1884 Springfield 45/70 Trapdoor ?

fcdl

I just aquired the subject rifle and took stock off to fix a small crack in the stock. After disassembled I noticed the bottom of the barrel and other parts appear to be chrome or nickle. I was under the impression this gun was blue. It has a perfect bore and chamber. Was this rifle ever issued all in chrome or nickle? Appreciate all you experts comments. Thanks.

Emmett Dunham

I just finished restoring a 1884 and after spending a lot of time looking for parts I would say no. The other factor is that I don't think they had the capacity to chrome anything in the time frame of manufacture of your rifle. Nickle is a posiblity, I would not think a military weapon would be plated. Try Trapdoor Rifle messege index, thoes guys will be able to help you out.


Emmett

fcdl

Thanks: I'll try what you suggested. Wonder if there were some made in nickle or chrome for parades etc? The bore and chamber looks so good that it is almost unfired.

Spider7115

It could be either chrome or nickel depending on when it was done. A lot of veterans' groups plated trapdoor Springfield rifles for parade use but they were never done at the factory.

Spider7115

quote:Originally posted by Edgsmth
I have an 1878 that must have sat somewhere damp. The barrel looks obviously pitted, the trigger has even lost mass from corrosion. Lupp the bands off and drop the stock and you can see the original bright finish nearly EVERYWHERE protected by the stock. This may be the case with your rifle.

An old friend I haven't seen since my teens had a trapdoor new in original cosmo and packing crate. I can still hear him say, "the hammer has never fallen on this rifle." The finish was bright steel, not blued or anything else, with the exception of case colored lock plate and breech block.

This may be what you are seeing, or you may have a rifle that someone bubba'd and has lost its plating where exposed to the atmosphere and wear. I did see a rolling block here that was nickled. Not the original finish. Still, unless your barrel is fairly grossly pitted where exposed I would think that some plating would remain.

First off, there's no such thing as an 1878. It's an 1873 but the "3" is stamped very tightly which makes it look like an "8". Secondly, although there were some silver-plated, engraved officer's model carbines, the finish on a Model 1873 & Model 1884 was BLUED and not bright steel. The only bright ones were the .50-70's because they were made from left-over .58 caliber muzzle loaders. If yours was bright steel, someone removed the bluing somewhere along the line.

fcdl

Thanks for all the information folks. I I really appreciate letting me know the facts.

perry shooter

Hello many pre civil war and civil war guns were shipped "IN THE WHITE" the metal had NO finish and they were cleaned with PUMICE after the guns were no longer used they were put away and developed their own finish. I don't know if this continued for the Trapdoor. and are you shur your rifle is not a converted earier rifle?

Emmett Dunham

I think that most of the conversions were 50-70 and the roll stamp on the receiver is 1884. Your statement about the older finish does make since though.


Emmett

Spider7115

quote:Originally posted by Emmett Dunham
I think that most of the conversions were 50-70 and the roll stamp on the receiver is 1884. Your statement about the older finish does make since though.


Emmett

No, that's not true. The Model 1884 was an improvement over the Model 1873 and they were both produced in .45-70 caliber, not conversions. The .50-70 Allin conversions from sleeved Civil War muskets were dated between 1866-1870 on the breechblock.