trap doors

[Bill Fisher]

Afternoon all two questions : 1) trapdoor model 1878 mfg. 1886 ser. no. 323047 wondering if there is any type of history connected to this rifle ?
2) trapdoor model 1884 ramrod style bayonet mfg. 1892 ser. no. 550512 it also a large block number 33 on the stock with a smaller numbers of 56 wonder also if any history to this with the added numbers it shoots nice thanks for any help you can give me bill

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[M2phil]

Hi Bill, can't help you with the history of those rifles per se, but #323047 is a Model 1884 and #550512 is a Model 1888. They should both have the "Buffington" rear sight, adjustable for windage and elevation. The dates on the breech blocks "1873" (deeply struck 3 looks like an 8) and "1884" aren't the model years of the rifles. The advance of model numbers and corresponding dates etc. was not etched in stone. For example, M1884's only began to be called that in 1886 (and still used the "1873" breech block until about 1887. The M1888 weren't produced until 1890 or so. Hope this helps a little in your search for info.