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Thanks for the photos Kragrifle. I would have to agree with Dick about the wood past the upper band, one is longer than the other. Seems that the cleaning rods are different lengths as well due to the location of the swelled area. Looks like one is higher than the other. They are nicer looking than the one on collectors who by the way has not responded to my questions as of yet.
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Thanks to a gentleman's tip a few years back I am ahead with Collectors - they let an 1870 Trials rifle (rear sight tight to SHORT receiver, like the carbine) slip through their fingers for the price of a standard one. Condition's not the greatest but they are VERY scarce.Last edited by Dick Hosmer; 12-31-2018, 06:19.Comment
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Kragrifle, Can you comment on the apparent length differences of the forestock in front of the band? Are the barrels the same length with the same type crown?Comment
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Muskets, barrels and cleaning rods are all the same length. Both front barrel bands are identical. The bright musket confirms exactly to the description by Joe DeChristopher in his early catalog. The inspector cartouches of both Porter and Allin on this musket, as well as the overall workmanship convince me this is a Springfield creation. As to the blued version, the workmanship is equally as good (note the front band and filled in band spring slot). The lock plate on this musket is dated 1862, where the bright musket is dated 1865 (first Allin)-significance?
I once had an 1868 TD that was blued. Was this a cleaned and repaired musket? Was bluing used for later guns as the 45 cal rifles were being produced?
As for the different band spacing-I have no idea. In fact, this is the first time I ever laid these muskets side by side.Comment
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I guess the next thing for those of us who own such guns to do is to report their band spacing dimension(s) - with the assumption that the lower band is cast in stone.Comment
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Do I see a third book in the works?Comment
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I'm not sure. I'm pretty happy with "More" and it is essentially "complete enough" though with electronic printing I can certainly add small updates as needed.
My current project (2020?) is to revise and update "58/50" to electronic format AND make it a perfect match (size, font, layout, etc.) with "More". I've accumulated some new material on the 68/68s, and a couple of guns for which I originally had to beg photos.
Beyond that, I'm just not sure. Age, health, and other issues could play a part. I MAY (having recently come into posession of a huge un-published manuscript and massive serial number archive) attempt to CO-author (if the legalities can be worked out) a book on the "common" models - again in matching format to the other two, just to round out the trilogy as it were, though that horse has been flogged a-plenty, and the audience is definitely shrinking. Of course, no one makes any money at this, it's just "fun" and the work keeps you young.Comment
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Indeed!Comment
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Just picked up another one of these muskets. Band spacing is the same as the shortest distance from muzzle to band. This new one even has the threaded tip cleaning rod. Photos to follow in a few days.Comment
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Will look forward to seeing them. The guns are a bit of a puzzle - that's for sure. Al says they are NOT an original SA build, and he may well be right. The thinned ones with middle band left in position are DEFINITELY bogus (as well as just being butt-ugly) but the tweeners are not - IMHO - yet settled for sure.
When I thin down (soon) I'll be keeping my two-bander as my 1st Allin example, and selling my 3-bander (which is a restoration, and will be priced accordingly).Comment
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The thing that is still a puzzle is the slightly longer nose on one of the two muskets posted earlier. This musket has the shorter nose which happens to be the length on the standard three band muskets. The sighting groove is the same on all three muskets and is the same groove on my three band first Allin. All three of these muskets are well done with original proportioned wrists and flats on the stocks. I hesitate to differ with Al, but my take is that these are Springfield produced muskets along the lines of the two band Second Allins likely altered to more closely approximate the contemporary 45/70 trapdoors.
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Just noticed the slight difference in the sight notch! Will pull these muskets out and compare again.Comment
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