What's a 1878 Springfield Worth?

[carbine85]

I'm looking at a Cut-Down 1878 Trapdoor with a filled stock and added saddle ring bar.
It's in fair to good shape.
I'm really not clear on the history / conversion of these rifles.
What's a fair asking pricing for this?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

IIRC, American Rifleman did a story about those. The consensus was that there was no actual Mod. 1878 and that they were poorly/double stamped '73s. I think we will need pics to give you an idea of value, but a nice original Trapdoor rifle will bring 800-1100 around here, with an original Carbine going for bout twice that.

Also, if you're going to shoot it stick to handloads or cowboy factory ammo specifically made for this gun to duplicate the original black-powder loading presures.
Modern .45-70 hunting loads are WAAAAY too hot for the Trapdoor action.

 

[tark]

Modern .45-70 hunting loads are WAAAAY too hot for the Trapdoor action.

+1.

I wouldn't even trust the standard 405 grain factory loads that are supposed to be safe in a trapdoor. Make sure that breech block has little or no no wiggle with an empty case chambered. For myself, the 45-70 is a handloading proposition.

Don't think the conversion to a carbine was done by the army. Probably done by either a frontier smith, or perhaps the NRA in the early part of the last century. The did that to several thousand Krag rifles because everybody wanted carbines. Couldn't hardly give away the rifles. Have no idea on value, but on "fair to good" condition, and not being original, it's probably not going to reach four figures.

 

[tark]

Really need pics....

 

[Sistema1927]

What's it worth? Exactly what a seller will take for it and a buyer will pay for it.

How badly do you want it?

 

[carbine85]

Really need pics....

Probably cant get any until Monday.
No stock cartouches. It has a nice pitina and nice bore. I'm thinking $400 tops.

 

[tark]

I'm thinking $400 tops.

I'm thinking you are a sensible, realistic man..

 

[BigBore44]

Probably cant get any until Monday.
No stock cartouches. It has a nice pitina and nice bore. I'm thinking $400 tops.

Pics really would help. But if it’s in good overall condition, $400 is about $200 underpriced. If you get it for $400, consider yourself lucky.

 

[sharps59]

AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DISTROY A PEICE OF HISTORY. Even if not a high value peice> Go buy a repro.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

If it is a professional looking revision it was probably done by Bannermans in New York. In the early part of the twentieth century they were in the business of converting military surplus firearms into sporting firearms. I have a carbine version that was converted by Bannermans and it is a joy to shoot and display. If you get the serial number you can determine what it started life as. I don't remember the name but there is a Springfield trapdoor site that lists the various years and models that are attached to the serial numbers.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DISTROY A PEICE OF HISTORY. Even if not a high value peice> Go buy a repro.

Well, I don't think the OP is contemplating any further desecration above what has already been done.........
In fact, if anything I would think preserving and gentle shooting it would be the best way to respect this particular historical firearm.
4-500 sounds very reasonable for a cut down shooter.

 

[tark]

AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DISTROY A PEICE OF HISTORY. Even if not a high value peice> Go buy a repro.

Because it has already been destroyed when it was modified. NIGHTLORD40K summed it up pretty well.

 

[sharps59]

Because it has already been destroyed when it was modified. NIGHTLORD40K summed it up pretty well.

i mess read it I read i'm looking at cutting down . my bad.

 

[carbine85]

Well I managed to miss the bidding and it sold for $360 with the auction fees.
I got stuck at a dinner and couldn't get the bid to go through.
My search continues