98,xxx Trapdoor with an 1889 Cartouche?

[PRC148]

I'm looking at a nice Trapdoor rifle with the following parts (sorry, my books aren't handy right now):
98,xxxx s/n - 1878 assembly
grooved trigger with check pad
SWP 1889 cartouch in correct place
1884 long range sight
Ramrod, no rod bayonet
1884 Breech block
all wear patterns match, stock is near mint and the block/tang have strong flashes of case hardening.

Mr. Frasca once stated that remaining parts were assembled to produce some 1888 rod bayonet rifles but I've yet to see any documentation supporting the assembly into an 1884.

Could this be an arsenal rebuild? A parts gun built and sold commercially? or a restoration?
Any help would be appreciated.

[Tom Trevor]

I believe they were done the way you saw the rifle, a friend bought a minty 1889 dated rifle some years ago and its serial number was in the 101000 range and we thought it odd but condition was even throughout.

[Dick Hosmer]

Any receiver above 96300 would have been considered physically acceptable for use on a "late-model" rifle, by the SA shops.

That is certainly NOT "tidy" for those of us - myself included - who are wont to obsess over such irregularities, but we have to stand in their shoes. Such an arm might be slightly less desirable to a purist, but that certainly doesn't automatically make it "wrong".

[PRC148]

Thank you for the insight. No boogered up screws or mismatched wear patterns. An overall beautiful rifle. I'll see if I can get an SRS check on the S/N.

[Dick Hosmer]

Due to the small number of surviving records, the odds are not good, but post the number and I'll look it up for you.

[PRC148]

Due to the small number of surviving records, the odds are not good, but post the number and I'll look it up for you.

PM Sent

[Dick Hosmer]

Received. Sorry, no cigar - yours falls between 98767 (donated to US Navy in 1943) and 98826 (simply noted as an 84R, surely due to sight installed at time of logging).