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IDENTIFIED MODEL 1873
SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR RIFLE RECEIVER SN 5251 – RECORDED
IN ORDNANCE NOTES 122 AS IN THE INVENTORY OF THE 5TH
REGIMENT OF INFANTRY IN 1879:
This early Model 1873
Springfield Trapdoor Rifle Receiver bears a low,
four-digit serial number, number 5251, which indicates
it was manufactured in 1874. This particular
serial number was recorded by the U.S. Army Ordnance
Department in 1879 during an inspection of the rifles
issued to the 5TH U.S. Infantry Regiment, and
the results of that inspection were published in
ORDNANCE NOTES – No. 122 a comprehensive 101 page
report, which was included as part of the Chief of
Ordnance Report for 1880.
The arms were recorded as to number of years in service,
condition, serviceability, to whom they were issued, and
the accuracy of each rifle was recorded with a set of
plotted targets.
Serial number 5251 was recorded as a complete rifle
which had been in service for four years and eleven
months at the time of the inspection.
When a firearm was determined to be no longer
serviceable and it was slated for a surplus sale, the
arms were disassembled and sold as parts. The
civilian buyers then reassembled those parts into
complete arms which sold quite well on the retail
market. For whatever reason, this receiver was
never incorporated into a complete rifle, but it has
survived in very nice condition.
The block is full form in its original configuration
with no obvious signs of faults or flaws. The
block retains much of its original oil quenched finish
and the surfaces are very smooth with no significant
pitting or signs of other wear. The threads for
the tang and for the barrel are clear without any flaws.
The serial number is fully legible.
In 1879, the 5TH Infantry Regiment was
stationed at Fort Lincoln in the Dakota Territory and
Ft. Keogh in the Montana Territory. In the almost
five years since they had been issued the new Model 1873
Rifles, the regiment had served on the southern plains
in Texas and the Indian Territory, and by the fall of
1876 they had been moved to the northern plains.
Based on the condition of this particular rifle as it
was described in the report, it certainly must have
served in the field against the warriors of the
Comanche, Cheyenne and Sioux during those turbulent
years.
This receiver is a historic piece in its own right;
however it would also provide the basis for an
interesting and worthwhile restoration project.
The balance of the correct parts necessary to assemble
this receiver into a complete rifle are available with
some searching, and there are parts dealers who can
assist you. While there are those who would frown
on such a project, the bottom line is that many of the
rifles in the inventory of the 5TH Infantry
were found to be unserviceable and they suffered the
same fate as did 5251 - parted out in surplus sales -
and many of them were reassembled by the civilian
dealers of the time. Identified Model 1873
Springfields are not common and this would be a good
opportunity to add an interesting rifle to your
collection.
SOLD
NOTE: Photocopies of the pertinent pages
of Ordnance Notes No. 122 which contain the entries
regarding SN 5251 will accompany the sale of the
receiver.
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