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WW1 US Fencing Rifle


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Here is the US Springfield Trapdoor Fencing Musket. These were made by Springfield Armory for the military to use for training in hand to hand combat before and during WW1. They were made from then obsolete .45-70 Trapdoors; barrels shortened to 24” – stock shortened & end cap installed – hammer, sights & sling swivels were eliminated and the breech blocks were fixed shut. This one has a serial number of 175236 which is dated to 1899. Overall the rifle has much of the bluing left, indicating that it was not used for its intended training purpose very much. Most examples have a lot of wear and dings over the stock and metal parts. These rifles once used to be easy to find have almost doubled in price in the last few years. 

A special non-lethal bayonet made of an elastic material such as whalebone covered in leather was attached to the right side of the barrel with screws. These bayonets are getting hard to find all complete with the leather intact. 

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