SRS check and evaluate my new 1873 trapdoor carbine please

[usnmars]

I recently picked up a new trapdoor carbine and am in full blown trapdoor-itus. The serial number is 343377 and according to my research it was made in 1886. The only flaw that I can find is it has a rifle rear Buffington sight. The bore is a mirror, and hopefully tomorrow afternoon I will give a range report.






Thanks in advance for any replies,
Eric

[free1954]

looks good.

[raymeketa]

Looks like a nice, decent condition, carbine. However, your photos do not show any of the details necessary to evaluate all of the parts to see which, if any, are incorrect.

Ray

[usnmars]

Thanks for the responses, this is my first carbine so I am completely stoked. I am actually heading to the range in about 2 hours to shoot it. I brought it over to my smith who is a big trapdoor collector and he said without a doubt the rifle is an original carbine but the rear sight is wrong, he even gave me a carbine sight hood for free! What should I take pictures of, like I said I am a complete carbine noob. Thanks for everyones help

[Dick Hosmer]

Agreed, but a side from the rifle sight, all I see is a color mismatch on the block vs. receiver, and the apparent use of an early ring (and maybe bar). The muzzle/barrel taper looks good, and the stock profile - something frequently not done well by Bubba - appears perfectly OK to my eyes.

Carbines such as this in the later ranges are still more desirable than rifles, but are not faked with the frenzy that 1st models are.

[raymeketa]

I suppose it all depends on how nit-picky you are. If you are satisfied as it is, shoot it and have fun. If you want to confirm the correctness of all the parts you'll need close-up photos.

Barrel band
Hammer nose
Sling ring and Bar
Front sight
Markings on top rear of barrel
Breech block
Firing pin
Butt plate

1886 was the period of transition to the Model 84 Carbines. Stuff like that are important if you're a collector. Not so important if you simply want a nice representative carbine to show and shoot.

Ray