1860 50 cal black powder rifle

[Capt.E]

I am supposed to go look at a 50 cal black powder rifle that has 1860 on the barrel and the guy wants $50 for it . is it worth it and what type of rifle is it, I am wondering. anybody have any ideas.

 

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[Blacksheep]

I am supposed to go look at a 50 cal black powder rifle that has 1860 on the barrel and the guy wants $50 for it . is it worth it and what type of rifle is it, I am wondering. anybody have any ideas.

Need a bit more info sir.

 

[sqwaby]

Could be worth alot more, but if you just want a wall hanger, not a bad deal.

 

[mlayers]

If it is in decent shape it will be worth it.....Matt

 

[l.cutler]

Need way more info. If it is one of the cheaper made modern rifles in poor shape, no it isn't worth fifty dollars. An original, probably, unless a "put together" made from various parts.

 

[dcinffxva]

Agreed that much more info is needed. If it is a rifle made in 1860 it is worth $50.00 for the parts alone.....but you might have to wait a while before someone is looking for a part

 

[Monty]

Most of the guns of that era were made of larger calibers such as .54 or 63, 68,etc. It's probably a reproduction I would guess? Not enough info. Monty

 

[Philvis]

If it is an original from 1860, it is a real good deal. If it is a working reproduction in good condition, it is still a real good deal. A decent new modern black powder rifle goes for $200 and up nowaday. I always borrow a friends when I go black powder hunting in the fall because I usually am broker after buying all the licenses and tags to hunt. For $50 I would say, SOLD!

 

[Monty]

Even if it is a repro, if it is restorable or shootable it is worth 50 bucks. Monty

 

[Peeber]

Definitely check to see if it loaded. A Buddy of mine bought and old 1800 pre-civil war musket for $50.00. I checked it on a whim and it was loaded. Had what was probably home made shot and newspaper wading.

 

[truckinbutch]

Definitely check to see if it loaded. A Buddy of mine bought and old 1800 pre-civil war musket for $50.00. I checked it on a whim and it was loaded. Had what was probably home made shot and newspaper wading.

ABSOLUTELY ! Check for load by inserting rod down bore to measure depth . Compare inside dimension to the outside . If there is a difference (outside shorter) stand on end in an unused corner and pour about 2 tablespoons of WD40 down the bore . Let it stand for about 3 weeks . That should inert any powder charge so it can be safely removed .

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI my true friend Monty: you posted -->

."Most of the guns of that era were made of larger calibers such as .54 or 63, 68,etc. It's probably"
~~~~~~~~~~
Basically you are correct, as usual Monty, but my original Sprngfield trap door is an '1863', 50-70,. @ 450 grains it is a big chunk of lead to be shooting a pore Indian or whomever with.. It definitely did the trick, but a few years later they reduced it to 45-70 for better long range work.

Don Jose d e La Mancha

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

HI my true friend Monty: you posted -->

."Most of the guns of that era were made of larger calibers such as .54 or 63, 68,etc. It's probably"
~~~~~~~~~~
Basically you are correct, as usual Monty, but my original Sprngfield trap door is an '1863', 50-70,. @ 450 grains it is a big chunk of lead to be shooting a pore Indian or whomever with.. It definitely did the trick, but a few years later they reduced it to 45-70 for better long range work.

Don Jose d e La Mancha

It must be a rebarreled conversion or assembled from older components. The .50-70 cartridge wasn't produced until 1866. the 1863 Springfield was a .58 cal muzzleloader.

http://www.shootmagazine.com/articles/firearms/50-70_govt.htm

The Hawkins Brothers favored the .50 and .54 caliber in their rifles of the 1820's. .50 cal has been popular as a hunting caliber since the flintlock Pennsylvania rifles of Revolutionary War times right up to the advent of smokless powder after the Civil War. (And is still #1 with muzzleloaders today).

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI Charlie: You are basically correct. This is a conversion from the Springield armory. The lock plate is stamped with "Springield 1863", The first cartrdges were internally primed, similar to a .22 rim fire, only the ignition pellet was in the center of the base.. Later they used the conventional primer.

I T I S F U N T O S H O O T !

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[dcinffxva]

Just to round out the history on the Springfields, all of the model 1855, 1861 and 1863 rifled muskets were issued as .58 caliber muzzle loaders. In 1865 the "First Allin" conversions were issued. All were in .58 cal. rimfire. Starting in 1866, they took Model 1863 rifled muskets, cut the breech, relined the barrels to .50 cal. centerfire. These will be marked 1863, or 1864 on the lockplate, and marked 1866 on the top of the breechblock. The next variation was the model 1868, which is the same as the 1866, but with a 32 1/2 " barrel instead of the standard 40" of the 1855-1866 models. These are marked 1869 or 1870 on the breechblock. The 45-70 trapdoor first started with the model 1873. If the rifle he is looking at is a Springfield dated 1860, it would have to be a model 1855, which has the distinctive "Maynard" primer door on the side.

 

[Joe(TX)]

.........I HOPE THAT YOU BOUGHT IT!!.....Even if it is a Reproduction.......the Repro's in Good Condition are selling for anywhere between $800.00 and $1200.00......... this is a for a Springfield Trapdoor.......I guess that no one here goes online to check out old gun prices or goes to any of the local gun shows.........................Now for the real authenic rifle ......the Springfield Trapdoor in just average condition is selling for around $800.00.........Mint.....Try......around $2400.00.............Just the barrell is selling for over $200.00 ........Basicly we need more info ....All that you said was that it was a 1860 Black Powder Rifle.......should and could be a Springfield Trapdoor.............but if is is an a imported like English or Italian....it could be another make??.....Hope you bought it!!.......