1864 US Springfield rifle- Tang mark question

hec

Cadet
Joined
Oct 16, 2017
Hello, I just purchased a M1864 US Springfield rifle and was doing searching online with no luck to try and find out what the number 3 on the butt stock tang may mean? It has the US above the screw but below the screw is a number 3. Any ideas?
 
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Here is a pic
 
Yes, that would be a rack number. Likely meaning in the hands of the Regular Army, Militia/National Guard, GAR, Military school etc. and likely done post ACW. While the M1864 was supplanted by the M1866 trapdoor they would remain in service up into the early 1870's and in some state inventories for quite a lot longer and the GAR would use them into the early 20th Century.

Then there were also some surplus wholesalers who would stamp their wares with numbers in a simialr fashion to keep track of them in the shop. By 1870 the M1864 and other muzzleloading military arms had flooded the surplus market and were readily available at very affordable prices.
 
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