1861 Springfield "contract" rifle

[STUKA]

Picked this up Monday as a continuation of my weekend buying spree.
Providence Tool Co. manufactured 1861 Springfield.
There is a silver plate mounted to the stock,which has writing on it,but I cant read it even with a 10x loupe..
It has all the markings where they should be,inspector cartouches on the stock,has both flip up sights,and part of an original sling.
I believe the ramrod is original too.


The bad-
a crack around the wrist area,which isnt too bad I guess.
And of course the cut off forend!
Rifling is weak,but I'm not too keen on firing it anyway,so it's a wallhanger.

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[Sgt Nambu]

Nice! Looks good on that wall!

 

[Timbertodd]

Cool rifle! Hey Sarge I think that's his deck, but if it is a wall I like it.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

Nice! Is there a year of manufacture stamped on the lock? My Springfield is stamped 1862. I here ya about the rifling; the iron ramrod has pretty much destroyed the rifling near the muzzle of mine but it is still fun to shoot.

 

[STUKA]

Mine is stamped 1863 on the lock,and 18?? on the barrel near the hammer

 

[STUKA]

 

[Mikej]

Nice piece! What would posses someone to cut the forend off?

Your deck looks a rough as mine!

 

[STUKA]

Nice piece! What would posses someone to cut the forend off?

Your deck looks a rough as mine!

Ask the millions of hunters out there who have chopped up countless Mausers,Springfields,and Krags!
As for the deck,it WAS a hideous orange hued monstrosity-we stripped all of the nasty stain off and I put a coat of Thompson's on it to seal it.The weathered look is a thousand times better!

 

[Mikej]

Ask the millions of hunters out there who have chopped up countless Mausers,Springfields,and Krags!
As for the deck,it WAS a hideous orange hued monstrosity-we stripped all of the nasty stain off and I put a coat of Thompson's on it to seal it.The weathered look is a thousand times better!

I understand why people sorterized rifles...Weight, better stock, scoping, cleaner look. Only taking off 6" or so off the forearm doesn't make sense. Unless that was an unfinished project?

I have my Dads deer rifle that I couldn't even ID what it was until I saw an Enfield and the safety was similar to it. I'd say he did a pretty good job on it, around 1948-1951.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

Thank you. It looks like the barrel bands are type 1863 also. Someone cut a very small diamond (1/8") in the stock of mine.

The diamond was the badge, or designation, of III Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

 

[Rocklock]

I understand why people sorterized rifles...Weight, better stock, scoping, cleaner look. Only taking off 6" or so off the forearm doesn't make sense. Unless that was an unfinished project?

Could be nothing more sinister than a split in the fore end.
Probably took the easiest way out and simply cut the wood off below the split to keep it from getting worse.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Congratulations. I wish I could find one that they weren't asking an arm and a leg for. Would love to find an inexpensive Trapdoor also. Had thought about loading 7.62 x 54R with black powder to shoot in a Mosin Nagant. to scratch the black powder rifle itch. I have the brass, bullets(110 gr LWC) and black powder already, Just need to do it one of these days

 

[STUKA]

Congratulations. I wish I could find one that they weren't asking an arm and a leg for. Would love to find an inexpensive Trapdoor also. Had thought about loading 7.62 x 54R with black powder to shoot in a Mosin Nagant. to scratch the black powder rifle itch. I have the brass, bullets(110 gr LWC) and black powder already, Just need to do it one of there days

Thank you!
I actually got this one VERY cheap,considering what I see them selling for.
A trapdoor is next on my list.Missed out on one last year at my local pawnshop for $450

 

[DirectDrive]

Nice !
I grew up about 10 miles away from the actual Springfield Armory.
We went there on a school field trip when I was a wee lad.
The blown up battlefield pickups stick in my mind's eye.
I would like to go back through and tour it again someday.
https://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm