Military Arms and Condition thereof!

[Adam Helmer]

Life would be much simpler for us collectors IF sellers of military arms advertised in the weekly papers knew what they had and complied with generally accepted NRA Condition Adjectives of "Perfect, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor." Whenever I see an interesting ad, I call the poster and inquire numerous details from the prospective seller. Rest assured the responses will not NECESSARILY be true!

Case in point: Yesterday, I read an ad for "a Model 1880 Trapdoor Springfield .45/70 Rifle in near Excellent condition with Ramrod Bayonet for $650.00." WOW! Only 1,014 Model 1880 Springfields were field tested in March 1881 and were returned to Springfield Armory after field testing by troops. I called the rifle's owner and asked about the TRIANGULAR bayonet with 11 grooves on both flats, etc., and he told me "Yep, they are here."

Today, I drove 80 miles round trip to find out he had a Model 1884 Springfield with a ROUND ramrod bayonet! The owner lamely stated, "I guess this is not a Model 1880 Springfield." I advised him that the name carved in the left side of the buttstock that was (mostly) gouged out in a dish-shaped hollow the size of a cake of soap and the two stock screw holes behind the hammer of a prior tang sight rendered the piece to "NRA GOOD" at best! I told him he had a shooter at BEST!

I wished him a good day and left.

Adam