Trapdoor Rifles

This gun blew me away, I don’t think the screws have ever been removed, it definitely has the original finish wood and metal, like new bore. 100% case colors. It does have numerous handling marks and some bayonet wear marks at the muzzle. I wish I could post high definition pictures on this site. These low definition pictures don’t do it justice. I was wondering if anybody could run this through the SRS to see if it shows up? 422478 is the serial.

Here’s some more pics…

Nice rifle, Sorry no SRS listing for your number in fact very few in the entire 422 range listed.

Congratulations! Very nice find - most rifles in that condition are those from 1889 which were put into, or kept, in stock when the rod-bayonet version was adopted for use. Glad to see another post - was beginning to wonder whether my LHTC sale offer had kept everyone busy laughing, choking, or perhaps even counting their pennies.

Nice looking rifle, congratulations!!

Dick Hosmer wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:08 pm Congratulations! Very nice find - most rifles in that condition are those from 1889 which were put into, or kept, in stock when the rod-bayonet version was adopted for use. Glad to see another post - was beginning to wonder whether my LHTC sale offer had kept everyone busy laughing, choking, or perhaps even counting their pennies.

That one is way out of my wheel house, even after counting my pennies
Would be a nice carbine to have though!
Would it be shootable if the barrel was tightened?

carlsr wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:44 pm

Dick Hosmer wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 8:08 pm Congratulations! Very nice find - most rifles in that condition are those from 1889 which were put into, or kept, in stock when the rod-bayonet version was adopted for use. Glad to see another post - was beginning to wonder whether my LHTC sale offer had kept everyone busy laughing, choking, or perhaps even counting their pennies.

That one is way out of my wheel house, even after counting my pennies
Would be a nice carbine to have though!
Would it be shootable if the barrel was tightened?

I'm sure it would be, everything else is mechanically excellent - my question would be (other then the oft-stated "I won't buy anything I can't shoot" syndrome) why? I think you'd need a thousand-yard range and have to do some very careful measuring to see a difference. The SA museum is where it SHOULD go (home!) and they have expressed (guarded) interest.

I figured it probably wouldn’t be in the SRS but you never know, lol. Thanks for looking Tom Trevor! I’ve been looking for a good 1884 for shooting longer ranges. The bore is so good you can see the marks from manufacture on the lands. The barrel had a brown grease in it that reminded me a lot of cosmoline they used to pack surplus guns in that we would buy in the 90’s. I suppose I need to get a saeco 881 500 grain govt’ mould for it. Is that the go to 500 grain mould these days? I paid a little more than half of what a replica 1873 Springfield rifle goes for these days for this rifle and I consider myself very fortunate to have found it for that price. I will be out at the 1000 yard range next week a couple days, though I doubt I’ll shoot that far, maybe 400 yards though.

Truly "mint" specimens, like yours - and above - have traded in the $2750 to $3250 range, so you did well. I wouldn't take anything less than $3200 for my 1889, which has brighter colors and fewer wood rubs. My friends howled at me for being an IDIOT when I paid $325 in 1971.

We'll look forwrd to a range report - just make sure you pad the bench thoroughly!

I’m a mite confused here . . .
You say it’s a 1888 rifle . . . .and I see the cartouche is dated 1888.
But, is it a M’88 rod bayonet rifle, or the immediate predecessor?

If it is a M’88 RRB, why does it NOT have the one-piece trigger guard?
Maybe because it is such an early M’88, they used the earlier TG (before the one-piece guard came on the scene???)