Stock Repair on 1869 Springfield Trapdoor.

Hello,

Maybe you all can help and input is greatly appreciated. I'm in the middle of negotiating a trade involving a 1869 Springfield Trapdoor in 50/70. Upon receiving the rifle to examine, I found where the stock had been cracked at the wrist and has been repaired. The individual who owns the rifle and never fired it was unaware of the repair and at first look, you would never know. The repair looks good but i don't see if there was a pin(s) installed to reinforce it. The rest of the rifle is in very good condition, the metal is in the white, bore is shiny with sharp rifling. Considering what the NRA appraisal for this rifle in very good condition. Is there a percentage value deducted due to the cracked/repaired stock? Thanks

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Originally Posted by concretus

ist and has been repaired. The individual who owns the rifle and never fired it was unaware of the repair and at first look, you would never know. The repair looks good but i don't see if there was a pin(s) installed to reinforce it. The rest of the rifle is in very good condition

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Unless you take the metal off and look at the stock from the receiver end or remove the buttplate, you can't tell if it was pinned or not. If you think you should see pins visible from the outside you would be mistaken, a good smith would have drilled from the inside the receiver well or from the butt and inserted a rod.

Thank you for responding. The crack runs horizontally on an angle so the pins would be going sort of perpendicular to it, correct. I removed the trigger guard where a pin or two may have been and didn’t see anything. With the repaired crack, would the value drop off substantially?

If you are now concerned with the quality of the repair than pass on the rifle. You will always have that little voice in your head. There were some very good stock repairs done by very competent craftsman.

"a good smith would have drilled from the inside the receiver well or from the butt and inserted a rod."

I have repaired such different rifles as an Anschütz 54 and a Westley-Richards monkey-tail in this manner. With a threaded rod insert, both will outlast anyone reading this. But it is a valid argument for reducing the price versus an undamaged/repaired example.