GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR SADDLE RING CARBINE.SPRINGFIELD18734133145-70Cal. 45-70. Standard trapdoor carbine with 22" rnd bbl, square base front sight and 1200 yard ladder rear sight. Breechblock and lockplate both have standard 1873 markings. Buttplate is orig 1873 style without trapdoor and has the initials "HL" connected crudely hammered into the tang with a pointed instrument. Mounted in a 1-pc walnut half stock with single band that has stacking swivel and sling bar and ring in left side with 2-pc trigger guard. Left side of wrist has a faint SWP cartouche with partially visible date that appears to be "1882". Bottom of stock has the "P" in the circle stock proof. This carbine falls within the range of serial numbers issued to Custer''s 7th Cavalry between 1874 and 1876, probably in the period November 1874 through March 1875. The 7th Cavalry received another small shipment of carbines in January of 1876, however the serial range of that shipment is not known. Given that this carbine has the upgraded stock with cleaning rod and tool recesses under the buttplate, it stands to reason that this stock was a field replacement utilizing the orig 1873 buttplate. Regardless of whether this carbine was at the Little Big Horn with Custer, one can assume with almost certainty that it was issued to a front line Cavalry unit and participated in the Indian wars on the frontier. CONDITION: Very good to fine. No orig finish remains, with the metal being a silvery brown patina with a few light nicks & scratches. Stock has a few nicks & gouges and overall shows a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore. 49464-1 JR (5,000-50,000)