Trapdoor Carbine

[504PIR]

New here and just received a new to me Carbine. Was hoping to get and SRS check? SN240855.
Thanks!

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[browningautorifle]

240855

I have no hit in SRS#1. Love to see some pics however...

[504PIR]

Jim, thanks for looking. I will try to do some pictures over the weekend.

[browningautorifle]

Others here have more advanced copies of SRS and may find something. They'll be along. Looking forward to seeing it.

[Tom Trevor]

None of the SRS books have any information for your serial number. All 240xxx numbers in the books are listed as rifles. Take a very close look at it as the serial number puts production in 1883 a year that NO carbines were produced. In fact from 1882-1885 no new carbines were produced. A few with stared serial numbers were produced in early 1882. Please do post a complete set of pictures.

[504PIR]

That’s unfortunate to hear. I purchased this from what I understood to be a highly respected online source. This was the seller’s description:

This carbine was produced at Springfield in 1883 and at some time later it received a field replacement stock. The carbine has seen a lot of western service since this stock shows sling ring/hook wear. The bore and rifling are excellent. It has the original armory mounted rear M79 sight and the M79 front blade. There is some color case on the underside of the block. The stock has not been sanded, but the metal parts are flush with the stock, indicating lots of use. An excellent shooter!!!!

I need to take pictures and get them posted.
TIA

[504PIR]

A few pictures from the original add.

[Tom Trevor]

I see nothing from pictures supplied that looks wrong. Just the bug about the serial number range. if the price is right get it.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I think the backsight may have been retrofitted. It seems to be a bit "fresher" than the barrel on which it is mounted. Take a good look at the way it sits on the barrel.

To understand better what worries me: look at the first photo. Between the front of the backsight and the back of the barrel band there are multiple little dings on the barrel. But the backsight is unmarked.

Odd. Very.

[Patrick Chadwick]

The more I study this seller's puff, the less I think of it!

This carbine was produced at Springfield in 1883 and at some time later it received a field replacement stock. The carbine has seen a lot of western service since this stock shows sling ring/hook wear. The bore and rifling are excellent. It has the original armory mounted rear M79 sight and the M79 front blade. There is some color case on the underside of the block. The stock has not been sanded, but the metal parts are flush with the stock, indicating lots of use. An excellent shooter!!!!

This carbine was produced at Springfield in 1883...
- that has already been demonstrated to be implausible on the basis of known records.

... and at some time later it received a field replacement stock.
- that is a fanciful way of saying that a barrelled system from somewhere was fitted into an available stock. Whichever way around - not original configuration.

...field replacement ...
- For that I see no evidence. Could have been done in anyone's cellar or barn.

The carbine has seen a lot of western service since this stock shows sling ring/hook wear.
- Wear- yes. But no way of proving where. Pure speculation to feed a buyer's Western fantasies.

The bore and rifling are excellent.
- A very positive point.

It has the original armory mounted rear M79 sight and the M79 front blade.
- The wear pattern makes me sceptical about "original". See previous post.

There is some color case on the underside of the block.
- Maybe. So what?

The stock has not been sanded, but the metal parts are flush with the stock, indicating lots of use.

Hooey! Wood shrinks with age. Metal does not. One of the most common features on really old guns is a buttplate that stands proud of the stock. Furthermore, steel wears less than wood. Metal flush with wood does NOT indicate lots of use - rather the reverse.

An excellent shooter!
- I hope so, because I don't think that it is original.

My conclusion - as always - buy the gun not the story!