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MODEL 1873 “FIRST MODEL” .45/70 SPRINGFIELD
TRAPDOOR CARBINE – VERY NICE EARLY PRODUCTION SPECIMEN –
ca. 1875 – SN 29984 – IN THE ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION:
This Model 1873 “First Model” Springfield Trapdoor
Carbine, Serial Number 29984, has survived in very nice
condition with all of the correct components and
features. Often referred to by the collecting community
as a “Custer” era carbine, these earlier carbines were
manufactured early enough to have been available for
issue to the ill-fated soldiers of the 7TH
Cavalry prior to the Little Big Horn. It is especially
notable that the serial number of this carbine is less
than 30,000 – these early-production Model 1873 Carbines
having gained an iconic status among collectors of
Indian War era material.
This carbine has retained all of the correct features to
include: no proof marks on the barrel at the breech, the
high arch breech block, the Model 1873 carbine rear
sight mounted with slotless screws, the coarse knurled
hammer with the three position tumbler, the smooth
trigger, barrel band with stacking swivel, and most
importantly, the proper long wrist-short comb carbine
stock.
The mechanical lock and trigger
function is very crisp and the bore is very good to
excellent with bright, strong rifling with no pitting.
The metal surfaces are smooth overall with no pitting
and with an even aged appearance. The stock was most
likely refinished at some time in the past, now being
overall smooth with the normal handling and storage
marks. The circled P proof stamp is present and legible
below the trigger guard. The cartouche did not survive
the wear of the carbine sling snap swivel, or the
possible later refinishing, but there appears to be a
vestige of the bottom arc of the cartouche outline still
visible under proper light.
When the last owner purchased this carbine in the
mid-1960’s he noticed a sliver of white material showing
above the edge of the barrel channel, wedged between the
side of the barrel and the wood. He removed the
barreled receiver from the stock and discovered a piece
of doubled thin white cotton cloth laying in the barrel
channel. Upon removing the material he found that it
had been protecting a gold and silver colored ink
stamped inscription which reads: “Wm. GILROY
FORMERLY OWNED BY FOURTH
MUSKETEER”. He replaced the material as he had
found it and secured the barreled receiver back in the
stock. Numerous attempts to identify William Gilroy and
the significance of the “Four Musketeers” in the context
of this carbine were unsuccessful. The inscription does
leave one to wonder if there are – or were – three other
carbines similarly stamped and if these four men served
together at some point in the frontier army.
This carbine has been intact for many years as it
presents, having resided in the same collection for the
past 50 years or so, and it is a very respectable
example of the very desirable early production Model
1873 Carbines that were first issued to the cavalry
soldiers on the frontier. Quite honestly, if I were
still looking for one for my own collection, this one
would not have seen the light of day.
SOLD
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