Lot 2514: U.S. Springfield Model 1868 Style Trapdoor Saddle Ring Carbine

OE - GOOD - some minor replacement parts; metal smoothly rusted or lightly pitted in places, cleaned; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal legible; lightly scratched, bruised or minor cracks repaired; in good working order.

PRF - PROFESSIONALLY REFINISHED OR RESTORED

There were only 4 experimental Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor carbines ever manufactured. Page 305 of the book "The .45-70 Springfield" by Frasca and Hill shows production numbers of Model 1868 rifles, showing only 3 carbines manufactured in the year 1869, and 1 in the year 1870. Page 309, figure 128, of the same book has a picture of a Model 1868 carbine wearing serial number 15,329. Features a standard fixed blade front and notch/folding ladder rear sight marked up to 700 yards, an "1864" dated lock, "1869" dated breechblock, serial number "1444" on the left of the breech, "ESA" Erskine S. Allin oval script inspection cartouche on the left flat of the stock, and circled "P" proof behind the lower tang. A "GDM" (George D. Moller) collection mark is at the toe. Provenance: The George Moller Collection