Features on starred serial number carbines

[Arkie]

I have a hankering for a Trapdoor Carbine (have always had rifles) and have been reading up some on them. I find the starred serial number guns quite interesting, and see a a few online. The concensus I see is that they were made 1881-1882 from new barrels, receivers, and stocks. Anything else could be a mix of early parts with maybe some new parts? The most interesting one to me is in the 180K-200K range, has the buffington rear sight, M90 rear sight guard, 1873 dated side plate, and 1873 breech block. Is this hodge-podge of features likely put together by SA armorers or a fantasy concoction?

[Tom Trevor]

Arkie, As you note they are an assembly of new and earlier reconditioned parts. The items not originally on the carbine from the arsenal would be the Buffington sight and 1890 band protector. These were added later by who we will never know. One possibility is an arsenal fit and issue to a unit during the Spanish war of 1898. Some carbines were issued to signal corp units. Or someone later in its life just thought they were needed and installed them for shooting it. You could post the serial number and see if the SRS books have any information on it. Hope this helps.

[Arkie]

The serial number is 188043*. I looked on the SRS list and it was not listed, but there is 188093 listed as a carbine issued to the New York Militia 11/9/03

[Dick Hosmer]

IIRC, SRS never addressed the star, and I do not recall ever having someone get a hit on a number that could have swung either way, or, if they did, nothing was said about it. One thing that does appear to be certain, there are no duplicates - one with, one without - known. I believe I was the first person (MANY years ago) to comment that the star was definitely part of the original stamp, not added later, which blew out a lot of the old "Uncle Charlie" theories. This was before Al Frasca gave the detailed explanation of what the starred guns actually were, including the fact that they were not logged as "new arms produced".

[Arkie]

This is the gun in question, it has lingered several cycles unsold

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/964836443

[Tony Beck]

This isn't a carbine, but it is by far the lowest number starred receiver recorded, 100258. It's not in the SRS books. The stock was modified at some point and then repaired. The spliced in wood fits perfectly. I don't know what the hole is for. Barrel is 3 groove. I wish I could have done a chamber case to see if it had the long 45-80 throat. Unfortunately, it showed up in a local shop when my mad money was low. By the time I saved up for it, it was gone.

[Dick Hosmer]

Tony, just for grins why would you suspect a long throat/chamber?

[carlsr]

Here is my stared carbine. It was updated for the SAW which added the Buffington sight and 1890 rear sight protector. There is also a NJ cartouche on both stock and barrel.
When I purchased this carbine it was covered with white paint and some kind of crude. I wasn't even aware that it was a stared carbine until I picked it up.

[carlsr]

Another

[Tony Beck]

Dick, the Sandy Hook tests mention test rifles with 3 groove rifling and long chambers, in both 1 in 22 and 1 in 18 twist. Being an 1878 number it could be one of those. My thought was that if it was a test rifle the star was applied to flag it and prevent being issued. This rifle does indicate that Springfield was using the starred SN much earlier than the known rebuild era. Lot of supposition, but I was wondering what others might think.