Help identify rifle/carbine
- Thread starter redscho
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It certainly APPEARS to be a Springfield "trapdoor" M1877 Carbine, but which version requires more info; you can probably do a search for Springfield trapdoor and get all the info you'd ever need or want. I'd suggest not doing ANYTHING in the way of "cleaning it up", since it could easily be worth some serious money. There SHOULD be a serial number on the top of the receiver, at the rear of the lift-up "trapdoor", with a model number at the front of the "trapdoor" itself. HTH.
I can't tell for sure from the pictures, but it looks like the breechblock is a mismatch. The lockplate has had markings removed and is wrong anyway; those lockplates never had the eagle at the rear. Plus the stock shape is wrong.
I suspect it is a repro carbine (H&R maybe) that has had original markings removed and was passed off as an original Springfield-made carbine. It is certainly suspicious and I hope Redscho's friend didn't buy it at a high price.
Jim
I suspect it is a repro carbine (H&R maybe) that has had original markings removed and was passed off as an original Springfield-made carbine. It is certainly suspicious and I hope Redscho's friend didn't buy it at a high price.
Jim
redscho
Member
My friend is in his mid 70's, the rifle has been in his family (originally his grandfather's) for over 100 years. As far as he knows no one ever worked on it. I forgot to mention, it has cleaning rod under butt plate in stock.
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It could be a "parts gun" put together by the Francis Bannerman Co. at the turn of the 19th. century.
They were famous for making "guns that never were" out of odds & ends surplus parts, and selling them very cheap by mail order.
rcmodel
They were famous for making "guns that never were" out of odds & ends surplus parts, and selling them very cheap by mail order.
rcmodel
redscho
Member
I think that makes more sense than it being a reproduction. The absence of any markings other than half an eagle is what puzzles me. I have also discovered that the butt plate had a trap door for the cleaning rod. On this one you have to remove two screws to get to the rod. Indicting that it is not the original butt plate if it is an 1877 model carbine.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Look closely at the front end of the stock under the barrel.
Is, or was there a hole for a cleaning rod?
Has it been plugged with matching wood?
Is there still a hole there?
If either one is present, the stock is a cut-down trap-door rifle stock.
A carbine stock would not have a cleaning rod hole.
rcmodel
Is, or was there a hole for a cleaning rod?
Has it been plugged with matching wood?
Is there still a hole there?
If either one is present, the stock is a cut-down trap-door rifle stock.
A carbine stock would not have a cleaning rod hole.
rcmodel
Oooops, sorry for my comment on the eagle. I took another look at the picture and see that the eagle actually is forward of the hammer. So it is in the right place. Still, the other lockplate markings have been removed as, apparently were the markings on the breechblock and receiver, the breechblock is a mismatch and the buttplate is wrong.
Jim
Jim
redscho
Member
Thanks for all the comebacks on the Springfield. I had kind of forgotten all about this forum. Getting back into reloading and happened upon it again.
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