Trapdoor Serial #

[matt45]

Hello the Camp,
     I recently purchased an 1884 Long Tom, serial #307717.  Any idea among all who are smarter and more well versed as to date of mfg. or the unit(s) it went to?  It shoots great.

[PJ Hardtack]

Speaking of serial #s ....

a workmate of mine had a Trapdoor carbine he inherited from his grandparents who lived on the Alberta/Saskatchewan prairies. It was kind of beaten up, brass tack decorated and had a copper band replacing the steel barrel band. The story was that they swapped it from a Indian quide on a hunting trip in the 1930s.

I gave him the list of the known carbines used by Custer's 7th Cavalry so he could check it out. I lost contact with him for two years and asked if he had done so. No, he hadn't!

I was utterly disgusted and offered to buy it from him. He refused.

[ira scott]

My reference book "Trapdoor Springfield" by M.D."Bud" Waite says that serial number is one of 9,244 rifles built in the first quarter of 1886. Right off hand I don't see any info as to who it was issued to. Definitely not smarter, I just had a book to look it up!

[Dusty Tagalon]

1886,  306,548-347,218
1886, 34,162 rifles, 6000 carbines. I have a rifle from 1886 SN 337722.

Dusty

[St. George]

And these weren't issued out in serial number sequence, by a long shot.

A weapon issued to one Regiment's next serial number may easily have been issued to a completely different unit in a different Department.

Why?

Because the Army didn't care about such things and issued as-needed and not by bloc number.

Scouts Out!

[Pitspitr]

And these weren't issued out in serial number sequence, by a long shot.

Sure was inconsiderate of them too. Might have made me being able to find #5725 easier. 

[ira scott]

If I may be so bold as to inquire General Jerry Sir, why do you lust for #5725?

[Niederlander]

I believe he owns #5724 and #5726.  Pretty cool!