US Springfield 1873 Trapdoor Carbine Configuration .45-70 1883 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,213.00
LSB#: LSB250927CP007
Make: United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield
Model: Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine, Saddle ring
Serial Number: 209874
Year of Manufacture: 1883 (Based on serial number, courtesy of Frasca and Hill) / Antique
Caliber: .45-70 (Black powder)
Action Type: Trapdoor, single shot
Markings: The rear of the breech is marked “209874” with a Star from the arsenal refurbishment. The top of the action is marked “U.S Model 1873”. The lock plate is marked with a federal eagle and “U.S. Springfield”. There are correct “V/P/Eagle Head/P proof marks stamped on the barrel near the chamber. The heel of the buttplate is marked “US.”
Barrel Length: 22”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is non-arsenal replacement blade set into a barrel mounted base. The rear sight is a Buffington-style rear sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a single piece walnut with a barrel band, saddle ring and bar, straight wrist, straight comb, and steel buttplate with trapdoor. There is a small crack emanating from the side plate. There are a few minor compression marks and scratches throughout. The LOP is 13 1/2” from the trigger to the rear end of the butt-plate. Overall, the stock is in about Fine condition as a refinished antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is dark but the rifling is sharp. There is relatively moderate erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 7/10.
Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors’ firearms.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish, with most turning to a brown patina. This Carbine has a refinished or replaced stock and a carbine Buffington rear sight. According to Joe Poyer’s book “The .45-70 Springfield”, the serial number followed by a five-pointed star denotes early rifles and carbines that were rebuilt with new receivers beginning in 1880. “The star mark appears on rifles and carbines between circa serial numbers 126,900 and 213,200 (1880-1883)”. The Buffington rear sight was not standard issue until 1884 may have been a replacement at the time of the arsenal refurbishment but it is inconsistent with the original date of the Carbine. The screw heads show moderate use. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition as an antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The rifle has a half-cock safety. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine is one of the quintessential American military long arms of the late 19th century, issued widely to cavalry units across the Western frontier during the Indian Wars period. Chambered in .45-70 Government, a cartridge adopted in 1873 and used for decades due to its reliability, power, and manageable recoil in both rifle and carbine form, the Trapdoor system represented the U.S. Army’s transitional step between Civil War–era muzzleloaders and the smokeless repeaters that would follow. Carbines such as this one were prized for their lighter weight, shorter barrels, and portability from horseback, making them the standard arm of mounted troops from the mid-1870s through the early 1880s.
This example, dated to 1883, bears the desirable arsenal star mark following the serial number, indicating refurbishment at Springfield Armory—a process described in Joe Poyer’s reference work, The .45-70 Springfield. Rifles and carbines in the 126,900–213,200 serial range were often rebuilt with new receivers, updated components, or replacement stocks. This carbine now features a Buffington-style rear sight, a refinement not introduced until 1884 but consistent with arsenal-update practices. The stock has been refinished and shows a small crack at the side plate along with minor compression marks, yet remains solid, retaining the correct saddle ring bar, trapdoor buttplate, and overall cavalry configuration.
Cosmetically, the rifle shows a brown patina across the metal with about 40% of its finish remaining, along with moderate handling wear and some pitting consistent with age. The bore, while dark from black-powder use, retains sharp rifling and rates 7/10, typical and quite acceptable for an antique service carbine. Mechanically, the action functions properly with a positive half-cock safety. Collectors will appreciate the combination of original Springfield markings, correct proofs, arsenal star stamp, and authentic carbine features.
Altogether, this Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine offers an appealing blend of historical significance, frontier-era character, and Springfield Armory refurbishment heritage. It is a strong representative of the rifles carried by U.S. cavalry during one of the most formative periods in American military and western history. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid!
BF/MA
