1868 dated breechblock

[Fred G.]

Thankyou fr that information Jerry! That gives me an idea on how much I should get into it before I'm what they call upside down in it. I don't know, I guess since it was grampa's rifle and all, I might just go all out and offer him upwards of 1200 to 1500 tops then. It has all of it's cartouches and it's original single shoulder rod and it's lock and side lock mortises are still sharp as I remember. It'd be nece if the serial number was extremely low as well, but I can't say for sure what it is. I'll try to get it and just sit on it. Maybe it'll go up in value as time goes by. Better to have it than not have it. Thanks again Jerry and the rest of you guys for your assistance. I appreciate it. Fred

[13Echo]

The serial number on a '68 is on the forward left side of the action and again on the barrel just in front of the action. The two numbers must match. If they don't it is not an original assembly and the value is only a few hundred. According to Hosmer perhaps only 100 rifles were made with the 1868 block and the serial number should be correspondingly low.

Jerry Liles

Jerry Liles

[Fred G.]

Thankyou Jerry. Yes I know where the serial number is. I didn't know that there were only about 100 of them with the 1868 date however. I wonder how many are in collections?It seems to me that having a date of 1868 on the breechblock, and being complete with no sanded or worn wood, that the rifle would be worth a premium over the prices that I see for other 1868's at the gun shows. However, only time and opportunity will tell once I get my hands on it.Then, if I sell it, we will kinow how much they can bring. Actually, it should go to a collector who has a nich for it in his collection. I can get something else that I want with the money. Like maybe a couple of Long Lee Enfields or one really nice target model.