Trapdoor Rifles

Came across this forum while searching and learning about a recently inherited 1873 Springfield. I inherited it from my aunt and her story was that it came from her grandfather and when she was around 13 they got it at their house and her mother tried to get rid of it. She hid it under her bed for years and then it eventually ended up at her farmhouse and now to me. Based on age and dates I don’t believe the gun would have been issued to my great grandfather. I am curious to find out more history on it. The serial number is 294816 and per my google searching it seems it would have been manufactured in September of 1885. Appreciate if anyone knows other locations to search for history. Thanks

Yup . . . .Produced in the third quarter of 1885.
I think you’re correct . . . .about September.
I note the Buffington rear sight . . . .the best ever installed for the infantryman.

Looks to be in great shape .. . . .how about more pictures?

Research in the National Archives by Frank Mallory of the Springfield Research Service did not turn up anything on this number. Some nearby numbers were documented as used by various volunteer units in the Spanish American War, but that does not tell us what happened to your rifle. It may have gone to war, or been stuck at the local armory. Very few numbers have any documented history.Hope that helps.

]Thanks for the responses. It does seem to be in good condition. I have had a local gunsmith look it over and my son and I have been able to fire it using some shells that came from my Aunt (seems like back in the 1970’s she had a gunsmith review it and made some shells and fired it then). Actually that is another question as I know I should not just be buying any standard .45 ammo. I don’t plan to fire it often, but it is fun bit of history to fire a gun nearly 150 years old and with at least some history back to my great grandfather. I found this 45-70 Government 405gr. RNFP Trapdoor load ammo on steinelammo.com (added a picture). Can anyone confirm this would be a good ammo to use? Several additional pictures added – not sure if there was specific items to look at on the gun. Thanks again for feedback. I am certainly no collector and likely will never be one, but I enjoy having this history.
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I see I can only post 3 pictures at a time...

2 more and the ammo....

That ammunition would be fine. Save the cases - even if you do not reload now you may want to later.

Any current ammunition marked "for all rifles" is safe for a trapdoor in good condition, as the SAAMI standards are based on the the weaker action. STAY AWAY from anything marked "for Marlin 1895" or "for Winchester 1886" or "Ruger #1"; likewise "High Velocity". A 300gr. bullet was usually provided with the older high-velocity loadings - stay away from them. Anything in .45-70 labeled "for cowboy action shooting" is safe.

"Safe" and "Accurate" are not necessarily congruent. If you get bit by the accuracy bug, the best results are only available through reloading your own. When everything is perfect, the old trapdoor will shoot 2" groups at 200 yards.

Dick Hosmer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 3:34 am That ammunition would be fine. Save the cases - even if you do not reload now you may want to later.

Any current ammunition marked "for all rifles" is safe for a trapdoor in good condition, as the SAAMI standards are based on the the weaker action. STAY AWAY from anything marked "for Marlin 1895" or "for Winchester 1886" or "Ruger #1"; likewise "High Velocity". A 300gr. bullet was usually provided with the older high-velocity loadings - stay away from them. Anything in .45-70 labeled "for cowboy actiuon shooting" is safe.

"Safe" and "Accurate" are not necessarily congruent. If yopu get bit by the accuracy bug, the best results are only available through reloading your own. When everything is perfect, the old trapdoor will shoot 2" groups at 200 yards.

Dick is spot on here . . . .

Save the empty cases . . . . .Mebbie’ you’ll get them reloaded in the near future.

These old Springfield TD’s are noted to have oversized bores, requiring bullets as large as .461” in diameter.
Unfortunately, most all commercial ammo is loaded with .459” bullets.
My shooting buddy gets “keyholes” in the target using Black Hills ammo (bummer) . . . .BUT he saves his brass for me to handload (I use .461” dia. Bullets for my rifles.)

Have fun with that ole’ girl . . . .

Keep up on this website . . . .you’ll continue to learn!