Trapdoor Springfield

[tiriaq]

Picked up a sporterized 1873 Springfield today. Actually it is a professionally made Springfield based sporting rifle. Not a chop job. It has an 1873 action with two notch tumbler and high arch breech block. Can't make out the serial number. Marked Springfield 1873.
The stock is a professionally altered issue stock. It has a butt trap. There is a black inlay at the tip of the forend as often seen on 19th century sporting rifles. A slender inlay fills the band spring slot. The forend tip is a mild schable. Wrap around checkering at the wrist, two panels on the forend. Whoever cut the checkering was really good. I cannot tell if the stock was ever set up for a rod. I don't think so; could be a carbine stock.
It has been rebarrelled with a 1" at the breech, tapering to 15/16" at the muzzle, 30" octagon barrel. Top flat is stamped .40/65. Haven't investigated the chamber yet to see if it is the Winchester or Sharps cartridge. Silver blade front sight, rear sight dovetail is empty. Have not scoured out the bore yet. I really hope it is a shooter. If the bore is beyond hope, a rebore to .45-70 would be in order.
This is not an Officers Model.
Years ago, someone thoughtfully varnished the rifle stem to stern. Stripping this off, and cleaning the bore will be the priorities. Basically it should clean to good to very good antique condition.
Yes, I know this thread is useless without pictures. With my dialup service it is painful to try to post them. It will be a couple of days before I can take some photos. If anyone would like to see them, pm your email address, and I will send them. I would appreciate opinions about this rifle.

 

[mooncoon]

Yes, I know this thread is useless without pictures. With my dialup service it is painful to try to post them. It will be a couple of days before I can take some photos. If anyone would like to see them, pm your email address, and I will send them. I would appreciate opinions about this rifle.

Please send some to me; I am curious. I have one that I rebarreled to 38-55 that is fun to shoot plus no recoil. I had a second hand barrel that I realized was the same contour as the original 45-70 barrel plus an action with no barrel plus a chopped gun that did not shoot worth a damn.
Your pics might give me some ideas to dress up my chopped stock.

cheers mooncoon

 

[tiriaq]

Will do.
I started cleaning the barrel, its going to be a shooter. Some pitting, but not a stovepipe.
Bottom of the barrel is stamped "410" (4 is upside down), I assume that this is the calibre, and "5". The weight?
Edit - Based on recent inspection, it looks to be .40-65 Sharps.
Could not find a "Freund", "Gove" or anything interesting. The rear sight dovetail preliminary cut was done with a mill. The ejector cut is very well done, the barrel looks to be well fitted. Not a shade tree gunsmith job.

 

[green]

Tiriaq is this one of the Meecham conversions? In the 1883 EC Meacham catalogue a sporting Springfield is shown in 40-65 cal.IIRC they were made with barrels from the bankrupt Sharps Co and is in 40-65 Sharps straight. A similar arm in 40-65 is shown in the Hartley and Graham catalogue 1885. Info from "The 45-70 Springfield" Frasca andHill.

 

[billybob]

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[tiriaq]

Tiriaq is this one of the Meecham conversions? In the 1883 EC Meacham catalogue a sporting Springfield is shown in 40-65 cal.IIRC they were made with barrels from the bankrupt Sharps Co and is in 40-65 Sharps straight. A similar arm in 40-65 is shown in the Hartley and Graham catalogue 1885. Info from "The 45-70 Springfield" Frasca andHill.

According to Donnelly, .40-65 Sharps Straight can be made from .30-40 Krag cases, with rim turned to .533. A .303 British rim is about .540. I will investigate further and post my observations. I do think that the rifle was commercially assembled, in a serious shop.
Had time to study the rifle in greater detail, and based on experimentation with a .303 British case, the chamber is not cut for .40-65 Winchester; pretty sure now that it is .40-65 Sharps. Cases formed from .30-40 Krag would be about 1/4" short, but would be workable.

 

[tiriaq]

In addition to .30-40 brass being an option, it appears that .405 Basic or 7x65R cases could be adapted.

Tore the rifle right down this afternoon, for a serious cleaning.
The 410 on the bottom of the barrel has nothing to do with the groove diameter - it is a serial number. The original 1873 rifle's serial, as stamped on the tang is 5410. That does make it a really early 1973.