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MODEL 1870 SPRINGFIELD TRIAL CARBINE -
VERY NICE SPECIMEN OF AN EARLY INDIAN WARS TRAPDOOR: The
Model 1870 Springfield Carbine
is the crown jewel of the
early Indian Wars Cavalry carbines, and is often missing
from all but the most advanced collections due to
limited production and a low survival rate. Produced
for the 1870 Trials, it is generally accepted that
approximately 341 of these scarce carbines were
manufactured, with the vast majority having been issued
to the regiments serving on the Western frontier and
subjected to heavy use. This Model 1870 Springfield
Carbine shows evidence of that frontier use, but still
retains a pleasing overall appearance and the correct
components.
The correct high arch breech block is properly marked
1870 and US with the eagle head and crossed arrows, and
the lock plate is dated 1864. All of these markings to
include the eagle and the “US SPRINGFIELD” on the lock
plate are distinct and fully legible. The correct
carbine rear sight is present and still retains much of
its original black finish. The bore is overall bright
with very strong rifling and only a minimal scattering
of shadows of light pitting. The barrel measures .775”
at the muzzle and .900" just in front of the forearm
tip, confirming this is an original carbine barrel and
not a cut down rifle barrel used to make up a carbine as
is sometimes encountered. The front sight blade is
steel. While the standard configuration for the front
sight generally has been accepted to be a brass sight
blade, replacing worn out sight blades was a task fully
within the capability of a unit level Ordnance Sergeant
and it is likely that steel blades would have been far
more available when such a replacement was necessary.
It is worthy of note that while the M1870 Springfield
Carbine was equipped with a brass sight blade, the Ward
Burton M1870 Carbine, also manufactured at Springfield
for the same trial group, was equipped with a steel
front sight blade.
The breech block and
receiver still retain traces of the original black oil
quenched finish. The action of the lock and the
function of the breech block are both crisp and tight.
The metal surfaces of the barrel, breech block,
receiver, lock plate, barrel band, and trigger group are
overall very smooth, have the proper bright finish, and
would brighten more if you were so inclined. The “US”
marked butt plate is pitted, likely from resting on a
damp surface, however it definitely appears original to
this carbine and does add to the overall character of
this piece. This carbine was originally purchased from
an old collection in the Southwest where it had been
held for many years. When purchased, the sling bar
assembly had been removed and the lock screws had been
reduced in length accordingly. As these carbines
transferred through reissue from the regular army
soldiers to hands of scouts – both white and Indian –
packers, teamsters and other auxiliaries, or issued to
civilian settlers or the tribal groups in residence on
the reservations, the sling ring bar was often regarded
as unnecessary and was commonly removed as a nuisance.
A reproduction sling bar has been substituted for the
original to return the carbine to its full configuration
held in place with a set of original, full length lock
screws. It would be worth the effort to continue
looking to for an original sling bar, but in the
meantime this carbine displays nicely with the
replacement.
The overall smooth stock features the rich color of
patinated walnut, with
only minimal signs of wear and handling marks. It is
possible that the stock was refinished at some point in
its life, as the there is only a trace of the outline of
the “ESA” cartouche on the sling bar flat, and likewise
a partial outline of the boxed “L” firing proof below
the rear trigger guard tang. There is a very fine age
check at the rear of the lock mortise that is stable and
limited in length. This is a small sliver of wood
missing at the top edge of the receiver channel directly
adjacent to the breech block hinge pin tang and another
small sliver missing along the right side of the
receiver tang. With the exception of these two small
points of wear, there is no other damage or wood loss.
There is a faint set of
initials – a P and an I – hand drawn into the surface of
the wood on the flat of the left side of the butt
stock. As seen on a considerable number of guns that
were used on the Frontier, this carbine has a small
screw hole in the wood immediately to the right and a
little behind the trigger spur.
Known as a “poor man’s set
trigger”, when the screw was in place, it could be
adjusted against the sear to lighten the trigger
pressure necessary to fire the carbine. The existence
of this telling screw hole is further testimony that
this carbine “was there”.
It is well documented that the Model 1870 Carbines were
issued in the Southwest to elements of the 1st
and 5th Cavalry at Fort Whipple and Camps
Grant, McDowell and Verde, Arizona Territory; and to
elements of the 8th Cavalry at Forts Craig,
McRae, and Union, and Tularosa, New Mexico. As this
Model 1870 was recovered from the Southwest where these
trial carbines were likely subjected to almost constant
field use, the specific characteristics of this carbine
such as the missing sling bar, the replaced front sight
blade and the addition of the sear adjustment screw are
all consistent with the wear one would expect a gun to
have experienced during this era. Further, these
indicators suggest that once this carbine passed out of
the inventory of a regular army regiment, it may well
have continued to be used by a scout, packer, settler or
Indian on the fringe of the Indian War Frontier.
Overall, this is a very respectable Model 1870 Trial
Carbine. It is an attractive specimen that shows
historical use without being used to destruction, and
could well be one of the better buys available for one
of these scarce early Indian Wars carbines. $5,500
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