Trapdoor Rifles

I know, it's a stupid question when I don't have pictures or know what I'm talking about.
LGS took in a Springfield trapdoor long rifle. It's in fantastic condition with a near mint bore.
Has the bayonet and scabbard, with the brass hanger, for hanging it on your belt. Along with the leather ammo pouch.
Has all the cartouches and US markings. He has no idea on value. Any help at all is appreciated.

At least 1.00. But to be sure go to one of the online arms selling sites Gun Broker or Guns International and look at rifles that seem to be close to the one you saw. The bayonet and pouch add around 200.00 to the value. Hope this helps.
If you are serious about buying it see if you can take pictures and post them here.

Bitman wrote: ↑Sat Oct 14, 2023 9:15 pm . . . .
Has all the cartouches and US markings. He has no idea on value. Any help at all is appreciated.

You can go to Al’s old website and look at the classifieds which show many pictures of TD’s he had for sale . . . .

Compare his pictures to what you saw.

Do you have a link to Al's old website?

By ALL means DO check the sites mentioned, thoroughly, but I'm not exactly clear what is afoot here. Are you just trying to help the LGS, or do you actually have an interest in acquiring the rifle? If the former, he can check out values too, but you should do your homework because he will likely err on the side of asking too much. FWIW, I'd think that a nice bayonet and scabbard, and a nice pouch would add quite a bit more than $200, based on what I've seen at shows. Good luck, and if you can post photos, we should be able to refine our input.

I have learned over the years that "fantastic condition with near mint bore" can mean many different things.
Anything from screaming case colors, nary a scratch or bright spot on the finish, and totally unblemished wood, from a discerning and experienced specialist (like our founder, Al Frasca), down to a smooth brown patina with lots of scrapes, scars, dings and blemishes and maybe even a crack at the wrist, and a bore that is a lot less than mirror bright and sharp. "But, it's 150 years old, and pretty good for its age...."

In my opinion a nice, but not screaming good trapdoor with no known history, is probably about $750-1000 retail as a minimum. Nice, but not minty bayonets ans scabbards are found in the $100-150 range these days, and McKeever boxes maybe $50-75 but with very weak demand.

A total screamer condition trapdoor is probably more like $1500-1800, but demand for trapdoors is weak at higher price points, although the right people with good taste will pay, but there are fewer people looking for these now.

Anyway, that is my sense of the market.

John S. wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 3:30 pm I have learned over the years that "fantastic condition with near mint bore" can mean many different things.
Anything from screaming case colors, nary a scratch or bright spot on the finish, and totally unblemished wood, from a discerning and experienced specialist (like our founder, Al Frasca), down to a smooth brown patina with lots of scrapes, scars, dings and blemishes and maybe even a crack at the wrist, and a bore that is a lot less than mirror bright and sharp. "But, it's 150 years old, and pretty good for its age...."

Don't forget the wire-wheeled, sanded to oblivion, completely-blued-including-the-block gun that "looks brand new!!"

From what I seen at the Allentown show yesterday prices were between 750.00 to 1400.00. All but the higher priced TD were well used with poor bores and above average handling marks.
I took one of my 1889 cartouched TD's in very good condition. I had seen a couple at the last show in the same condition as mine priced at 1800.00 to 2100.00, neither were present at yesterday's show.
Figured I'd ask 1300.00 for mine but apparently they are worth more on the table than off
I brought it back home with me.
Here are some pictures of the rifle I couldn't get even 1200.00 for.

Some more

Not sure why my photos transfer blurry??