FINE EARLY CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR SADDLE RING CARBINE.

FINE EARLY CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR SADDLE RING CARBINE. SN 40497. Cal. 45-70. Standard early carbine with 22″ tapered rnd bbl, sharp shooter hooded front sight, 1,200 yard ladder rear sight with “1873” marked high arch breech block & lockplate. Breech block & lockplate have usual markings. Mounted in an orig 1-pc 1873 stock with single band having a stacking swivel and made without trap in the carbine buttplate and also without a hole under the buttplate. Left side of stock has a sling bar, missing its ring and a legible “ESA” cartouche in an oval. Stock is mounted with 2-pc trigger guard and has a sheet metal grip cap. It has a large “P” proof below tang and a smaller “L” proof. Buttplate tang has usual “US” marking with rack number “18” stamped over a painted number which appears to be “119” or possibly “H9”. According to The .45-70 Springfield Book II 1865-1893, Frasca, the 7th Cavalry under Custer received about 250 of these carbines in July 1874 in the serial ranges of 16,000-22,000. Then in November of 1874 through March of 1875 the 7th Cavalry received one or more shipments of carbines between the serial ranges 32,000 & 45,000. There was another small shipment in January 1876 but it is not known if any went to the 7th. This breech block appears to be a late Type II with a late, small head firing pin & a Type III thumb piece. Accompanied by an orig brown leather Rock Island Arsenal carbine boot with orig straps, appears to be complete. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains 30-40% thin orig blue, mostly in sheltered areas with balance a smooth brown patina with scattered light surface rust. Breech block retains about 75-80% dark case colors on top & about all of its very dark case colors inside. Top tang is dark case colors. Lockplate retains about 60% dull orig finish. Trigger guard retains about 30% thin blue and buttplate a medium patina. Stock is sound with light nicks & dings and retains generous amounts of orig oil finish mixed with hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Saddle boot is all original with a dry & crackled surface in need of treatment and overall, with its straps, retains about 75% orig brown finish. If the painted rack number on heel could be shown to be “H9” that could place this carbine at The Little Big Horn in Troop H under Capt. Benteen. 4-33452 JR508 (3,000-5,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2556	$5,175.00	FINE EARLY CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR SADDLE RING CARBINE. SN 40497. Cal. 45-70. Standard early carbine with 22″ tapered rnd bbl, sharp shooter hooded front sight, 1,200 yard ladder rear sight with “1873” marked high arch breech block & lockplate. Breech block & lockplate have usual markings. Mounted in an orig 1-pc 1873 stock with single band having a stacking swivel and made without trap in the carbine buttplate and also without a hole under the buttplate. Left side of stock has a sling bar, missing its ring and a legible “ESA” cartouche in an oval. Stock is mounted with 2-pc trigger guard and has a sheet metal grip cap. It has a large “P” proof below tang and a smaller “L” proof. Buttplate tang has usual “US” marking with rack number “18” stamped over a painted number which appears to be “119” or possibly “H9”. According to The .45-70 Springfield Book II 1865-1893, Frasca, the 7th Cavalry under Custer received about 250 of these carbines in July 1874 in the serial ranges of 16,000-22,000. Then in November of 1874 through March of 1875 the 7th Cavalry received one or more shipments of carbines between the serial ranges 32,000 & 45,000. There was another small shipment in January 1876 but it is not known if any went to the 7th. This breech block appears to be a late Type II with a late, small head firing pin & a Type III thumb piece. Accompanied by an orig brown leather Rock Island Arsenal carbine boot with orig straps, appears to be complete. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains 30-40% thin orig blue, mostly in sheltered areas with balance a smooth brown patina with scattered light surface rust. Breech block retains about 75-80% dark case colors on top & about all of its very dark case colors inside. Top tang is dark case colors. Lockplate retains about 60% dull orig finish. Trigger guard retains about 30% thin blue and buttplate a medium patina. Stock is sound with light nicks & dings and retains generous amounts of orig oil finish mixed with hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Saddle boot is all original with a dry & crackled surface in need of treatment and overall, with its straps, retains about 75% orig brown finish. If the painted rack number on heel could be shown to be “H9” that could place this carbine at The Little Big Horn in Troop H under Capt. Benteen. 4-33452 JR508 (3,000-5,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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