1873 Springfield Rifle Serial Number

[ahughes520]

I am trying to research the serial number 162089 on my 1873 Springfield rifle.  It was purchased in the 50's out of the Gainesville, FL Court House.  The rifle was given to my son by his grandfather and we are researching the rifle for a class project.

Thank you 

[St. George]

Your rifle was built around September of 1881.

If in original condition, it should still be equipped with the Model 1879 rear sight - marked with an 'R' indicating 'Rifle' - but if it was upgraded, it may well have a Buffington rear sight - the earlier one looks like a ski jump - the latter is 'flat'.

Anything more will require good, clear photos - taken in natural light - so if it looks like a marking on the wood - take a photo of it.

These were surplussed out decades before it was sold out of that courthouse - sold by the NRA, the DCM, even Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Unless there happens to be an actual unit marking on the buttstock, it'll be close to impossible to say where it served after it was built.

Scouts Out!

[Bruce W Sims]

So an 1873 model manufactured in 1882 (serial # 169657) should be able to mount a buffington with ease
(IE simple swap out) or is this gunsmith territory?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[St. George]

The rear sight base holes in all of the Trapdoors are identical - they could be mounted by the Artificer at the local level, and untold numbers were.

The replacement screws were slotted - original installation screws weren't.

Scouts Out!