I'm going to be heading to a big antique arms show at the end of this month with a pocket full of cash intent on returning with an original 1855 Springfield, the last remaining hole in my US long arm collection. I'm quite excited, but I need a quick refresher of the different types and styles that it was made in.
There were at least three different variants of the 1855 in the 4-years it was produced, perhaps more. All of my reference literature barely mentions this model, so there's no breakdown of these types. Some had patch boxes, some had brass nosecaps, and there might have been a carbine version (?). I want to go to this show with a grasp of the variants and the years they were produced, and possibly quantities.
Also if anyone has tips on what to look out for when buying an original, i.e. how to tell a parts gun or one restored with repo parts from an all-original. I don't have a huge problem with a couple replaced parts, but I do want to know what I'm getting.
I would appreciate anyone sharing their knowledge, or directing me to an online source. Thank you.
There were at least three different variants of the 1855 in the 4-years it was produced, perhaps more. All of my reference literature barely mentions this model, so there's no breakdown of these types. Some had patch boxes, some had brass nosecaps, and there might have been a carbine version (?). I want to go to this show with a grasp of the variants and the years they were produced, and possibly quantities.
Also if anyone has tips on what to look out for when buying an original, i.e. how to tell a parts gun or one restored with repo parts from an all-original. I don't have a huge problem with a couple replaced parts, but I do want to know what I'm getting.
I would appreciate anyone sharing their knowledge, or directing me to an online source. Thank you.