This trapdoor carbine was manufactured pre-1876 and is thus potentially one of the guns used by the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Other carbines in the same serial number range as this example were previously identified as shipped in 1874 plenty early enough to have been issued to Custer's men prior to their final bloody battle. Many trapdoor carbines were used extensively by the U.S. Cavalry throughout the Indian Wars and many also fell into the hands of the Indians. All of the 7th Cavalry carbines are presumed to have been picked up by the Indians as none were found on the battlefield and many were used for over the next several decades in further battles as well as hunts. This example has a integral blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight graduated 1-5 on the base and 6-11 on the ladder, high arch breechblock marked with "MODEL/1873/eagle head/cross arrows/US", eagle motif and "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1873" marked lock plate, and smooth stock with saddle ring and bar, and "US" marked buttplate.

Very good plus. The carbine mostly displays plum brown patina on the barrel, and the lock and breech have a blend of gray and brown patina. The trigger guard has 30% original blue finish and gray and brown patina. The buttplate displays mostly brown patina and has some light oxidation. There are scattered marks and scratches throughout. The stock also has some chipping around the lock and saddle ring bar inlets and has faint traces of the original cartouche. The lock functions fine, and the markings are mostly clear.