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    Legacy Member rescuerandy2's Avatar
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    50-70 Trapdoor Unit Markings

    Good Afternoon. Just secured a 1863/1870 Trapdoor and would appreciate information on the unit. Thanks, Randy

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    markings on a early 1903 stock

    Attachment 52183Attachment 52184Attachment 52185Attachment 52186

    It would appear that some units either marked the buttplate tang (not as common) or marked the rear part of the stock

    Ed Byrns translated these markings from a early 1903 stock;

    Troop H
    8th Cavalry
    trooper #18
    The 8th Cavalry, Troop H fought in the 1916 Mexican Punitive Expedition

    Your 50-70 marks should be able to ID the unit

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    Legacy Member RT Ellis's Avatar
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    We are not informed if this is a rifle or a carbine, so identification of the unit by branch depends on whether rifle or carbine. The markings on the stock in the first post is assumed to be on a rifle and would represent 15th Infantry Regiment, Company H, soldiers's number (often referred to by collectors as "rack number") 28.

    The images in the second post appear to show a rifle with markings indicating 8th Regiment, (which could be 8th U.S. Infantry, 8th U.S. Cavalry, or 8th state militia regiment), Company (or in the case of cavalry "troop") H, soldier's number 18.

    These buttstock markings were much more common in militia (National Guard, State Guard etc.) practice, as Army Regulations excepted the marking of arms. For example from "Regulations for the Army of the United Statesicon 1904" GPO 1905, p48: 286. Articles of public property issued to a company for its exclusive use will, when parcticable, be marked with the letter or number of the company and number and arm of the regiment. Such articles issued to an enlisted man (arms and clothing excepted) will, as far as practicable, be marked with the number of the man, letter or number of the company, and number of the regiment.

    In some AR's the so-called rack number or "number of the man" is referred to as the "soldier's number." Regulations regarding marking of equipment were published during the Civil War, but seem to have been for the most part ignored. Specific regulations regarding marking property didn't appear in the Army Regulations until 1881, so units could mark or not mark equipment as the commander preferred, and often was merely a number which is assumed to be an issue or soldier's number for accountability purposes. Prior to about 1900 the location of the company letter and the regimental number were often applied company letter over branch insignia, over regimental number, over soldier's number in that order. About 1900 the regulations prescribed that the regimental number would appear over the branch of service insignia, over company letter, over soldier's number. However notice the order more-or-less indicated in the 1904 regulations previously quoted.

    Starting in 1917 with the organization of many color bearing battalions this practice continued and it's necessary to have knowledge of Army organization of that period. For example there were independent machinegun battalions, and machine gun companies organic to infantry and cavalry regiments. Machinegun battalions marked their equipment as prescribed for a regiment. Machine gun companies organic to a regiment marked their equipment as prescribed for a regiment except the company letter was usually indicated as "MG."

    Now having said all that the practice by units often strayed from regulations, which in some cases the mind set was to mark everything without regard to the regulations, and was sometimes directed by higher headquarters in spite of regulations. You would think that in the case of small arms a number, ("rack number" if you prefer) in conjunction with the serial number would be sufficient.

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    Legacy Member rescuerandy2's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Good Evening and thanks for the information. My 50-70 is a rifle.

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    Advisory Panel Dick Hosmer's Avatar
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    And I am guessing it is probably a Model 1868 Rifle, made in 1870, as opposed to a Model 1870 rifle, since there were about 5 times as many 1868s made than 1870s. The 1868 can be distinguished by the very long receiver nose and the presence of a pair of matched serial numbers on the left side above the wood, astride the barrel/receiver joint. The 1863 lockplate, left over from CW-era parts, would be correct for either model of breechloader. You might want to visit PictureTrail - Gallery

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