Springfield 1873 Mfg. Date

[dshepnh]

I have come across an 1873 and I am looking for some more info. The Trapdoor is stamped "US MODEL 1873" but the serial number on the reciever block is 479XXX. When I looked up on-line the mfg. date for that number it came back as 1890. That seems to be in contradiction to the Blue Book of gun values which says the 1873 was made between 1873 and 1877. Does this make any sense? Any info would be much appreciated. TIA.
--Dan

Information

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[lboos]

Dan, Go to the Trapdoor forum on page one for help. That's where the trapdoor expert's hang out.

[jjroth]

Dixie gun works catalog, they have in the back a listing of SN & Model types.
There's also a listing the SN that are determined to be within the timeframe for the "Little Bighorn" battle. CHECK it out.

[Jim K]

The Model 1873 rifle was made through FY 1885. In 1886, they began manufacture of the Model 1884, then in 1891 they began manufacture of the Model 1888 and continued through 1893. No trapdoor rifles were made in FY 1894. Model 1892 (Krag) production began in Jan. 1894.

Some confusion in this data is that Springfield reported on a Fiscal Year basis. The government's FY at the time began 6 months before the calendar year (CY). So FY 1894 was from 1July 1893 to 30 June 1894.

Also note that prior to 1887, Model 1884 breechblocks were marked 1873.

In addition, many thousands of trapdoor rifles were assembled from mis-matched parts bought as scrap by Meacham, Harley & Graham and others, and sold on the civilian market, not to mention gunsmith replacement parts and more recent "restorations."

Jim

[Capt Quahog]

Had a Model 1888 Ram-Rod Bayonet Trapdoor Rifle with Stock Cartouche dated 1893. Thing was flat mint with color case on the block! Forgot the serial range, but it was at the very end of production