ey guys so i was offered a 50/70 trapdoor carbine today, but i am a novice when it comes to these and was won dering what i should look at as far as orginiality and condtion? any help much appreciated! thanks!
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50/70 trapdoor carbine
- Thread starter Donvin999
- Start date
Yup, have one. Allen conversion, dated 1869 on the breech system, with an 1863 Springfield lockplate. Even had the rammer in it still. What a blast to shoot! The ejection spring was still so strong, that it was ejecting the brass about 10 feet behind me!
Could be worth alot could be worth very little. If you can get it for $300 to $350 and it looks OK to you go for it, otherwise do your homework first. On the internet try: The U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Rifle Information Center and post a detailed description. If you have time buy Poyer's book on the 45/70 rifle.
Things that matter:
- Date, S/N, any marking on the metal or wood
- Length of barrel and number of bands
- Broken parts
- Cartouche (if any and quality)
- Length of barrel (many have been shortened)
- Are the screws buggered up
- Missing parts
- Quality of the bore
- Original stock? (many carbines are shortened full length stocks) (see if the ram rod hole has been plugged and sanded) carbines don't have ram rods.
- If a carbine, does it have carbine sights? Should have a "C" stamped on side and not a "R"
- Front sight original?
- Saddle ring present/original
- Can you reand the "V" and "P" on the barrel?
- Extractor works and spring present?
- Has the stock been sanded?
- Does the S/N match the year on the breech block?
- Does the lock work properly?
Good Luck!
Things that matter:
- Date, S/N, any marking on the metal or wood
- Length of barrel and number of bands
- Broken parts
- Cartouche (if any and quality)
- Length of barrel (many have been shortened)
- Are the screws buggered up
- Missing parts
- Quality of the bore
- Original stock? (many carbines are shortened full length stocks) (see if the ram rod hole has been plugged and sanded) carbines don't have ram rods.
- If a carbine, does it have carbine sights? Should have a "C" stamped on side and not a "R"
- Front sight original?
- Saddle ring present/original
- Can you reand the "V" and "P" on the barrel?
- Extractor works and spring present?
- Has the stock been sanded?
- Does the S/N match the year on the breech block?
- Does the lock work properly?
Good Luck!
Pricing your trapdoor.
Also if you have a good description,go on "GunBroker" and look for similar rifle(s). By looking at the rating of the seller and number of firarms he has sold you can get a feeling for thier reliability. The good thing about Gunbroker is there should be many detailed photos. Ignore the ones no one is bidding from a price perspective. Guns with several or many bidders usually reflect the going price plus a little. Also you can ignore bidders with a NR rating or less than 12 previous sales.
I woud offer 50% to 75% of the going price depending on how much you want it.
FYI, most if not all Trapdoors are not considered "firearms" by the ATF.
Also if you have a good description,go on "GunBroker" and look for similar rifle(s). By looking at the rating of the seller and number of firarms he has sold you can get a feeling for thier reliability. The good thing about Gunbroker is there should be many detailed photos. Ignore the ones no one is bidding from a price perspective. Guns with several or many bidders usually reflect the going price plus a little. Also you can ignore bidders with a NR rating or less than 12 previous sales.
I woud offer 50% to 75% of the going price depending on how much you want it.
FYI, most if not all Trapdoors are not considered "firearms" by the ATF.
The Goose
NES Member
TFLeader gave some great advice and I agree The U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Rifle Information Center. The 50/70 could be a great find. Also depends on whether you are buying a shooter or a collector, although a rifle can be both. Personally, even if a rifle is not 100% correct I might buy it as a shooter if the price is right. The real heartbreak is paying full boat for a collector and finding out later it is not correct. The afore mentioned website should be able to help you with that. I would scoop up a 50/70 carbine in a heart beat if it was right.
