1873 Springfield Carbine

[Steel Horse Rider]

A good friend of mine who happens to be an excellent gunsmith as well as a store owner recently took in what was told to him to be an original 1873 Springfield Trapdoor carbine in 45-70. He recognized that it was a rifle which had been cut down to pass as a carbine and bought it for the appropriate price. I do not have a Springfield Trapdoor carbine (or rifle for that matter) in my collection and have wanted to acquire one for some time. I examined it today and it is in excellent condition. The bore is bright and the rifling is crisp although the front site is not original, there is a plug (but a very good one) in the stock where the cleaning rod hole was as well as the spring at the receiver end of the stock where the cleaning rod was held. I know that my friend will be fair with the price but I am wondering what the thoughts of this group are as to the value. I checked Mr. Google and the prices (even for fakes) are all over the place. Knowing that this is, or was, an original 1873 model rifle what would you offer?

 

[StrawHat]

For a cut down rifle, as little as I could take it out the door. Original or not, it is still ct down. Here is a place for prices.

Hmm. the site I was going to send you to has closed.

I would consider $3-500 to be realistic. A lot depends on how much the dealer paid. He is going to want to show a profit.

Kevin

 

[4v50 Gary]

$500. I think I paid that for a cut down years ago

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I saw a couple of new Pedersoli carbine repros at the KCK Cabela's before Christmas and they were marked at more than $900.

 

[Stony]

I would think for 500 it would have to be a really nicely done job of making a cut down out of it. Front sight changes are pretty normal for most any trapdoor as people seem to want to be able to shoot them at 100 yds and the stock sights are just too short for that.

 

[gtodan]

You are right prices are allover the place. That is why you should research this rifle thoroughly before purchase.

Here is a site I used when I embarked on my research.

Bear in mind all these rifles were factory rebuilt at some point. The devil is in the details.

I paid $350 two years ago for my 1889 rifle. It had the front fore grip cut back. Fortunately there was enough wood there I patched a nice piece of walnut and matched the rest of the rifle.

Cartouches on stock, the correct components, condition of barrel, original finish condition are all very important.

http://trapdoorcollector.com/

Good Luck!

 

[Iggy]

Here's a cut down 1879 rifle. It stood in the corner of the barn at my Grand Dad's homestead for over 40 years and showed it.

I found an unfired barrel and got a stock from Rhinehart-Fajen and made a poor man's Marksman's Rifle out of it.

I have taken quite a bit of game with it over the years.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Cool guns.

Been thinking about the Pedersoli version.

 

[tbob38]

I've got a 1884 cut down, a bit rough that I paid $35 without a back sight. Of course that was in 1969. Shoots really great though.

 

[Noz]

$500. I think I paid that for a cut down years ago

I bought one in so-so condition for less that $400 a couple of years ago.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Dang Iggy, that is a nice looking rifle.