A cavalry carbine...

[PALADIN85020]

There have been quite a few threads started recently about favorite firearms of one type or another, but this one didn't fall into any convenient category. Nonetheless, it's one of my favorites. This is an original U.S. Model 1879 "trapdoor" carbine. It was manufactured at Springfield Armory in 1881, a year when only 501 carbines were produced. This was the smallest number of .45/70 carbines produced in any year. It remains in excellent condition. As you may probably know, this is of the same general type used by Custer's troops at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, although it was made about 5 years later than that unfortunate fracas. We've often heard the saying "if only this gun could talk," and I've often wondered when and where this one was employed.

I photographed it posed on a Conestoga wagon wheel, which I thought was appropriate for its time frame. Hope you like the picture.

John

 

[mkk41]

Nice!

Seen more rifles that were cut down than I've seen original carbines. Mine was a cut-down (Bannerman's?).

Does it has a lanyard loop on the left?

Mine doesn't.

 

[ACP230]

Fine pic. Good looking rifle.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Nice!

Seen more rifles that were cut down than I've seen original carbines. Mine was a cut-down (Bannerman's?).

Does it has a lanyard loop on the left?

Mine doesn't.

Yes, it has a rack and ring on the left side for an over-the-shoulder sling. This component of a cavalry carbine was later abandoned with the Model 1899 Krag carbine, which was to be carried in a boot on the horse rather than carried with a sling by the trooper. It had no such device, nor did the later Model 1903 Springfield, which was used by both infantry and cavalry.

John

 

[mkk41]

Actually , I'm thinking it wasn't used on a Krag because there's nowhere to mount it on the left side on the normal spot.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Actually , I'm thinking it wasn't used on a Krag because there's nowhere to mount it on the left side on the normal spot.

The earlier Krag carbines had the traditional rack and ring. Here is a Model 1896 Krag carbine from my collection to show its location. This is the type that Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders used in the Spanish-American war. The later 1898 model also had this feature, but as I stated, the 1899 model did not.

John

 

[mkk41]

Gotcha!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My trapdoor carbine is the 1873 model and one source put the SN in 1875 also saying that hundreds of rifles were made that year, but only 5 carbines. would love to "discuse" it with you via PM. Ivan

 

[mkk41]

Just a note for Trapdoor owners or prospective buyers. The year on the breech block is not necessarily the model of the rifle. Serviceable breech blocks were often used in the building of new rifles/carbines and the date of the breech block might not be the actual year/model of rifle. They also used up older production in later models. My 1888 rifle has a breech block with a date of 1884 , even though it's all original.

The Trapdoor (like the Krag) saw a lot of change during it's production. There's several good books that let you positively identify the year/model of a Trapdoor.

 

[shouldazagged]

Beautiful carbine, splendidly photographed.

 

[LAKOTA169]

My Sharps new Model 1863 carbine. Possibly issued to a Maryland cavalry. In my Sharps book, they have a listing of guns by serial number and where/who they were issued. The number falls between two that were issued there.

 

[redlevel]

That is a cool looking piece!

I believe H&R made a run of replicas of these starting in about 1973, I guess to coincide with the centennial of the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. I wanted one of the carbines bad! I just couldn't afford it. I think they also made an officers rifle, also. I believe I remember a full page ad on the back of either Shooters Bible or Gun Digest showing a recreation of a scene from the Custer battle. I wonder what one of the H&R repros goes for today?

 

[Alk8944]

It is called a "Sling Bar", not rack.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Very nice. That's some heavy iron there. Makes one wonder how tired you would get lugging a 10 lb musket around. I used to have a Win 95 carbine and that thing was a load.

 

[PALADIN85020]

It is called a "Sling Bar", not rack.

Quite correct, officially. Common slang terminology was used.

John

 

[Cyrano]

Here's mine, nowhere near as nice as yours. When I got it, it was a wreck; the hammer was welded to the tumbler and when I got them apart I had to replace both. The firing pin was broken and the tip wedged into the bolt face, which may account for the scorched wood around the receiver. It's seen hard use, may have been an Indian gun. But surprisingly, when I got it, the three piece cleaning rod and headless shell extractor where still in the door in the buttplate.

 

[Iggy]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p246/Iggy25/Trapdoor-1.jpg
Here is a model 1879 rifle that I bubbaized into kind of a Officer's Model. I've taken Elk, Deer, Antelope, and I have no idea how many pest critters with it. It's my most favoritest rifle.

I see a H&R Officer's model up for auction here in Cheyenne tomorrow night. I'm gonna be there to see what happens.

 

[PALADIN85020]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p246/Iggy25/Trapdoor-1.jpg
Here is a model 1879 rifle that I bubbaized into kind of a Officer's Model. I've taken Elk, Deer, Antelope, and I have no idea how many pest critters with it. It's my most favoritest rifle.

I see a H&R Officer's model up for auction here in Cheyenne tomorrow night. I'm gonna be there to see what happens.

Although I hate to see any original G.I. firearm sporterized, I have to admit that this one is particularly well done and quite handsome. Good job, Iggy.

John

 

[Stevie]

Nice carbine..I have it's big brother..an 1881 made rifle. My rifle ain't so slick though.

 

[mkk41]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p246/Iggy25/Trapdoor-1.jpg
Here is a model 1879 rifle that I bubbaized into kind of a Officer's Model. I've taken Elk, Deer, Antelope, and I have no idea how many pest critters with it. It's my most favoritest rifle.

WOW , I recall seeing those stocks in old E.C. Bishop Gunstocks catalogs.