NJ markded Trapdoor receiver?

[M1Garandy]

I ran across a rough looking Trapdoor today. Missing rear sight, active rust, frozen firing pin, etc.

It was marked NJ on the left side of the receiver. Any thoughts on the origin of the markings?

Thanks.

[Dick Hosmer]

Once owned by the State of New Jersey. They marked a LOT of their "militia" stuff - most other users did not.

[M1Garandy]

Thanks Dick. I'd imagine that on a piece this rough it does not add anything to the value.

If this was a nice piece, do militia markings generally detract from or increase the value?

[Dick Hosmer]

I think that's kind of a personal choice sort of thing - some of them are tastefully done, others not so much. I have never bought a rifle specifically for its' militia markings. The most commonly marked rifles, in my experience, seem to be the M1888 rod-bayonets, followed by cadets in general. My 1888 is clean, several of my cadets have "extra" markings.

[John Sukey]

Usualy New Jersey rifles are in excellent condition since they remained in the armory. Somebody got that rifle and badly mistreated it!