My early 1870 I let go years ago

[Fred]

The fellow who owns it now just bought it to shoot with his boy. He didn’t have much interest in it possibly being one of the early production 1870’s made. I think it’s back east in Indiana or Illinois now.
when I put it on Gunbroker, there wasn’t much interest in it so it only sold for around $1,100.00

[Fred]

Perhaps. As to the clamping band - you noted that it had the clamp AND spring as though that was somehow "different? But, I've never seen ANY 1868 or 1870 without the spring! I always wondered why the clamp was used at all, seeing that it was NEVER needed? Belt and suspenders? Very odd since they accounted for parts to the mil.

Maybe I should’ve said “Spring and Clamping Band.”
I’d not intended to put an emphasis on the Spring. Just the Band.

[Fred]

More photos of the rifle that I found.
none of these are any good for research. They’re just photos I took one night.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...=278&crop=fill

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...=278&crop=fill

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...=278&crop=fill

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...=278&crop=fill

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...=278&crop=fill

- - - Updated - - -

It came out of Iowa.
I still have the 1887 sling that came on it.