Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Cavalry Carbine chambered in .45-70 Government, serial number 126882, manufactured in approximately April 1880. It retains the defining features collectors look for in an original cavalry carbine, including its saddle ring and sliding bar, carbine marked Model 1879 rear sight, single U marked barrel band, U.S. marked buttplate, partial SWP inspection cartouche, and Springfield lock markings. The carbine has a pleasing service worn appearance with a plum brown metal patina, an attractive red brown walnut stock, a functional action, and a mostly bright bore with clearly defined rifling.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Springfield Trapdoor Carbine is one of the most recognizable American military firearms of the Indian Wars period. Earlier .45-70 carbines of this general pattern were carried by U.S. cavalry units across the Western frontier, including the 7th Cavalry during the 1876 Little Bighorn campaign. This particular example was manufactured later, in 1880, and represents the continued development and service of the Springfield Trapdoor system during the closing decades of the frontier era.

The breech block is marked:

U.S.
MODEL
1873

The serial number is:

126882

Springfield Armory production records place this serial number shortly after the end of the first quarter of 1880, most likely in April.

The carbine retains its original saddle ring and sliding bar on the wearer’s left side of the stock. This arrangement allowed a mounted trooper to secure the carbine to a sling while keeping it readily accessible from the saddle. Both the ring and bar remain intact and give the arm the distinctive configuration associated with U.S. cavalry carbines of the period.

The lock plate is marked with a Federal eagle and:

U.S.
SPRINGFIELD

The lock was manufactured at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield, Massachusetts. The mechanism functions correctly, holding at half cock and releasing properly from full cock.

The stock retains a partial script inspection cartouche:

SWP

This is the inspection mark of Samuel W. Porter, who served as Master Armorer and Chief Inspector at Springfield Armory beginning in 1879. The date beneath the initials is no longer legible due to wear.

A faint stylized:

P

within a circle is visible beneath the wrist. This is the standard firing proof associated with completed Springfield arms that had passed acceptance testing.

The one piece walnut stock has an attractive aged red brown color and remains in very good overall condition. It shows the expected dents, dings, and handling wear from service but no structural cracks or other major damage. Much of the wear is concentrated along the left side of the buttstock, which may be consistent with repeated contact during mounted use, although the exact cause cannot be established.

The stock is in the earlier carbine configuration without a buttstock cleaning rod storage compartment. It is correctly proportioned for a carbine and is not a shortened rifle stock. The wood remains somewhat proud of the lock plate, indicating that it has not been heavily sanded or excessively worn down.

The bore is in good condition and remains mostly bright with clearly defined lands and grooves, though the rifling does show wear. Some fouling and oxidation are present near the chamber, but overall the bore remains better than is often encountered on service used black powder carbines.

The breech block opens and closes correctly and locks when returned to battery. The firing pin remains intact and moves freely. The extractor is present and appears functional, as does the ejector, although neither has been tested with live or empty cartridge cases.

The buttplate is marked:

U.S.

The single front barrel band is marked:

U

The barrel and receiver have developed an attractive plum brown patina from age, use, and past cleaning, with no evidence of major deep oxidation. The lock, hammer, trigger guard, barrel band, and other fittings show somewhat greater wear and have developed a peppered light gray patina.

The breech end of the barrel retains several inspection and proof marks on the left side above the stock:

V
P
Eagle Head
P

The carbine retains its Model 1879 rear ladder sight, although the slider is missing. The upper right corner of the sight leaf and the left side of the ramp are both marked:

C

identifying the sight as graduated for a carbine rather than a full length rifle. The sight leaf pivots upward correctly, but without the slider the sight is incomplete and not fully functional.

The Springfield Trapdoor system originated in the years following the Civil War as the U.S. Army transitioned from muzzle loading percussion arms to metallic cartridge breechloaders. Developed under the direction of Erskine S. Allin at Springfield Armory, the hinged breechblock opened upward like a trapdoor, allowing a metallic cartridge to be inserted directly into the chamber.

The .45 caliber Model 1873 represented the first newly manufactured Springfield Trapdoor series chambered for the .45-70 Government cartridge. Carbine ammunition was generally loaded more lightly than rifle ammunition to reduce recoil in the shorter and lighter cavalry arm. Trapdoor rifles and carbines remained in production with progressive improvements through the early 1890s and saw extensive service throughout the Indian Wars period and into the Spanish-American War era.

With its April 1880 production date, serial number 126882, intact saddle ring and bar, carbine marked Model 1879 rear sight, partial SWP cartouche, Springfield lock markings, early style carbine stock, functional action, and mostly bright bore, this is a strong example of a classic U.S. cavalry Trapdoor. The missing rear sight slider, worn stock surfaces, concentrated buttstock wear, faint proof and inspection markings, plum brown and gray metal patina, worn rifling, and chamber area fouling and oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an Indian Wars, U.S. cavalry, Springfield Armory, Western frontier, or advanced American martial arms collection.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1880
Maker: United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield
Model: 1873 Trapdoor Carbine
Caliber: .45-70 Government
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 22 Inches
Overall Length: 41 Inches
Action type: Hinged Breechblock with side action lock.
Feed System: Single Shot
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

NOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are no able to ship to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.