. Then tapping it with a plastic or even rubber mallot might break loose the rust or whatever is holding it in place. I don't know what the handloads are, but if they are not something that is a blackpowder equivalent for pressure in a gun in that condition, yea, I would run away too. Really nice ones will run over 1000$ nowadays, but rusty beat ones are alot harder to sell. You might only get a few hundred from a buyer or even less from a dealer if he makes an issue of the condition. Not the worst I have seen for sale though. Just was apparently not stored well for a long time. But a hundred years ago surplus trapdoors were worth peanuts so got no respect? __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

February 4, 2009, 11:41 AM	#6
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	Might be useful to look at the www.trapdoorcollector.com website for information about them and links to other sites. __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

February 7, 2009, 04:00 PM	#8
TEDDY Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: MANNING SC Posts: 837	trap door cleaned with bayo it could bring $500.the gov sold a lot of those for $1.5 and 1000rds for $3.00 alot of NG units had them.

February 2, 2009, 11:03 PM	#2
cajuncutter Member Join Date: July 30, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 61	No collectors here? BTT

February 3, 2009, 09:23 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	About all anyone can tell from those pictures is that it is a trapdoor rifle probably the Model 1873. The condition could be OK, but it has a coating of rust and what appears to be dirt that really don't help the value, but must be cleaned VERY carefully or the value could be ruined. It appears to be missing the cleaning rod, but looks otherwise to be complete, but in poor condition. Without better information and better pics (cropped would also help), I couldn't give anything but a WAG on value. Jim

February 3, 2009, 10:34 PM	#4
cajuncutter Member Join Date: July 30, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 61	Thanks for the reply. We took it out today with some reloads my buddys father had loaded some years ago. This thing is cool, of course we ducked and took best cover we could on the first shot . After that we put 15 rounds down the tube. Cool gun!

February 7, 2009, 08:31 AM	#7
cajuncutter Member Join Date: July 30, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 61	Thanks much for the response. I have not checked my thread in several days. I did find that site and have been reading up. I may contact the fellow and see what it would take to get in their circle to sell the gun. My buddy is not worried about breaking the bank on selling it. Just something to get rid of so he can apply it to a project. Speaking of powder. We were looking around at all of his fathers reload stuff and found over 26 pounds of powder. 1lb metal cans unopened with $2.88 price tags from TGY LOL A lot of the powder contains nitroglycerin . We did find a lot of recipes that are age/powder appropriate.