So this past week I had the chance to take a look at a original 1863 springfield trap door rifle. The serial number is in the low 20K, there are military? markings on the trapdoor which look like a eagle with crossed sabres or swords. It is marked 1870 on the door but 1863 on the side plate. On the butt plate it is stamped on top US. There are 2 very faint cartouches/stampings on the left side of the stock which I believe one may be a armourers marking and the other may be the stamping of what I believe is from the conversion. The rear sight is a flip up style. Both barrel bands are there but missing the ramrod which the owner is looking for right now as they believe they have it. Left side lock has Springfield on it with what appears to be a eagle.
Now, from my reading up on these I believe that it was rebarreled to 50-70 after the civil war and not redone to .58 rimfire. The firing pin is in the center of the trapdoor and not at the outside edge. From further reading, would it be correct to think that it may be a civil war or american indian war rifle? The owner did have family in the states at about that time period and they are researching family history to see if anyone happened to be in the military at that time. The owner wants to clean it up but I am apprehensive about it in case of, oh say lifting the side plate out ends up lifting wood with it. Or even if the tang ends up lifting wood or cracking it. So I am asking the experts in here as I have no experience with this type of rifle as to what to do. Normally I would say give it a go,but something in my skull says dont do it as its a history piece. Whats the experts opinion? I can get pics of it but might take me a day or two.
Now, from my reading up on these I believe that it was rebarreled to 50-70 after the civil war and not redone to .58 rimfire. The firing pin is in the center of the trapdoor and not at the outside edge. From further reading, would it be correct to think that it may be a civil war or american indian war rifle? The owner did have family in the states at about that time period and they are researching family history to see if anyone happened to be in the military at that time. The owner wants to clean it up but I am apprehensive about it in case of, oh say lifting the side plate out ends up lifting wood with it. Or even if the tang ends up lifting wood or cracking it. So I am asking the experts in here as I have no experience with this type of rifle as to what to do. Normally I would say give it a go,but something in my skull says dont do it as its a history piece. Whats the experts opinion? I can get pics of it but might take me a day or two.
