Possible 7th Cav Custer carbine
Well sometimes you do live and learn. I had this 1873 Springfield carbine for many years and knew it was a decent unmodified early serial number dated circa 1874-75 carbine. But recently I ran across some old copies of magazine articles I had saved years ago, they were dated 1974 and 1995 and about the guns used in the Little Big Horn battle by Custer's troops. I apparently must not have read them too closely but when I finally did the other day. I found the carbine I have, Serial #35616 is not only an early 73 carbine but it might be a very desirable historical gun due to the possibility that it is a "Custer carbine" with potential association with the battle of Little Big Horn because the serial number falls within the known serial number range of carbines issued to the 7th Cav. before the ill-fated Expedition. The magazine articles said that Ordinance records indicate the 7th Cav. received approx. 1,000, 1873 carbines in the serial number ranges of 17400-18400, and 21000-21600, and 32700-36400 and with some into the 42200 range. According to those records, carbines that fall within the 32700-36400 group such as this one were issued to Companies C, D, I, and K of the 7th Cav. of the thousand carbines issued to the 7th Cav,. 250 of them were in the 33,000-43,000 range. The carbine still remains in its correct early period configuration with all the desirable early model features. It has the correct rear sight, correct early hammer, three notch cock, stacking swivel and no proof marks on barrel which is correct. The carbine still has a long wrist stock and according to one of the articles, (Man At Arms, 1995, #4), in 1879 an Ordnance Department directive ordered all carbines numbered under 50,000 in the hands of troops or at posts be sent to the National Armory for replacement or retrofit. As it appears, according to the article, Springfield Armory converted it's stock making machine to make the longer comb stocks from Dec 1876-March 1876, that retrofitting would probably include stock replacement to reduce the potential of stock breakage common with the long wristed stocks. Because there were a number of upgrades during the years following the LBH incident, any carbine, such as this one, having no upgrades was most likely not under government authority at the time. Which leaves the question, were was it?
The stock has been lightly sanded years ago but the oval ESA cartouche on the left side and a P on the wrist are still lightly visible. There is no butt trap in the stock. There is no original finish remaining on most of the metal as it had been cleaned off many years ago however all the stampings are still deep and clear and the metal has a light patina looking finish now. Even though there is no way to tell what condition the carbine was before being cleaned it does not appear that it suffered the type of abuse it would have with long term Indian use but many carbines were recaptured through Cavalry actions shortly after LBH and they would still be in decent condt. The bore is about VG. It is extremely rare to find an early 73 carbine that is still in its un-modified condition much less one within the Custer issue range. Overall it's in VG condition. Ray
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