US Springfield Trapdoor M1884? Need help with Indentification

[evanshowell]

Hey guys. I need help identifying what make and model I have here. I pulled it out of an estate sale and may be interested in selling it. See link below for pictures.

I can't find any on the web with the funky inlays like this one has on the stock. The barrel is 31.75" from chamber to end. It's stamped "VP" on the barrel. That's all the identifying marks I could see. Any help with what identifying the exact model of this rifle and it's worth would be greatly appreciated. I know it's not much to go off of for you avid collectors out there but this is all I have at the moment. Thank you.

US Springfield pictures by evanshowell - Photobucket

Information

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[sgabrie854]

You habe a model 1884 Springfield rifle that has had the stock "sporterized" (cut down), also looks like the trigger guard has been replaced. The inlays are somebodys work after the fact, has nothing to do with being "as issued"

---------- Post added at 06:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:55 AM ----------

although if the barrel is ~ 29.6 inches, it was probably a cadet rifle so the trigger guard is ok.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Take a close look at the photo of the muzzle. Note the bright circumferential line about 1/2" down the barrel. It looks as if someone removed rust with the "steel-wire brush in an electric drill" method. Bye-bye rifling! Very, very sad. I just hope I'm wrong.

If I'm right, value = usable parts.

[sgabrie854]

I can t see the mark, but the rifle as it stands is already worth the value of the parts as it has been heavily messed with. I would have to disagree with your general statement thou, if the rifling is gone, and its purpose was to be a shooter, then yes. However many collectors go for originilty of the piece, i.e. a Custer carbine with proven history and no rifiling at all and a cracked stock with rust, is still worth 6 figures!

Steve

[Patrick Chadwick]

I would have to disagree with your general statement thou, if the rifling is gone, and its purpose was to be a shooter, then yes.

Perhaps I should have made it clear that my comments are generally those of a shooter, not a collector. Some of my best rifles are ones that collectors would sneer at (externally) but are excellent internally.

[sgabrie854]

Perhaps I should have made it clear that my comments are generally those of a shooter, not a collector. Some of my best rifles are ones that collectors would sneer at (externally) but are excellent internally.

I agree. I shoot eveything I own, am not one to drop a huge sum of money on a wreck because someone claims they found it in a teepee!