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1891-Dated Springfield Model 1888 Ramrod Bayonet Trapdoor Rifle in .45-70 Caliber ** Superb Condition 1st Yr. Production & SCARCE! **
Guns International #: 101234395 Seller's Inventory #: BP19-19
Category: Springfield Rifles - Trapdoor - Springfield Rifles - Antique
Seller's Information
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Seller: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Company: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Member Since: 4/27/15
State: Kentucky
Zip: 40503
Country: United States
Phone: (859) 276-1419
Fax: (859) 278-0838
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 179
Total Number of Listings: 14860
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Visa,Master Card, Discover,Check
Description:
This is a spectacular all-original and correct Springfield Model 1888 Ramrod Bayonet Trapdoor rifle in .45-70 caliber. It is as nice of an example as we have had here in many years. This example is serial number 528311, and was manufactured in 1891 making it a 1st fiscal year of production example and an antique today. It is un-messed with and 100% original, having recently been brought out of storage after 30 plus years. The Ramrod Bayonet Model 1888 Trapdoor Springfield was approved by the U.S. Government for manufacture on August 16, 1889 as a standard rather than experimental model. This made the Model 1888 the last .45 caliber shoulder arm to be regularly manufactured at Springfield Armory. It was also the last rifle of that caliber to be fitted with a ramrod bayonet attachment. The Model 1888 ramrod bayonet rifle reflected all of the changes and improvements made to the Trapdoor design including a 1-piece triggerguard and trigger bow, the fully-adjustable 1884 Buffington sight with a folding leaf that compensated for bullet drift automatically, and all the improvements to the Allin-system breech mechanism (Trapdoor). The sliding "ramrod" bayonet was round in cross section and measured 35 & 5/8ths inches in length. The lower end of the ramrod bayonet was threaded and left "soft", while the upper end was tempered to spring without bending. The rod bayonet had two sets of locking grooves milled into it's side to lock into either the extended or retracted position, and just below the tip of the bayonet it is knurled for gripping it. The tip of the ramrod bayonet is pointed with 3 oval shapes milled into the tip at an angle to form a 3-sided point similar in shape to a phillips head screwdriver minus one ridge. Manufacture of the Model 1888 was begun during the calendar year of 1890 with 24,361 rifles produced during the first fiscal year of 1891. Production continued in 1892 and 1893 with 26,000 and 14,261 rifles made respectively, for a grand total of 64,822 Model 1888's made. These rifles were issued to the regular U.S. Army and used up until the 1890's in action against the American Indian tribes. The Krag rifle would replace this model thus ending it's regular military use prior to the Spanish-American War. This exceptional Model 1888 Ramrod Trapdoor has beautiful gloss blue finish, bright case colors, beautiful wood with crisp cartouches, and an excellent bore. It truly is a collector-grade piece. The factory high-polish gloss blue finish rates a solid 90%. The deductions come from some scattered very minor speckling from prior surface rust, some minor scratches from handling/storage accrued over the many decades, and finish loss/wear on the buttplate. None of these deductions are major, and as you can see from the pictures, do very little to diminish the clean and beautiful look of the rifle. The bore in this Trapdoor is clean and in excellent condition. It is bright with nice strong rifling that still has sharp lands and grooves. The stock is simply beautiful on this Springfield. It is 100% solid with no cracks or repairs, and appears a very pleasing dark reddish-brown color from tip to butt. While there are a few minor dings and dents in the wood, there is no damage of note that takes away from the beautiful overall look of the original stock. The original U.S. inspectors cartouche on the left side of the stock above the triggerguard is clean and clearly visible. It is a boxed "SWP" over "1891", which are the initials and acceptance date for the U.S. master armorer/inspector, Master Machinist Samuel W. Porter. The keel of the stock is stamped with a circle "P" and a small "S" above it. The circle "P" is the final inspection mark signifying that this rifle had passed all of the tests required for military acceptance. The small "S" stamped above it is a sub-inspector's mark. Both of these cartouches are clear and crisp. Both of the barrel bands are in great shape, complete, and tight to the wood and gun. The sling swivels all move freely, and the swinging door in the buttplate is in perfect working order. There is an original Trapdoor tool stored in the butt compartment. All of the controls and the action on this Springfield work 100% like the day it left the factory in 1891. The action opens properly with ease and locks closed with no play. The hammer still has all three positions, and the triggr is quite good, breaking with a surprisingly light pull for a military rifle of this vintage. The Buffington sight is in perfect working order with all of the adjustments operational. The ramrod bayonet locking mechanism works perfectly, with lots and spring pressure and perfectly shaped locking lugs that match the rod bayonet. We have no doubt that you could take this Trapdoor to the range tomorrow and it would shoot just as perfectly as it did the day it left Springfield Armory. If you have been looking for one of these scarce models here is your chance to great a great one. Very seldom do we see one of these Ramrod Bayonet models in any condition, much less all-original and as beautiful as this one. This Springfield Model 1888 Ramrod Bayonet Trapdoor would be an excellent addition to any U.S. Military arms collection, and should be an superb long-term investment. This rifle can be shipped right to your door due to the antique classification.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Springfield
Model: Model 1888 Ramrod Bayonet Trapdoor Rifle
Serial Number: 528311
Caliber Info: .45-70 Caliber
Bore: Excellent
Condition: Excellent
Manufacture Date: 1891