here is 50-70 Conversion for comment?

[musculus]

I know nothing about these, but since you don't see these often, perhaps Dick can give us his insights?

http://buy.gunauction.com/10614533/u...-no-ffl-needed.

Certainly looks good!

[JimF]

Model 1868, 50-70 cal.

[Dick Hosmer]

Sorry, Jim. Not so - the "Second Allin" is the Model 1866, which preceded this one, and actually was a "conversion".

This is a Model 1868 Rifle, made as a new rifle (not a conversion, though some old parts were used) in its' second year of production, physically complete and totally correct, very fair price. Big problem: someone has cleaned it to within an inch of its' life.

[Matt K.]

Whew, I was just about to break out the Ajax and a scrubber so mine could shine like that....

[JimF]

Sorry, Jim. Not so - the "Second Allin" is the Model 1866, which preceded this one, and actually was a "conversion".

This is a Model 1868 Rifle, made as a new rifle (not a conversion, though some old parts were used) in its' second year of production, physically complete and totally correct, very fair price. Big problem: someone has cleaned it to within an inch of its' life.

Yup, Dick . . . .

I noticed my mistake almost immediately! . . . then edited/corrected my post.

I've confused the M66 and M68 before (don't really know just WHY, as the two are very easily distinguised) . . . . guess my 70-yr.-old brain is too slow on the up-take. --Jim

[musculus]

http://www.cabelas.com/owatonna-gun-...-50-70-1.shtml

[Dick Hosmer]

That's a little crisper, and has been cleaned, but not as recently, and not as hard. You see, the block and receiver were oil-hardened, thus originally black, while the hammer and lockplate were color (water) case-hardened. Stock has not been sanded - see how sharp the flats are? The lock colors are the first to go, but a really nice specimen will show a distinct difference in tone between receiver and barrel. The $700 reduction is telling - it actually MIGHT sell at the new price, especially when you figure the bayonet is worth around $150-200. M1855 (yes, they're that old - fitting all muskets from that date to 1870) bayonets are not as common as would be expected, since they were swaged down and blued for use on the .45-70. "Commercial" quantities were exhausted by 1890.