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AFAIK, there were no Model 1868 rifles made in .45-70. That, plus the absence of a barrel number pretty well indicates that the gun was rebarrelled (not sleeved, as that would have preserved the original markings).
I think those are probably worked over rifles, sold as surplus and then rebarrelled by a surplus dealer to the (then) modern caliber, since .50-70 ammunition would have been hard to find in later years. It is interesting, but not surprising that two rifles with close serial numbers would turn up in the same area.
Many of those "Frankenguns" were sold, in military configuraton, to military academies, color guards, and drill teams, so if there was/is something like that in your area, they could have purchased those guns at the same time from the same dealer.
FWIW, the Model is 1868 even though some breechblocks were marked 1869.
Jim
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