Model 1879 carbine manufactured by Springfield Armory circa 1882. The carbine has a blued barrel, upper barrel band, hammer, trigger guard and buttplate. The receiver, 'low arch' breech block and barrel tang have an oil-quenched casehardened, finish. The stock is oil finished, straight grain, American walnut. The barrel has a block front sight base with pinned steel blade and fourth pattern Model 1879 buckhorn rear sight. The top of the rear sight leaf and left side of the sight base have the correct "C" (carbine) markings. The carbine has the correct "low arch" breechblock, hammer with "three-click" tumbler, grooved trigger and buttplate with butt trap. The hammer has impressed knurling on the spur. The butt trap contains a steel, three-piece, jointed cleaning rod with ruptured shell extractor. A sling bar and ring are mounted on the left side of the stock. The left side of the barrel is stamped with "V/P/Eagle Head/P" proof and inspection marks. "R" is stamped on the barrel centerline ahead of the receiver. The front of the breechblock is roll-stamped "U.S./MODEL/1873" in three-lines. The lock plate is roll-stamped with the Springfield Armory Eagle and Shield motif followed by "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" in two-lines. "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate behind the buttplate screw. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "SWP" above the date "1882" in a rectangle with clipped corners. An encircled, script "P" proofmark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard finial.

Excellent. The carbine is all original and retains 95% of the blue and casehardened finish. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the barrel and upper barrel band. The buckhorn rear sight has 95% of the blue finish. The barrel proof and inspection marks are crisp. The receiver, breechblock and tang have at least 90% of the dove-gray case colors. The blue finish on the hammer shows some light handling wear. The lock plate has more than 95% of the blue finish intact with crisp markings. The bottom of the trigger guard has some scattered spots of age discoloration with traces of pitting on the edges. The buttplate has most of the blue finish intact but has the normal contact scratches and pitting on the toe and heel. There is some light pitting on the butt trap door. The stock is in very good condition with a crisp final inspection mark and clear proofmark. The stock has a few relatively minor handling marks the most significant of which is a period dent below the front sling swivel finial. The Springfield Trapdoor carbine was the primary weapon of the U.S. Cavalry regiments from 1873 until the adoption of the Krag carbine in 1895; state militia cavalry units used Trapdoor carbines until after the Spanish American War. As a result, Trapdoor carbines in excellent, original condition like this example are scarce. This is an excellent example of a key U.S. martial arm that makes a great companion piece for a U.S. Colt Calvary Revolver!