M1866 .50-70 Trapdoor

[Grapeshot]

There's a .50-70 Trapdoor for sale over on:  http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?203205-M1866-50-70-Trapdoor-Springfield-Rifle

[Trailrider]

Link's NOT working. Is this a Second Model Allin?

[Grapeshot]

Thanks Trail Rider.  I fixed the link.  I do believe that it's a 2nd Model Allen.

[Trailrider]

Thanks Trail Rider.  I fixed the link.  I do believe that it's a 2nd Model Allen.

Looks that way. Might be a good buy...if I had the money and needed a M1866. Wonder what date is stamped on the breechblock. M1866's had either "1866", "1867" or "1868" on the block. Most are marked for 1867, as not that many were made in '66. There was also a M1868, made in 1868. There was an article long ago in Shooting Times that showed the differences by photos.

[Grapeshot]

The breech block has "1869"

[Trailrider]

The breech block has "1869"

Okay...I looked up my nomenclature/descriptions of the .50-70 Trapdoors. Your Springfield is a M1868 manufactured in 1869. The M1868 was produced and stamped "1868, 1869, and 1870.  There was also a M1870, which differs from the '68 in having a shorter receiver than the M1868, and a gap between the rear end of the rear sight base and the front of the receiver. The M1868 has the base of the sight butting up against the front of the receiver ring.

The M1866 has the breechblock screwed and brazed to the barrel, which has been converted from the muzzle loading CW rifles. The M1866 barrels were lined, whereas the M1868 and M1870's used purpose-made barrels.