Model 1884 questions

[Paulj]

I am new to Trapdoors and to this forum so any help is appreciated.
I have a model 1884 trapdoor rifle, serial number 178565 dated to 1882, no cartouche on the stock but a 45 etched onto the buttstock. The rear sight is not a Buffington but the earlier model for the 1873.
My questions are, why the older site on a 1884 model, why no cartouche, why an 1882 dated rifle is on a model 1884?
Thanks for your help.
4066840669

[Dick Hosmer]

The far more likely answer is that you have a Model 1873 rifle that was at some time (and not necessarily by SA) fitted with a replacement breechblock, since it is the "odd man out" so to speak. This would be especially true if the rear sight (which matches the s/n) is secured with un-marred slotless screws, and there is a bit of old crud in the protected areas around the screws. Lack of cartouche normally indicates a replaced stock, though it could just be wear. The "45" is almost certainly a rack number.

[Paulj]

Thanks for the info. The slotless screws are un-marred and speaking of which, why are they slotless? How were they installed and why not use a slotted screw?

Thanks in advance.

[Dick Hosmer]

You're quite welcome. The powers that be did not want the troops fooling around with the sights, so they (at least the 1873, 1877, and 1879* styles) were put on with a special collet/clamping driver which was not (readily) available "on the outside". This changed with the Buffington sight of 1884, which used normal slotted screws.

*yours