Trapdoor Springfield Spanish-American War Rifle

[Wyatt Burp]

At another forum a friend informed me that my 1884 Trapdoor Springfield was made in April-June, 1879 making it an 1873 receiver with an 1884 trap door. The rifle one digit above it and others in the vicinity were issued to "Co. I 2nd MO Volunteers" in 1898. But they never left the states so the gun didn't get to Cuba. The Missouri Company suffered no casualties, or course, but had 35 desertions, I suspect due to boredom. Pictured with bayonet acquired later. The gun has a repaired and refinished stock, but great bore and a tight trap door hinge.

 

[Targets Guy]

A great piece of history. Nice looking rifle.

 

[Iggy]

Many State Militias had trapdoors in their armories almost up the WWI.

Nice. I have a "barn save" 1879 model. Good shooter.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Nice. I have a "barn save" 1879 model. Good shooter.

I thought there was an 1879 model but wasn't sure, so wonder how it was determined my receiver is an 1873. Maybe the shipping dates.

 

[Iggy]

I "think" but I don't remember for sure, that the receivers are the same but the hammer and swivels and sights are different. Also yours will have the "low arch" breech block.

The 1879 rear sight is different than your 1884 Buffington sight and the older 73 sight.

 

[billwill]

Buddy's grandma had one of those, an 1884, in her attic. He rescued it but could never figure out how she or his granddad acquired it. They were not gun people and lived in a fair size city.

Where these issued to a 'home guard' type deal? He said no family member served in the military.

Always been a mystery to us.

 

[Iggy]

My Grand dad bought the one I have when he and his wife homesteaded in Wyoming before the turn of the last century.. He mail ordered it from Bannerman's for something like $7.50. He had heard there were still Indians and bad men out here.

He put it in the barn and never touched it the 50 years he lived out in the country. I found it in the barn when they abandoned the homestead and moved to town. It was in pretty sad shape.
I was only 4 years old. My Dad put in the closet and forgot about it. I found it when I moved back to the ranch in 1979.

Took some tender love and care to make it work again. Good game rifle.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

My Grand dad bought the one I have when he and his wife homesteaded in Wyoming before the turn of the last century.. He mail ordered it from Bannerman's for something like $7.50. He had heard there were still Indians and bad men out here.

He put it in the barn and never touched it the 50 years he lived out in the country. I found it in the barn when they abandoned the homestead and moved to town. It was in pretty sad shape.
I was only 4 years old. My Dad put in the closet and forgot about it. I found it when I moved back to the ranch in 1979.

Took some tender love and care to make it work again. Good game rifle.

Was that a stock Bannerman had and sold with the gun? Depending if the butt length fits you, with that pistol grip I bet that rifle has a great feel to it.

 

[Iggy]

Was that a stock Bannerman had and sold with the gun? Depending if the butt length fits you, with that pistol grip I bet that rifle has a great feel to it.

I custom ordered the stock to fit me, from Rheinhart Fajen in Missouri. Found an unfired 45-70 rifle barrel with some rust at the muzzle. Cut the barrel back behind the rust. Changed the front sight, free floated the barrel, reversed the trigger guard and ground off the sling swivel so we could reshape to fit the pistol grip.

That thing is a poor man's imitation of an 1875 Officer's Rifle.


I see an 1884 rifle for sale on GB for $2000.00

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My only Trapdoor is a 1873 Cavalry Carbine. SN puts it at 1875 (another list says only 5 made that year). It came from a gunshop in the early 80's, where the owner knew "everything" there was to know about guns. My best friend got it for around $95 in trade items! I traded a Nazi Police PPk in 32 ACP for it. Original carbines have an extra click in the action, no cleaning kit door in the butt plate and no hole drilled for the cleaning kit inside the butt stock. This one is correct in all these unique to carbine features. We assumed the gunshop owner thought it was a parts gun.

Ivan

 

[Iggy]

Sounds like the real deal.. Lucky find.