Photos of an original Springfield Model 1888

[Win 38-55]

Gents. At lunch today I was outside taking some fresh air on a very peaceful, overcast fall day when I noticed how nice the lichens looked on the cedar rail fence in the backyard, especially with a Dogwood in full fall flame. I figured it would be a nice place to take a picture of my old Springfield, so I went in and got my old rifle and the kids' camera. The rifle is an original Springfield Model 1888, with a cartouche date of 1891. It is in excellent shape and can put five, 500 grain cast bullets into a 1 & 1/4" group at 100 yards.

 

[Smokepole]

Nice! A good shooter too. Sounds like a keeper.
The fence looks good too!

 

[Andy]

Nice! Reminds me that hunting season is just around the corner.

A smoke pole resting against a fence pole, ready to use to hunt polecats? Now if you happened to be a Pole you'd have completed the circle.

 

[Alonzo]

Looks like Springfield #### to me!!!
It looks to be in awesome condition.
Love those old trapdoors, the background rocks!!!!!!
BTW...I have all four volumnes of the U.S. Martial arms serial number books.
If you would ike I can look the number up and see if it is listed. There are about
10 to 12,000 numbers listed indicating issue, etc.
Cheers

 

[Win 38-55]

Hey, that would be great! My serial number is 521526.

 

[jbunny]

my budy has one that he's thinking of selling alon with a colt 44 army. the
colt trigger guard is bent like it was use to bang noggins after it was out of bullets. jb

 

[Alonzo]

Hey, that would be great! My serial number is 521526.

I checked all four issues and your number does not show up. There appears to be a block of number 520,000 to 522,000 that are not accounted for. In my thirty years of Springfield collecting I have run into two guns in the book. One was an 1888 rod bayo model I bought for a friend...it was issued to the 71st New York Vol. Inf., the other was a Cadet model issued to the 8th Ga. Vol. Inf.
Sorry we couldn't get a hit for you there.
Cheers
Wes

 

[Win 38-55]

Thanks anyway, Alonzo. Apart from the usual cartouche, and 'US' stamped on the top of the buttplate, I don't see any other markings.

Jbunny, those are two fine old antiques your buddy has there!

 

[Musketfire]

I myself am restoring a 61 springfield, thats a nice one your friend has there!!

The 1860 army is a fine sidearm aswell!! Great set!


Mr win, your trap door is a interesting one aswell, Ive never had the pleasure to try one of those--Yet.