I am helping a friend sell some of his late father's rifles and would like to know a little more about the Springfield 1884 Trapdoor model pictured below. The serial number is 96775, which places its manufacture date around 1878 I believe. I had read where only 1003 of the model with the experimental round rod bayonet were ever produced and was wondering if this was one of them? Also a rough idea of a realistic value would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.

By no means am I any kind of expert on Trap Doors, I have a 1873 Carbine but I don't know anything about it either. So please excuse my question if it's a stupid one. If it's a model 1884 how could it be made in 1878?

They still make Model 1894 Winchesters

The model name comes from the first year of production, and doesn't change each year

PM Crossfireoops. What he doesn't know about trapdoors and what he can find ain't worth knowing or finding.

He said it was a model 1884 - made in 1878 - 6 years before the Model 1884 came out

Is it possible that he messed up the years and it's a 1878 made in 1884? FYI there are no model 1878 they are 1873's but the markings are easy to mistake for 1878 and it's a common thing to do.

No expert here, but I know a little bit about them. Definitely a Model 1884. Year of manufacture stamped behind the hammer on the lock plate (at least the year the lock plate was made), which the pics don't show. Model year stamped on front top of breech block, which is visible in the pic. Way, way more than 1000 rod bayonet models made- that was one of the salient features of the Model 1884. That and the Buffington rear sight (which this one has) were the defining features of that model. They made a ton of them from 1884 until the Armory swung into Krag production in 1892-3.

Value? I don't follow them enough to categorically state that. My guess would be somewhere north of $600 and south of $1000. Condition on this one is ok, but not superb, plus we don't know what the bore condition is like.

Of course, trapdoors, like all other U.S. martial arms often turn up as mix-masters- either by way of civilians or military armorers. An early lock plate could have been swapped in, breech block swapped out, rear sight swapped out, etc. But if it has the rod bayonet, then my money is on it being a fairly righteous M1884.

Here is a reply I received on another board, which I find interesting. Now I am more confused than ever. By the way, a couple of others have verified the 1878 date although I do not know the answer to why a Model 1884 was manufactured in 1878.

"No, it is not the very rare M1884XRB - they occur around the 314-320000 range, and have a somewhat different latch mechanism.

Your receiver was made around 1878, but the rifle was likely assembled well after 1890, meaning the receiver was either recycled from a disassembled weapon, or had gotten sidetracked somehow (kicked under a bench?).

The rifle pictured is the so-called "Model 1888" rod-bayonet rifle, though all are marked "1884". Most are numbered above 500,000, but there are aberrations - the largest group of which is re-built M1884XRBs, which is why they are so rare.

Value of specimen shown would likely be around $600-$700."

LOL
My wife keeps telling me I need some new glasses.
I guess she's right!