And yet another 1868 dated 1868 Springfield...

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[QUOTE=Fred;482710]

This is The Money Shot as Dick Culver has called it. I like that term.
In this photo, both the date of maufacture and the serial number can be seen.
Both key features in identifying these early 1868's.

[Dick Hosmer]

Interesting that there is virtually NO extractor impact wear on the block. Ditto with my 62 - evidently they led a sheltered life before being put away after testing. Not really surprising at all with yours, being "not standard", but mine should have been fully ready for issue, yet for some reason it apparently was not.

[Fred]

I wonder if the whole batch of surviving rifles (After the trial tests) were just put into storage until the early Bannerman days when Springfield just auctioned them off.

[Fred]

So Dick, have you cleaned that barrel yet as you'd been considering?

[Fred]

You might even consider using Acetone and Bronze Wool.

[Fred]

The only stamps or marks on the barrel or receiver are the two 6's and a number 1 on the breech plug.

[Fred]

[Fred]

The Cleaning Rod Stop is finished in the white. I'll have to remove the band spring and then the stop to see if there is any patent date on it.
This stop probably predates a Patent number though.

I couldn't get the stop to come out because it's in there pretty tight. I'll try again later.

[Fred]

Well gosh! I've just noticed that the Cleaning Rod on rifle number 6 is significantly Thicker then the Cleaning Rod on rifle number 127.