#Springfield model 1873 serial numbers serial numbers
#Springfield model 1873 serial numbers serial number

If you need a pre-Custer trapdoor, this gun can fill that hole in your collection.Original Item: Only One available. This is a nice example of the rare Springfield 1873 trapdoor Cadet rifle, the weapon used, in its carbine form, by the troopers of the 7th Cavalry that met their fate at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. This style of markings is only seen on the very early production Springfield rifles, as the Eagle was removed not long after production started. This rifle also has the script ESA cartouche on the stock by the lock screws, indicating inspection by the legendary Erskine S. He was Master Armorer at Springfield Armory from 1853 until his death in 1879, and developed the original 'Allin Conversion' for Springfield Rifled Muskets, which led directly to the 1873 Springfield Trapdoor.

#Springfield model 1873 serial numbers serial number

There is the trace of a serial number by the chamber, but only 799 is legible, so there are at least two numbers worn off.

#Springfield model 1873 serial numbers serial numbers

1873 springfield trapdoor serial numbers serial number# The 1873 Cadet Model Trapdoor Rifle is identical to the Standard 1873 Infantry Rifle, from the butt plate up to the rear or lower barrel band.

The obvious difference is the overall length of the barrel, and thus the rifle. The standard Infantry barrel length was about 31 1/2' whereas the barrel on a Cadet Rifle was just about 2 inches shorter coming in at about 29 1/2'. Not a great deal but this did reduce the weight and presumably allowed raw Cadets to get used to the substantial. Between 1874 the first year of the Standard Model 1873 Models were constructed and 1886 when the Model of 1884 took over the ratio of Infantry Rifles manufactured was 20-1 TWENTY TO ONE.

In fact in the 12 years 203,182 long Rifles to 9,188 Cadet Rifles. Later Model 1884 Rifles and Cadet Rifles were still being made or converted from long to short until about 1900. The fact remains that the MODEL 1873 Cadet Rifle is twenty times harder to find than the standard 1873 Infantry Rifle. This information all comes from a wonderful Book :- THE. 45-70 SPRINGFIELD written by Albert Frasca and Robert Hill in 1980. 381 pages of invaluable information, published by Springfield Publishing of Northridge, California. The stock on this example has been sanded down a bit, so it is only partly proud over the lock plate, however the markings are still present.

1873 springfield trapdoor serial numbers serial number#.