1878 colt U.S. army service rifle.

coyotex

coyotex

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Held one of these in my hand tonight,,the colt Hartford stamped ones are rare,,i will probably buy it.

I was just looking at the weathered stock,,wishing the old rifle could talk.

About the oldest service rifle ive held,,these are just pre-springfield trapdoor.

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An 1878 Colt U.S. service rifle isn't ringing a bell with me. The Springfield Trapdoors started in 1865, so it wouldn't be pre Springfield trapdoor.
 
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Well its basically one of the few that were stamped by colt model 1878...do you know if the springfields were made in hartford?...i read where nearly all of the 1878s,,with colt stamp,,were sold to russia of all places.

Colt stamps 3 years only 1864,1878,1879

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Quote:I was just looking at the weathered stock,,wishing the old rifle could talk While you won't get the specifics you might be wanting, make an inquiry (if you get it) to the Colt History Archives... You might be surprised at what comes back..

Years ago, I picked up an old Hawken style muzzle loading 'trade' rifle that had the gun maker's name stamped on the barrel... I started doing some background searching and found when he had migrated to the U.S. from Scotland in 1836, as well as where his shops had been located (NYC & Cincinnati) and the date of his death in 1865...

Not a lot of history on owners, but just the maker's info was interesting...
 
Originally Posted By: coyotexWell its basically one of the few that were stamped by colt model 1878...do you know if the springfields were made in hartford?...i read where nearly all of the 1878s,,with colt stamp,,were sold to russia of all places.

Colt stamps 3 years only 1864,1878,1879

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I'm familiar with the Colt 1861 musket, but from what I've read, these were made from 1861-1865. What model are you refering to? You mention a model 1878, but an 1864 date? Is this a breech loader or muzzle loader? I can't find a reference to it in any of my books.
 
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All i can dig up if you look at trapdoor collectors site also.
according to all that i can find on these,,colt made them in 1864,,,springfield name went on em in 1865...earliest sprinfield ...in 1878 and 1879,,,no springfields produced,,,only colt us army stamped,,,approx 30,000 made for russia,,,only a handful stayed in the states.1880,,springfields produced again.


I am still digging around cause some of it makes sense,,,some dont....gotta make sure of what im buying.

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Its a top trap,,like a springfield..1878 on back of reciever ,,side where the hammer is Colt U.S. army,hartford conn.P.T.H

no ramrod


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Can you post a link to any info on these rifles? It sounds to me like a conversion done to an 1861 musket or some Bannerman or Bubba job.
 
Kinda like the M1 carbine i guess with the old trapdoors,,,you only here about the springfields cause there are so many of them.

This is the only colt stamped one ive seen,,,even online.
 
I think i will just offer her 200 bucks for it,,if she sells it for that ill be happy,,,if she laughs me outta there,,ill research it more lol.
 
That page you mentioned is talking about Colt 1861 muskets. I'm not not sure if Colt actually did the work, but there is not 1878 service rifle. There's alot of confusion floating around. You often hear about "1878" trapdoors, there is not such thing. They are 1873 locks with where the "3" looks like an "8" at a casual glance. Still an 1861 Colt coverted to a breechloader is very good condition is worth far more than $200 bucks. If it's in working condition, $750 would still be a steal for it.
 


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