Dick Hosmer

[JBinIll]

This popped up on an antique gun page on FaceBook.


50/70 (SEC 58/2) SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR CARBINE 1870'S
£2,950 — Ashover, Derbyshire
SCARCE CARBINE, SOME WERE DONE FOR TRIALS EARLY 1870, SOME WERE DONE LATER , NONE HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS ,WHICH IS CORRECT! THIS IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION , WITH SADDLE BAR AND RING TO LEFT SIDE, AND CARTOUCHE TO STOCK, BORE IS EXCELLENT , TRULY A SCARCE ITEM FOR THE INDIAN WARS/ WESTERN COLLECTOR, OVER 18 U.K SALE ONLY.

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[Dick Hosmer]

Thanks for the heads-up. Interesting gun, but may be a mix of good parts with later add-ons, or an out-right fake. Would be very hard to tell without seeing it. The trials guns were the very first Model 1870s made, and have some unique features.

(1) Block should not have word "Model"
(2) Rear sight (cannot tell if it is carbine or rifle - which I suspect) should be tight to the receiver
(3) Stock tip appears a bit "off"
(4) The post-1883 .45-70 trigger is a REAL problem - no way that was done by SA
(5) Front sight looks a bit on the small side?

For $5400 give or take, I'd probably pass.