Rifle found

[JBCawsey]

Can anyone help me with some info? Years ago I was in Wood Mountain Saskatchewan on a petrified wood hunt with my father-in-law. Wood Mountain was where Sitting Bull and his people came after the Little Bighorn. Long story short, I saw a piece of shale leaned against a cutbank and tipped it over, found a Model 1873 Springfield carbine behind it. I have read that none of the rifles have turned up yet from the 7th Cavalry. Question is: does anyone have any idea where I could find a list of the serial numbers of the weapons that were at the Battle of the Little Bighorn?
Any help or information would be appreciated as I have no idea where to start. I have sent letters to the war department and got no response, Dixie Arms helped me trace this rifle as far as Colombus Ohio, but that is as far as I have got.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Peyton Manning]

My understanding is the reason the cavalry lost was the indians had repeating rifles and the soldiers had to load each shot, so I doubt the cavalry rifles would be wanted by the indians. ( I saw it on TV so it must be true!) But I am waiting to see what anyone has to say too. cool thing to find no matter where it came from. got a pic?

 

[dieselram94]

Sweet find! I to am hoping for pictures!

 

[JBCawsey]

I am currently in southern Brazil working, however I will stick some pictures up when I get back home. I have been trying to trace this rifle for a long time, hope I can get it done this time.

 

[dieselram94]

Will look forward to the pictures, and also welcome to the forum.

 

[wvwildman]

pic's?

 

[Peyton Manning]

I am currently in southern Brazil working, however I will stick some pictures up when I get back home. I have been trying to trace this rifle for a long time, hope I can get it done this time.

hope you are gonna bring me something from brazil!!!

 

[keith2004]

I have read that none of the rifles have turned up yet from the 7th Cavalry. .

are guns taken from dead solders still the property of the US government ?don't know myself but someone in law enforcement may be able to run the serial numbers for you. also you may find some useful info here http://www.nps.gov/mwac/publications/pdf/tech94b.pdf

 

[GatorBoy]

I would try to utilize the local historical society where it was found. If they don't have the actual documents they would know where to find them and have the connections to view them.

 

[JBCawsey]

Thanks all for the responses. As stated earlier, pictures coming mid April, please do not think because I am in Brazil it is a holiday, harder work than in North America, twice as expensive, and in Portuguese, I am hoping the US gov't would look at this rifle as coming from a now dead First Nations warrior, and I will start trying to contact some different historical societies. Last time I tried, I spent 2 days before I realized they were in England.

 

[dieselram94]

hope you are gonna bring me something from brazil!!!

Ooh, ooh bring me one too!!!

 

[Wyomingmedic]

The battle happened just north of me. There are several museums in the area that may be able to help.

However, I sincerely doubt that any serial numbers were recorded.

Where you may have luck is in the brass cases found. If you could tie in a case from the rifle to one found on the field, you would have your official link.

WM

 

[Jon Stewart]

Being a retired LEO, having an officer run the serial numbers will only come back with info if the gun is stolen. I have run many guns on LEIN. and besides you don't want the government involved in your business, especially in the time in history

 

[The Grim Reaper]

That would be a nice find, but why is this on the Indian Artifacts forum??

 

[JBCawsey]

First time here, and it said North American artifacts. Ergo...

 

[joshuaream]

I'm certainly looking forward to pictures, sounds really cool.

What is the condition on the gun? Being outside for 140 years in Saskatchewan weather would do a number on it. Lowest recorded temp was -51 F, the highest 105 F (and it sat outside for both of those)

I lived in Brazil when I was a kid and still go back for business every once in a while. Cool place.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I'm just saying you would be better off putting it on the Metal Detectors forum or one of the Treasure forums. It's not really an Indian artifact.

 

[l.cutler]

There is no comprehensive list of carbines issued to any particular unit, for some reason such records just weren't kept. There is a private company that has what information is available compiled from various sources on the trapdoor rifles and carbines, I believe it is called Springfield research service. You could have the number checked against their records and see if it is listed. There is only a small percentage of serial numbers with any information, something like 5%. If you go to the bulletin board at trapdoorcollector.com and post the entire serial number one of the guys will most likely be kind enough to check and see if it is listed.

 

[AU Seeker]

I doubt the serial number from your rifle would be listed, but here's a list of serial numbers of some of the weapons turned in or recaptured from Indians after the battle.

RM Vivas & Son - Reference Library.html

A little more info that may help.

The "Custer Range" Explained | Follow the Stories | Antiques Roadshow | PBS

 

[gunsil]

Actually the serial number range of the Trapdoor Springfield Carbines that were used at the Little Big Horn are recorded. Not exactly, but to within a little less than a thousand numbers if I remember correctly. I suggest you go to a gun collectors site, I think someone there will know where that list is. There is no exact way of telling if it is a "Custer" rifle, but if it isn't in that specified serial number range it definitely isn't one.