Trapdoor carbine resale?

[rice 123]

After a canser scare last fall I have been thinking about selling off some of my more expensive guns so my wife would not have to deal with it if anything happend to me. . So today I took my trapdoor carbine into Cabellas just to see what they would give me for it. I had a SRS letter showing it was issued to a Scout Squent Eye at Ft Supply OK in 1885. I had a copy of the Trapdoor Newletter that had a pic of a rooster where you can see the serial number of my carbine listed. I also had some stuff on Squent Eye that I googled he has Indian stick drawings in the smithsonian and he worked for them as a naturalist for a time. I was shocked to find that they had no interest in it because of a crack in the stock and they said it was refinished. and they gave me a retail value of 1750. As it appears now not to be one of my more expensive guns I put it back into the safe not for sale. Am I missing something here does not provence count for anything also the crack was vary minor. and I am not so sure that it was refinished

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[Badger]

Well, to be honest, personally I'd be more interested in it as a serious collector because of the provenance you mention.

Perhaps I'm a bit of a romantic, but to me, holding in my hands a piece of history that has a documented heritage to it is pretty special.

If I was a trapdoor collector, I'd consider that provenance special enough to add a premium in a purchase price, but that's just me.

Have you ever fired it?

Regards,
Badger

[rice 123]

I have never fired it. I have some 45/70 cartridges but I think for a carbine 45/50 is correct. I thought 1750 retail was to little for the carbine even without the provence

[bad john]

I would agree with you. It's hard to see from the pictures but????????????

[musketshooter]

Since it does not have a cartouche, it probably was refinished at some time. From looking at the pictures, it appears that they were in the ball park on the retail value. I would post it and check out Dick Hosmer's opinion on Jouster.com.

[rice 123]

I would think that the province to a indian scout would count for something