Springfield 1873

StrawHat · October 23, 2011, 06:41:45 AM

I was helping my wife's father move into his new house the last couple of weeks. One of the last things we transferred were his firearms. Among the long rifles I handled was a nice example of the Model 1873 Trapdoor rifle. I looked it over a lot before I handed it to him to place in the safe. He accepted it, looked it over and handed it back to me. He than asked why I wanted my rifle in his safe? I thanked him and brought it home. I have only had a chance to give it a quick once over but it is in decent shape with a good shiny bore. I will give it a more thorough inspection when I get the chance but for now, it will sit next to my bastard 1866. It will be funn to experiment again with the flatter shooting 45-70!

cpt dan blodgett · October 23, 2011, 11:19:55 PM

Gutta love that guy. Hope he is around along time before you folks loose him.

ndnchf · October 24, 2011, 02:32:30 PM

Wow - that's really great. Itwill be a nice companion to your Mississippi trapdoor.

StrawHat · October 25, 2011, 05:44:19 AM

Quote from: ndnchf on October 24, 2011, 02:32:30 PM
Wow - that's really great. Itwill be a nice companion to your Mississippi trapdoor.

Yes, it does reside next to it. I guess they talk about the old days and such. My hearing is not good enough to catch what they are saying. The only time I can hear them is when they are belching smoke and lead.

Does anyone know of a site where I can find the date of manufacture for the 1873 from the serial #?

wildman1 · October 25, 2011, 01:40:37 PM

Trapdoors.com I believe Keith Rush. WM

StrawHat · October 26, 2011, 06:43:50 AM

Thank you.

Drydock · October 26, 2011, 02:17:13 PM

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/

StrawHat · October 27, 2011, 06:41:31 AM

Drydock,

I met Al Frasca when I was researching an 1866 trapdoor I found. A very interesting and knowledgeable fellow. I learned more in 10 or 15 minutes than I had found in the previous couple of years I spent in the library looking for info! I have sent him a note concerning this Trapdoor and hope to hear from him. His site is the first one I recommend to anyone with Trapdoor questions.

You have an interesting handle. I worked on the Great Lakes steamships and spent a few winters in drydock. An odd sight, 800+ feet of steamship sitting out of the water!

StrawHat · October 28, 2011, 06:45:28 AM

Just found out the rifle left the Armory in 1878.

I got a chance to go over it a bit more and found some roughness in the bore. I will get after that with bore paste. If I have to, I will cast a lap and get rid of the roughness. Then it will be a diet of blackpowder and paper patched lead!

Drydock · October 31, 2011, 10:03:50 PM

Spent 20 years in the Navy 85-05. Got that name the first time I went to a SASS match back in 89. (My ship was in drydock at the time. USS Eisenhower CVN-69. Damn eerie to walk beneath a 97,000 ton aircraft carrier!)