A significant one is the Springfield receiver that has the serial number of 390407. There are features of this rifle that help to narrow down a time when it was built and what parts were used. More research will be needed to determine who made this rifle and when. As explained below, government records suggest the parent rifles receiver may not have left government service until late 1899. This rifle was built with parts that became available during or after 1888. This could explain the available parts used on the seven examples and they could have been produced by Whitney Arms Company for Hartley and Graham. In 1879 an order was placed by the Ordnance Department to turn in all Springfield’s with serial numbers below 50,000. They all have octagonal barrels with the same Bridgeport Gun Implement Co. The stocks all show the same checkering pattern and schnabel forend profile. After comparing this rifle with them, it is evident that they were built by the same people. Its condition can be attributed to the fact that it was built after the great Buffalo hunts ceased and was never put into hard use.ĭuring a search to determine who made this rifle and when, seven similar rifles were located that are also built on Springfield actions. During cleaning and inspection there was enough dried oil and grease found to suggest it had not been apart for a long time. The breech block lockup is solid with no lateral movement.
The checkering is still sharp and shows little if any wear. The stock is in excellent condition and shows very few nicks, dents and dings expected for its age. The action parts show vivid color case hardening and the barrel, sights, butt plate and trigger guard are blued. The general overall condition of this rifle is close to new. Curry & Brother of San Francisco, John Lovell of Boston and Cheyenne and Gove of Denver. Louis, Freund Brothers of Denver and Cheyenne, Hartley & Graham of New York, Whitney Arms Co. Some of the companies that made and/or sold these rifles were E.C. The collecting community commonly refer to this style of rifle as a Meacham or Whitney conversion or just “Buffalo Rifle”. Utilizing retired military parts and combining them with commercial parts there were many affordable rifles built for utility purposes such as buffalo hunting. This rifle is an example of the work that was done by talented and inventive gunsmiths in the late 19 th and early 20 th century.
Springfield Armory Trapdoor / Sharps Sporting rifle
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