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OUTSTANDING "FRONTIER/POSSIBLE NATIVE AMERICAN" USED SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1866 .50-70 TRAPDOOR RIFLE
Guns International #: 102017296 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Springfield Rifles - Trapdoor - Antique Rifles - Cartridge
Seller's Information
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Seller: goodmanguns
Company: William T. Goodman
Member Since: 10/16/15
First Name: William
Last Name: Goodman
State: Montana
Zip: 59715
Country: United States
Phone: (406) 587-3131
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 53
Total Number of Listings: 3285
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: checks, cashiers/bank check, money order
Description:
ONE OF THE BEST "FRONTIER/POSSIBLE NATIVE AMERICAN" USED SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1866 .50-70 TRAPDOOR RIFLES I'VE SEEN. One has to be very careful when acquiring "Indian/frontier" guns as many are simply (and obviously) junker guns phoneyed-up with rawhide coverings, wood carvings and brass tacks etc. This example has NO tacks, rawhide or carvings in the wood- that alone is the first observation to eliminate a lot of red flags. This rifle has had the original 40" barrel (36 5/8" to the breech) shortened to just under 30" and the stock, which originally had three barrel bands, shortened with two barrel bands. A new simple front sight was added and the original delicate military ladder portion of the rear sight was removed with the base intact and a non adjustable buckhorn sight added to the base. Sling swivels have been removed also. Now, here's an interesting observation most people would miss. There is a small screw hole in the stock just below the lock plate. This was a fairly common occurrence on single shot rifles with single military triggers. A screw was inserted to put pressure on the mechanics to lighten the trigger pull. I have seen this on many frontier altered rifles and interestingly, the screw is almost always removed leaving a small empty hole. Next, the wood shows "weathering" as one would see on a fence rail after it has been exposed to the elements for a while. This is really hard to fake. Then there is the wear to the stock. When wood is sanded to show fake wear, the wood is smooth and it is difficult to get a weathered appearance on top of that. This rifle was obviously carried over a saddle for many, many miles! The forend behind the rear barrel band SHOULD BE solid and fairly thick to cover the cleaning rod channel, but on this one the wood ahead of the trigger guard is worn all the way in to expose the cleaning rod channel! This really takes a lot of hard use and wear to produce! The rest of the forend is also very heavily worn and looks "swelled" under the barrel bands where the wood is protected- another aspect you want to observe on original frontier worn rifles. The wood of the forend against the barrel is also worn and very thin...and weathered at the same time. The overall metal surfaces are a smooth gray/brown and if the metal was ever cleaned or lock parts replaced, which is possible, it was done a long time ago. The bore is surprisingly fine showing that this rifle was cared for. The breech is marked "1866" etc. and the butt plate has the U.S. stamping. The lock is correctly Springfield marked with the 1864 date. So, after all that, here's the history of this one: It was originally a Civil War .58 caliber rifle. After service in the Civil War it was returned to Springfield for conversion to .50-70 cartridge by lining the barrel to .50 caliber and cutting/adding a Trapdoor breech block with the hammer replaced/altered to strike a firing pin instead of a percussion cap. Next these rifles were re-issued for the Indian Wars and used extensively until replaced with later Models 1873/1877/1879 .45-70 Trapdoor Springfields. Many of these now-surplus .50-70 Trapdoors were actually provided to settlers in the West by forts or sold as surplus. Loads of these were used in the great buffalo hunts of the 1870s. In fact, Buffalo Bill Cody used a .50-70 Trapdoor for much of his hunting. Because the sights were altered and the trigger "set screw" added, I believe this rifle was bought and used by a frontiersman. The question now is, did he eventually sell or trade it to an Indian? Or, was he killed and the rifle came to Indian ownership as a captured rifle? This much wear to the wood usually indicates Indian usage, but that is speculation. This rifle showed up here at a small Montana gun show. The previous owner didn't seem to know much about it or act as if it was anything special beyond being a worn, old Trapdoor- another good sign that it hasn't been faked and represented as an "Indian Gun." It is hard to put a price on these. Lately I've seen a few of these that were in a major Montana collection go for very high prices at . I'm pricing this one at $2750 which is significantly less than comparable examples brought at . You can't have more history in a single rifle than this one! (5 photos that don't do it justice. You have to hold this one to "feel" the history in it.)
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .50-70 Government
Manufacturer: SPRINGFIELD
Model: 1866
Barrel Length: 30
Bore Condition: FINE