What can this be?

[Carlsr]

Any thoughts on this rifle? What it may actually be? Has what appears to be a short receiver.
No serial number on barrel or receiver with an 1870 breech block, long arch with thin back.
M68 thumb latch. Rear sight is that of an M66.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/895028417

[Dick Hosmer]

No, that's a long receiver, and it has proper witness marks on the right side. I'll bet barrel is overlength because the rod looks right and appears to be set right relative to upper band. Lower band is 1868. Cannot explain the lack of barrel/receiver numbers. Musket/66 sights do show up occasionally on "Bannerman-type" stuff - which is what I would say that is. In any event , NOT original.

[Carlsr]

Looked short in a couple pics Dick, I even had my glasses on :icon_lol:
It is odd that there are no serial numbers.

[Dick Hosmer]

Time to get new glasses, my friend!!:icon_scratch:

A short receiver will look almost "square" (by that I mean that the length and height of the nose area - that section ahead of the pin - appear roughly equal).

You were also, I believe, misled by the odd sight since your brain was telling you that a long receiver gun must have a tight sight.

In any event it is totally bogus. I have seen a couple of other un-numbered 1868 receivers.

[Carlsr]

Yes it is Dick, yes it is lol!!!

[Lead Snowstorm]

Another one of these oddities?

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1037/2301/two-us-springfield-trapdoor-rifles-with-bayonets

[Kragrifle]

But the breech block is what you need for an 1870 carbine!

[Lead Snowstorm]

But the breech block is what you need for an 1870 carbine!

Ahhhh...tune in next week for my can-it-be carbine episode......

:icon_lol: