This survey of period newspaper articles reflects the changing role of the Springfield Model 1881 trapdoor shotgun, from a military arm, through surplus use, and evolving into a collector’s item. From providing utilitarian value as a hunting tool to providing intrinsic value as a collector’s item.
Alvey (Alva) Martz was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at the Marne. Here’s a 1918 article interviewing his parents. His father carries a Springfield shotgun into the room.
General Ord had a front-row seat to many historical events and people of 19th Century America: Roommates with William T. Sherman at West Point, artillery officer in the 2nd Seminole War, Civil War hero, investigator of the Lincoln assassination, hunted buffalo with Custer, and a possible illegitimate descendent of King George VI.
I highly recommend this very readable and informative book about the English settlement of Jamestown and the Powhatan Confederation. 17th century American history is highly underrated!
Yep, Springfield Armory produced a limited number of shotguns using the breech-loading action developed by Erskine Allin.
If you transport guns via your checked baggage when flying, you know the requirements are pretty specific for transporting any firearm – hard case, locked, checked at TSA. The devil’s in the details though. Here I look at my solution for transporting longer-than-average rifles.
I just finished the book, The Year 1000, by Valerie Hansen. Wonders upon wonders are contained in the anecdotes, examples, and dynamics that the author presents as she takes us around the world looking at great changes on the cusp of the second millennium.
Check out these photos of my display table from a recent gun show in 2022. This post will dive into the assembly basics, some tips for equipment, and some lessons learned.
Now we get to the good stuff – reconciling the authoritative sources to recklessly draw our own conclusions! Did these guns see wartime service?
We’re going to take a tour through time and watch how the iterative improvement of research from dedicated collectors over the years has evolved our understanding of the Sharps New Model 1859 Navy Carbine.
Close inspection has brought up some authenticity issues.. There is not a cartouche on the stock. Stock has small block…
Thanks Bill, I really appreciate the kind words, and am grateful for that forum and all I can learn from…
Greetings, Thanks for your research. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the subject and am more convinced than ever that…
Wow, thanks for the comment, Tom. Your rifle, it seems, would have been manufactured in the first half of 1882,…
My forager has the serial number 91. It was purchased in the 1930's by my grandfather. It was a mail…