a few unexpected items at a auction,one trapdoor 45-70

[eastbank]

a friend called this morning and ask if i wanted to go to a local auction house, a estate was being offered all day,we got there at about 12:00 and there were 35 firearms being put up a 1:00. i bought a older 5 screw S&W K-22 in very good conition(i will pick it up on monday) and a NOS remington o3A3 barrel still in the government wrap. here,s the funny thing of the day, i bid on a 1873 trapdoor with a ex barrel that may have different trapdoor parts on it that i wanted for a shooter. i stopped bidding at 460.00 and it went off at 575.00 higher, well i went to pay my bill and the clerk said i had won three items the S&W revolver the 03A3 barrel and the trapdoor (serial #331188. i told him i only won two items and he said NO YOU WON THREE, i said what was the price on the trapdoor and he said 460.00 and i said i didn,t win it,but would take it and i did. i think some one may be mad at the auction house. i,ll get pictures up of the K-22 on monday. eastbank.

 

[bubba15301]

the other bidder may have decide not to take it . maybe didnt have enough money

 

[carbine85]

You did well. That's a great price on that Trap Door.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I love these things.
Is yours an 1884 with an 1873 bolt? It would appear so with the rear sights as installed. I think most had the 1873 bolt in them.

 

[chuckles]

Sounds a bit like the other guy was a shill bidder. Tried to drive up the price and you didn't fall for it. Very common practice. I've known auction houses that had shills on the payroll and only bid when signaled to by the auctioneer. Good for you not getting caught up the excitement.

 

[eastbank]

mohave, it has a 1873 breech block, i don,t think the ramrod is original and one of the bands is on backwards. i was only interested because of the ex bore and very good wood(a little dark).as soon as i get time i,ll shoot it with cast 405 lead bullets and BP and smokless(AA5744) to see which shoots better. eastbank.

 

[Fremmer]

Totally cool rifle, what's the trigger pull like?

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I have one. I just found an ejector for it and I believe the rifle is sound. I hope to find ammo for it at the Las Vegas Antique gun show next weekend. Thet are wonderful rifles, even if only to look at.

 

[eastbank]

fremmer, the trigger pull is not to bad, right on 7lbs on my rcbs guage not a target trigger by any means,but livable. what realy drew me to the rifle was the condition of the bore and the solidness of the stock. i own five other 45-70,s, some for modern loads and a 74 sharps target rifle and i will use the sharps load in the trapdoor with all lead bullets and light powder charges. eastbank.

 

[Pacsd]

Chuckles.....I call those "rafter bidders"

 

[Palehorseman]

AH, the old days when could be picked for 25-30 bucks.

 

[eastbank]

rafter bidders, i,ll remember that one. after i quit bidding at 460.00 there were two bidders left and maybe you are right,one of them was a rafter bidder and he got caught and they didn,t know the other bidders number(maybe he had not won a auction yet) and i had so they dumped it on me. eastbank.

 

[meterman]

I thought you guys were saying "raft builders," when you were saying 'Rafter bidders.'

Not being a trapdoor fan, I had visions of 10 or 20 trapdoors bound together side by side, making rafts out of them.

 

[StrawHat]

I have one. I just found an ejector for it and I believe the rifle is sound. I hope to find ammo for it at the Las Vegas Antique gun show next weekend. Thet are wonderful rifles, even if only to look at.

Not sure why you are looking for the ammuntion at an antique gun show. 45-70 ammo is not uncommon, many of us reload it. Are you looking for an old box of ammunition to display with the old Solidier?

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Because logic would suggest that an antique show might be a place to look. I have nothing else to go on but that.
With a good deal of searching all I can find is that modern 45-70 a 1885 45-70 are different beast; mostly that 1885 45-70 is black powder. I've asked many places if I can buy modern 45-70, pull the bullet and replace the powder with some kind of black powder but no good answers came from it.
Lastly, yes, I would like some old rounds for the wall hanger. I think they are beautiful.
I reload for everything except shotshell but I do not intend to get started on this caliber as I only plan on putting a few rounds through it.

 

[Maj Dad]

Mojave,
You can use smokeless powder in your Trapdoor, but you have to use sensible loads. I use several powders, 3031, Unique, and 2400 among them, but likely one of the best is Accurate 5744. Mike Venturino of Rifle & Handloader magazines swears by it for 45-70 and other black powder cartridges, and as soon as I can find any I will buy a pound or two. Most of the major reloading manuals have Trapdoor loads; I use the Lyman manual. As far as black powder, go for it - just have lots of soapy water on hand when you're through (or a black powder cleaner). Lastly, lead bullets are better for your old soft steel barrel, so save a few bucks and buy lead (or cast your own) instead of jacketed.
Cheers,
George J.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I believe this is just what I needed.

 

[eastbank]

imr 4198 is a good powder for the 45-70,from very light(black powder pressure) to real stompers(close to 458 energy). i use it in a repo sharps 74 thru ruger#3 and browning 85,s.eastbank.

 

[StrawHat]

If you are interested in reloading, here is a good read about how to duplicate the old Armory loads.

http://www.4570book.info/

Some of the information is dated but a fairly good read and lots of information. If you have questions, post them. Lot of us have experience with the 45-70 in general and the Springfield Single Shot rifle.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

First, let me thank eastbank for joining us in pleasantries while we completely highjacked his thread. Thank you again.
Anyway, I got my Model 1883 cleaned up. Found an ejector and just now spent nearly $70 for 40 rounds of cowboy action 45-70 but we are going to shoot this old cannon, probably for the first time in over 100 years.

 

[Armybrat]

Eastbank got a good buy in this day & age. Looks like a nice clean Trapdoor.

I have an 1873 model my Dad bought surplus about 1925 in Missouri for $1.25. It has the bayonet & ramrod, but the firing pin is broken. Decent bore & wood.

This is the only pic I have of it:

 

[eastbank]

my post,s can,t be hijacked, they are allowed to go where ever they want by any one. i enjoy the info offered and seeing other firearms of any kind. eastbank.

 

[epoletna]

Ya done good. Congratulations. I'd like to find something like that.

 

[788Ham]

eastbank,

You did good son, don't let anyone kid you! Hope you can get that smoke pole up and running soon, keep us up to date on how it works. "Rafter bidders" , thats a good one, I'll tell my buddy to watch for them when he goes to these auctions. lol Good luck eastbank !

 

[littlereb]

I have one,but never done anything with it