September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
Serial number is 41668, caliber is 45-70 govt., barrel length is 22". This is one of the nicer Custer era range 1873 trapdoor S.R.C.'s we have seen. We checked with Springfield research and could find no data on this gun, but 41767 went to the fifth cavalry. Standard features include 22" round blued barrel; long wrist walnut carbine stock; blued trigger guard, side plate, hammer, and buttplate; brilliant case colored block and frame; 1873 saddle ring carbine rear sight; rainbow fire blue on retaining spring. "U" stamped on barrel band. 75% original high polish factory blue on sideplate and hammer with some age freckling mixed with brown patina. Stamped "US Springfield" with eagle. 70% high polish blue on trigger guard with the balance patina and stamped "A". Left side of stock has original saddle ring and bar with 40% fire blue on screws. 60% high polish blue on buttplate. With trapdoor. Frame and block retains approximately 80% bright and vivid case colors, stamped "Model 1873" with eagle head, arrows and "US". Barrel band is patina. Has a proper small blade front sight. Barrel retains 75% original factory blue with some minor freckling and toning at muzzle. Most of the freckling is on the bottom of the barrel. Wood is excellent with no cracks or chips. Left side of stock has the "R.G.S" for R.G. Shortleff in oval with no date. Bottom of wrist has script "P" in a circle. There is a light indentation at fore end forward of band caused by removal. It has a first type second variation hammer with cross hatched thumb piece. Has the breach block configuration serial range No. 1-81,000. Fire blue on the left hinge pin. Action is like new. All screw heads are perfect. Strong rifled bore with some minor black powder abrasion. There are no visible proof marks stamped on barrel which is proper for any pre 65,000 number as they were proofed but not marked accordingly.