1866 "Short rifle" Trapdoor

[jbrower]

I recently came across some photos of what someone thought was an 1884 Trapdoor but was obviously an 1866 model due to the lack of a receiver, an 1864 dated lockplate and breechblock stamped "1866." I contacted the owner and he would like to sell it.

This rifle, however, has only two barrel bands and not the usual three bands you would expect to find on an 1866 model.

I believe that it is what Poyer and Riesch describe as an 1866 "short rifle" made in 1870-1871 but there is little information available on these rifles, of which just over 1,100 were made. Does anyone have any pointers to give me which would help me to distinguish a bona-fide 1866 short rifle from a Bannerman? I have read about Bannerman rifles having the stock filled-in where the middle keeper spring would be, but not much else.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.