The "1870" Cadet - fact or fiction?

[Dick Hosmer]

Or, In other words, an 1869 Cadet having the short receiver.

One of the "old-timers" from Al's board (MIGHT have been the late Bill Rutter, or possibly Cy Bird?) felt pretty strongly that such an animal was real, and VERY rare (like 20 or so) and even provided pictures, of which I have copies. Anyone want to 'fess up? I'd much rather have a name than credit "from a private collection".

Reason I ask is that I am FINALLY getting seriously into re-doing the .58/.50 book to perfectly match my other one as to size, font, layout, and, above all to be in electronic "print on demand" form. Am hoping to have it avaialble by summer, and I definitely want to at least mention that gun. HOW I mention it may well depend on any answer(s) to this query . . .

Thanks in advance!

[Tony Beck]

Dick, Al had one on his website several years ago that fit the expected configuration. I saved the listing and photos, and will send it to you, but it will take some digging through my backups. Might not happen right away.

[Dick Hosmer]

Great, thanks Tony.

[Fred Gaarde]

Wow, thanks Tony!

[Tony Beck]

Dick, did that 1870 Cadet info make it to your in box?

[carlsr]

Dick, did that 1870 Cadet info make it to your in box?

Tony, if you have pictures of the 1870 cadet could you please post them here?
I'm sure there are others here as myself that would enjoy seeing them. Thanks..

[Dick Hosmer]

Dick, did that 1870 Cadet info make it to your in box?

Sorry all - ignore previous note - they DID come via email - for some dumb reason i did not take note of the fact that your "I found them" memo contained attachments. Great pics, probably good enough quality for book. I think they are different from the ones I had from long ago - will have to compare them. In any event, I now have what I need to include that model in the revised edition. Many thanks!

[BillF]

Here is the text from one Al had listed and after discussion with him I bought. This is from about 5 years ago. I saved the pictures as a pdf and I have no tool to change it so I can post the pictures here. I am recovering from the covid so may be slow to do follow ups.

"Model 1870 Cadet Rifle
It has been discussed for many years as to the existence of the M70 Cadet Rifle. In my many years of researching, this is the third one that I have found that seems to fit the bill. M69 cadet rifles were produced using new stocks, and they are missing the spoon and the cut in the stock for the spoon. Also, the M69 cadet rifle has the ski slope cut on the left rear of the receiver. They also have the M69 cadet rod and M70 rear sight. This rifle has all of the above features and is not cartouched. At first, that was disturbing, but in 1876, twenty M70 Cadet rifles were produced. Why twenty?? and why 1876?? They are two very good questions. There seems to be no paper trail on the guns, nor any details of their production. This M70 cadet has the circle P firing proof which it was finished in 1873 or later. Also, the flat is missing the ESA cartouche. It has all the M70 features, except it has an M69 rod rather than an M70 rod. I believe it to be one of the twenty produced in 1876. It is not uncommon to find early guns refurbished in the mid to late 1870's without new cartouches, so that is nothing new. The bore in the rifle has very deep rifling for a 50-70 and there is a little crude in one rifling groove. The lands are minty ."

I did do this screen shot.

[Tony Beck]

Great news Dick. Glad that helped.

I don't mind posting the pictures, and the write-up, as long as there's no copyright issue, since they did come from Al's site. Could the moderators chime in here?

[John S.]

Tony- Anything from "Al's site" is fine here, as it is the same site. It wold be good to note the source "Courtesy Al Frasca."