first find Springfield Trapdoor

[browningautorifle]

I can't see if they have all the parts? Are they missing the firing pins? Can't be both missing them? Second one has a nice cartouche but dings in the wood there. First one has no dings. First one has a nice bore from what I can see but the second has that nice case hardening. It's back and forth. I'd like to be there to see them both because as you say, lighting in the pics. If the second one has a clean bright bore...I'd take it. A shiny bore in an old BP rifle is almost impossible to find. I like a good bore. It has the cartouche too...dings could maybe steam up.

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[ssgross]

Second one has a nice cartouche but dings in the wood there

the first stock has been sanded and refinished - the circle P under the wrist is barely visible. The second one is nice and proud. The stock is dirty, but would clean up real nice. The fit around the lock plate is also better on the second.

Can't be both missing them?

I think they are both there. Will go back today and triple check.

The second rifle shows someone beat on the front sight. I need to go back and look closer to see if it's a pinned blade, or the earlier solid type. I think I read that by 1880ish they had switched to pinned blades? hopefully someone can confirm.

I did some price searching...on gunbroker they seem to be $1500-$2000, but no one is bidding! Those with bids and ending soonest are at $700-900, but clearly not in as good a shape...lots of evidence of surface rust, cartouche on lock plate not very visible, and likely a bore that looks as bad as the crown. 2021 listing and sales on trapdoorcollectors look to be going at $800-$1200, but I didn't see one with with metal finish in as good a shape as the second one above. I don't have my NRA value book with me whilst traveling, but I think I remember NRA "very good" to be $1200-$2000 for an 1873 model, and starting at triple that for a Custer era.

---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 PM ----------

...they also have a Winchester M1 carbine they want top dollar for. I want an M1 carbine eventually, but I'm not nearly well informed enough on all the complexity of variations to buy one yet.