Model1863 Springfield conversion date 1870

[Mel41!!]

Hi my name is Melanie,

My dad recently passed down this civil war gun. I have been looking through multiple places to find this exact one. I am an avid hunter and gun collector. But this is all new to me as far as these older models. I am having fun learning and want to more about this gun.
It has also got an A and I carved or stamped I is on the stock. I will add pictures. Please let me know where I can go to find more information.thank you.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-g...-springfield-allin-conversion-model-1866.aspx
Thousands were converted to .50-70 post civil War

 

[Mel41!!]

Welcome, enjoy. http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-g...-springfield-allin-conversion-model-1866.aspx
Thousands were converted to .50-70 post civil War

I was wondering that year 1863 1870

 

[JOHN42768]

I was wondering that year 1863 1870

The date on the lock is the manufacture date of the rifle. The date on the conversion could be '68,'69 or '70. Uncle Sam had warehouses full that were outdated at the end of the war. This conversion to a metallic cartridge extended the life of the weapon

 

[Booner]

I'm by no means an expert on these weapons, but I think you have an Allin conversion of a 1863 Model Springfield muzzleloader into an Springfield Model 1870.
If it's a first model, produced 1870-71, they only made about a 1,000 of them, so that may have some collector appeal. Production of the second model, produced 1872-73 which differed slightly, was around 10,000. You rifle has 1870 stamped on top of the trapdoor, so that's why I think it could be a first model.
The caliber was 50-70-405, which means--- a fifty caliber bullet---70 grains of powder---bullet weight of 405 grains.
These rifles were the precusor of the Springfield model 1874, aka the "trapdoor Springfield" in 45-70-405 that was finally issued in rifle and carbine version to the army.

If you googled "trapdoor springfield" you will find tons of info on all the variation/models of the trapdoor. Google "Springfield Model 1870" for more specific info on what I think is your particular model.

 

[UCVRelics]

Very Nice 1863 Trap Door conversion. Could post a photo of the 2 sets of numbers on the breach end of the barrel and not to take away from this nice piece but are these 2 cracks in the stock?

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome to the forum, cool piece

 

[tbuckley]

Welcome from eastern Ohio. Very nice .50-70, thanks for posting.

 

[William G Hendry]

hello Mell, from Ont. Canada very nice weapon

 

[Mel41!!]

Very Nice 1863 Trap Door conversion. Could post a photo of the 2 sets of numbers on the breach end of the barrel and not to take away from this nice piece but are these 2 cracks in the stock?
View attachment 213784

Welcome to the forum, cool piece

Thank you!!

 

[Mel41!!]

T

hello Mell, from Ont. Canada very nice weapon

Thanks!!

 

[Mel41!!]

Thank you!!

The cracks are there for sure but not as pronounced as photo. I just needed to make the lettering stand out.
I tried to find it by the number on barrel

 

[Mel41!!]

Very Nice 1863 Trap Door conversion. Could post a photo of the 2 sets of numbers on the breach end of the barrel and not to take away from this nice piece but are these 2 cracks in the stock?
View attachment 213784

Thanks!!
There are cracks yes!! I made them more pronounced because I wanted the lettering to be visible. But I will check it out again today.
I am going to attach a picture of the matching numbers

 

[Kip124thNY]

Welcome from New Jersey. Very nice rifle.

 

[originalrebelyell]

Nice conversion

 

[Booner]

The cracks are there for sure but not as pronounced as photo. I just needed to make the lettering stand out.
I tried to find it by the number on barrel View attachment 213860

I'm not sure from your post if your referring the the cracks in the stock that UCVRELICS pointed out in his post #6. It looks to me that the stock was broken in two places at the wrist and someone used wood putty to fix it.

 

[Crazy Delawares]

I have one that my grandfather passed down to me.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

This is not a "Conversion". It is a purpose made breech loading cartridge rifle, using some old stock parts, such as the lock, trigger guard, butt plate, etc. Remember, the Federal Government is, and has always been, cheap when it comes to adopting and building new models of arms.
J.

 

[Mel41!!]

This is not a "Conversion". It is a purpose made breech loading cartridge rifle, using some old stock parts, such as the lock, trigger guard, butt plate, etc. Remember, the Federal Government is, and has always been, cheap when it comes to adopting and building new models of arms.
J.

Ok so they just added pieces from whatever they had. So interesting, I have been learning a lot. I am going back on ancestry.com to learn about him. He was in the Union and funny thing is this bbn is my dad who adopted me and whom I have always considered my dad. His grandfathers side is this guns story.
My biological father I have done some research and Louisiana is where he lived until the 70s. His family Confederate and I was able to see my grandfathers koo old Klan uniform?? I am not sure what you call them. But so interesting. Thank you all so much for the help. I have a double barrel 14 ga. Shotgun I am going to post soon.

 

[hawknknife]

This rifle is the Model 1868 in .50-70...the model 1866 utilized a cut receiver with new block..Thanks