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WS Springfield might have won the west but it was the Sharps rifle that tamed it down enough for the army to field Springfields ,then they promptly got there ass handed to them and lost their hair at the LBH. MB

Sharps (paper cartridge) won the west, then trapdoors followed. Then Winchester.
Martini too, faster to reload, not as accurate as a Sharps.

Heres my 95% condition 1883 - cartouched trapdoor. Bury me with it please.

[img]https://sportsdad60.smugmug.com/1873-Springfield-Trapdoor-45/n-gxR9F/i-H8ZsmNh[/img]

I shall try that recommended Lee mould and make certain my alloy is soft. Im also really close to Buffalo Arms so supplies would be a short distance to ship. Thanks again.

My rifle is in decent condition considering age and the type of blackpowder arm it is. I checked the serial number and it came up to Sept-Oct of 1883 as near as I can tell. It has an breech trapdoor marked model of 1873 yet the sight is an 1884 Buffington type of sight. I know its a possibility the trapdoor may have been replaced or maybe the sight was added later, i don't know for certain. One thing I do wonder is if this rifle may have been a possible transition because the date of manufacture is really close to 1884 but im just a novice of all things trapdoor. I do know of the lock or tumbler has the 3 notches or positions of the laterb1884 rifles.

Its fun to hold it and wonder just what kind of history it has. I have an old 1863 Sharps 45-70 conversion that I wonder the same. Where did these things live and what were they involved in.

Check out this site. Great info.
https://www.trapdoorcollector.com//
Al has literally written the book on Trapdoors. The Bufington sight is very common and very likely the gun was sent in for service at some point and the Buffington was put on it.
The 1859 and 1863 Sharps was converted to 50-70 following the Civil War, but yours may have been re-done later on by a gunsmith. I have one that I carry a couple of days a year in deer season. Mine was in a 20 gun serial number block issued to the 10th Ill. Vol. Cav. in 1863
If you can find it, SR4759 is a great powder for TD loads. I found it much cleaner burning than 5744. I stay away from black powder as I just hate cleaning the cases.