Tell me about the 1873 trapdoor Springfield I found

[shooter88]

FWIW - I picked up this relic model 1873 'trapdoor' Springfield at a local gun shop a couple of years ago for $100 (USD). Lots of paint splatter, surface rust, 'black hole' bore, broken firing-pin, no Lock, no butt-plate, no trigger guard assembly, and all the screws were missing.

When the bore cleaned up real good, I decided the rifle was worth salvaging. It took 1 & 1/2 years of careful cleaning and parts shopping, but, it all came together recently.

I had a lot of fun restoring this trapdoor and it is a decent 'shooter'. I probably have a total investment of $385 in the rifle, because, I was quite patient and frugal in procuring parts.

Some before, midway, and after pics:

Attachment 74487Attachment 74488Attachment 74489Attachment 74497Attachment 74498Attachment 74490Attachment 74491

Wow, what a difference that turned out to be. Looks great!

I looked up the book you referenced and found that that author has a book on the Krag, 1903, Garand, etc. I will definitely be buying them for future purchases.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thank you. When I look up "model 1883 Springfield Trapdoor", I don't get many results, and a lot of websites that I have looked at seem to even skip that year. Were these rifles made in 1883? Im wondering if the stamp was just done in a way that it looks like 1883. I also looked up the SN, and the chart I looked at puts it around 1873...?

No great surprise. Before paying that kind of money for any rifle, get first-class information.

In particular, "The 45-70 Springfield" by Frasca & Hill. P181 ff. describes how obsolete (and condemned) parts were sold off and then used by private companies to assemble "bitser" Trapdoors, with early serial numbers being frequent to con the clueless into thinking that they were getting an early original! Google "Bannerman Arms" and see what comes up.

Yes, the book is expensive. Buying a fake is more expensive.

[Aragorn243]

$1100 is high unless it is very, very nice. I paid under $600 for a nice shooter about 6 months ago. They are around.

[shooter88]

OK, thanks for the replies. I'll wait until a better one comes around