Since I have some foreign military single shots and cast bullets for each, I've been kinda looking for a U.S. Trapdoor 45/70. Finally found a nice one...it arrived today. M1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle. Made in 1891 and inspection cartouche is marked 1891. Bore is bright, smooth, and rifling is sharp. It has most of its blue and case hardened colors, and nothing is buggered up about it.
Stock is stamped 811 and 13 NY. It was issued to the 13th Regiment of the New York State National Guard, rifle rack #811.
Did my rifle participate in the Spanish-American War? Well, sorta, but it never made it to Cuba. 13th NY (Brooklyn, NY) was requested (members were asked to volunteer) to be federalized to help guard the New York area, as the U.S. was afraid the Spanish Fleet would go up the east coast. May 3, 1898 the regiment was ordered to recruit 2 additional companies. The recruiters couldn't get enough volunteers to fully man the regiment (about 1008 officers and men), so the 4 companies of the 13th that had volunteered to be federalized were attached to the 22nd NY Regiment for New York area duty on May 7, 1898. It was finally determined that the Spanish Fleet was bottled up in Cuba, so there was no longer a threat to the east coast. On Nov 23, 1898, they were mustered out of federal service. I did read how many men deserted, drowned (2), and were discharged for medical reasons during their short active duty, but can't find the reference right now for all the numbers. Sure sounds like the U.S. was in a hurry to get volunteers for active duty in a short time.
Loaded my first batch of test loads today, using a hollow base 400gr bullet made of 20/1 lead alloy. Should be big and soft enough to conform to the bore and its 3 groove rifling. Tried to get a good pic of the bore. Suffice to say, the bore looks great!
Stock is stamped 811 and 13 NY. It was issued to the 13th Regiment of the New York State National Guard, rifle rack #811.
Did my rifle participate in the Spanish-American War? Well, sorta, but it never made it to Cuba. 13th NY (Brooklyn, NY) was requested (members were asked to volunteer) to be federalized to help guard the New York area, as the U.S. was afraid the Spanish Fleet would go up the east coast. May 3, 1898 the regiment was ordered to recruit 2 additional companies. The recruiters couldn't get enough volunteers to fully man the regiment (about 1008 officers and men), so the 4 companies of the 13th that had volunteered to be federalized were attached to the 22nd NY Regiment for New York area duty on May 7, 1898. It was finally determined that the Spanish Fleet was bottled up in Cuba, so there was no longer a threat to the east coast. On Nov 23, 1898, they were mustered out of federal service. I did read how many men deserted, drowned (2), and were discharged for medical reasons during their short active duty, but can't find the reference right now for all the numbers. Sure sounds like the U.S. was in a hurry to get volunteers for active duty in a short time.
Loaded my first batch of test loads today, using a hollow base 400gr bullet made of 20/1 lead alloy. Should be big and soft enough to conform to the bore and its 3 groove rifling. Tried to get a good pic of the bore. Suffice to say, the bore looks great!