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Springfield Trapdoor Carbine Question
griz
Member Posts: 425 ✭✭
I have a line on a Springfield Trapdoor Carbine stamped as a Model 1884 on the receiver. Problem is it has a 5-digit serial number in the high 30,000's. According to my meager references on hand a model 1884 should have a much higher serial number.
Is it possible this a a re-arsenaled carbine or is it just a put together parts gun? Any suggestions on where to do some more research, most appreciated.
Is it possible this a a re-arsenaled carbine or is it just a put together parts gun? Any suggestions on where to do some more research, most appreciated.
Comments
When I slugged the barrel to determine what size cast bullet to order I discovered that the barrel has six lands and grooves. It slugged to .459. My understanding was that all originals had three lands and grooves. The barrel has what appears to me to be original barrel marking proofs - VP/Eagle Head at the rear next to the breech. The breech block is marked 1884. It has a Buffington rear sight and what appears to me to be the correct pinned front sight. It also has the late style butt plate with storage for cleaning rods.
I am aware that the import reproductions - Pedersoli, Uberti, etc. have six groove barrels. Did they have original proof marks? I can find no import marks on the barrel and the Buffington rear and pinned front don't make sense on them anyway. Did anyone make a six-land/groove barrel for the Springfield Trapdoor Carbine or am I mistaken that the originals were all three land/groove?
I have a line on a Springfield Trapdoor Carbine stamped as a Model 1884 on the receiver. Problem is it has a 5-digit serial number in the high 30,000's. According to my meager references on hand a model 1884 should have a much higher serial number.
Is it possible this a a re-arsenaled carbine or is it just a put together parts gun? Any suggestions on where to do some more research, most appreciated.
Yes, something is amiss. A receiver in the 30,000 range is the "narrow" receiver, whereas an 1884 breech block is for a "wide" receiver.
One possibilty is that some people look at the serial number without opening the breech block, as the lase digit is located UNDERNEATH the lever for the block. So, a sn that looks to be 30000 is actually 300001.
John
WBG