.45-70. 22" barrel. SN: 35761 (mfg. ca. 1875). Blued and color casehardened finish, walnut carbine stock with 9" short comb. Single shot metallic cartridge Trapdoor action breechloading military carbine with M1873 1,200 yard ladder rear sight secured with slotless screws, musket style front sight, carbine sling bar and ring on reverse, triggerguard without sling swivel, smooth trigger, three-click tumbler, coarsely checkered hammer spur, solid buttplate. Correct early lock markings with 1873 date, correct early high arch breech with four line 1873/{Eagle Head}/{Crossed Arrows}/US marking. No barrel proofs, as is correct. No visible cartouche as would be correct for a replacement stock. Incorrect features are upper barrel band with swivel stud, and hole in butt for cleaning rods. Stock with numerous carved initials, most notably a large JL on the obverse butt that has been modified further to read J B LITTLE JOHN. Overall a mostly correct pre-Little Bighorn 1873 carbine with a well worn, "been there, done that" look of a gun that spent a lot of time on the prairie. {ANTIQUE}