Looking for a very specific Rifle!

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Sounds like a low serial # for a Spanish War era-Springfield. I have two rifles, one 1884 and one 1876, seems they both have much higher #'s than that. ? I'll check, but not tonight. (pause) I did just check the one made in 1876, it has a five digit #. ? But, I guess that since it was National Guard troops that were armed with the Trapdoor, it may have been that old/early of a rifle. I suppose a ten or twelve year old rifle would not be so unusual in a National Guard's armory. As you know, the regular Army was already equipped with the Krag. Except for very rare, unusual or rifles in super very good condition, the old Trapdoors change hands often enough that it could be found. Keep an eye on places like Gunbroker. Good luck.
 
Been thinking about this. It is a long shot, but not as impossible as one might think. You know there is a good collector's site for the trapdoor. Another thing would be to see if the person that owns the site would post the info on your lost rifle. Many collectors, buyers and sellers monitor that site I am sure. You can also track serial numbers. I'd be curious as to what year your rifle was made, but I would guess 1875. Being an early gun, it "might" be in the care of a collector. On the other hand, it sounds like an average "shooter" to me, so it could be in anyone's closet, and long forgotten. Of course I would trim down your story a bit, it is (and I don't remember the name of the site, just start googling) it is a serious collector's site, not a forum, and the petite blonde girl in the thong would be quite irrelevant to the search. !!!! :) Also, posting on any/all forums on a regular basis would be good tactics. Again, I'd be a little more to the point, even though guys on gun forums have nothing against petite blondes in thongs. !! Great story...but....!
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Been thinking about this. It is a long shot, but not as impossible as one might think. You know there is a good collector's site for the trapdoor. Another thing would be to see if the person that owns the site would post the info on your lost rifle. Many collectors, buyers and sellers monitor that site I am sure. You can also track serial numbers. I'd be curious as to what year your rifle was made, but I would guess 1875. Being an early gun, it "might" be in the care of a collector. On the other hand, it sounds like an average "shooter" to me, so it could be in anyone's closet, and long forgotten. Of course I would trim down your story a bit, it is (and I don't remember the name of the site, just start googling) it is a serious collector's site, not a forum, and the petite blonde girl in the thong would be quite irrelevant to the search. !!!! :) Also, posting on any/all forums on a regular basis would be good tactics. Again, I'd be a little more to the point, even though guys on gun forums have nothing against petite blondes in thongs. !! Great story...but....!
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Thanks Ugly Sauce...the website you're referring to might be this one....

https://trapdoorcollector.com/index.html

It's run by a guy named Al Frasca. The site is a fantastic resource for all matters Trapdoor. Incidentally, he had a whole trailer full of Trapdoors stolen in Denver some years ago. He has all the serial numbers of those rifles posted on his website. There is a message board on there too where I have posted up my search as well.
 
.455_Hunter said:
OP- Do you remember ANYTHING about the dealer?

Location in Denver Metro? Storefront? House? 7-11 Parking Lot?
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He ran an ad in one of the local papers....being from back then it would probably mean looking through microfiche to find it, and I don't live in Denver anymore. If I get desperate though, might be worth a trip to try and see if I can find it...
 
Jonny V said:
He ran an ad in one of the local papers....being from back then it would probably mean looking through microfiche to find it, and I don't live in Denver anymore. If I get desperate though, might be worth a trip to try and see if I can find it...
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OK. Did you go to a storefront to sell it?

Dave's Guns in SE Denver Metro used to run daily ad's in the papers. Also, Dean's on Colfax west of downtown.
 
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No, I met him at an office as I remember....not a gun store. I'm guessing the guy was a dealer of some sort...
 
Jonny V said:
The rifle is an 1873 Springfield Trapdoor. The serial number on that rifle is 4068. It has the three step rear sight, a triangle bayonet, and a really good bore. The hammer screw head had broken off, and there wasn't much finish on the steel butt plate. The rifle has browned out, but there was no rust or pitting on it. The cleaning rod was flat faced, full length, and with a slot for a patch. It was fully functional and a good shooter. I fired it numerous times with some old Remington Core-lok ammo that I had.
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A back-up, alternative, better than nothing, don't hate me for the suggestion: clone it.

Back in the mid-80s, jazz vocalist and renowned Colt collector Mel Torme performed at an auction benefitting the NY Metropolitan Museums Arms and Armor collection. When he was asked what he would like as a fee, he jokingly replied “The Sears & Roebuck Cow Boy Special” -- this was a famously decorated Model 1873 Single Action that I believe he'd once owned and was forced to sell in a divorce settlement. The original gun wasn't available, but the organizer arranged to have a very close reprodution of it created to take its place.

https://www.morphyauctions.com/jame...volver-made-for-singer-actor-mel-torme-36433/

I know, a cloned firearm isn't imbued with the same qualities as a family keepsake with real history. What it offers is a good, functional stand-in for the time being. It could also serve as a totem for the next generation to keep up the search, if it comes to that.
 
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Good idea Dave! I've accepted the fact that I'm going to be playing the long game here...for a few different possible reasons...

1. The current owner has it stuffed in the back of the safe and has no idea it's being searched for....I'll have to wait for him to see this post a couple times and then remember it, or wait for his kids to sell off all his stuff before I get a chance at it...
2. The current owner knows it's being searched for but has decided to keep it and figures I'll give up. Again, I'm waiting on his beneficiaries to sell off all his goods before I have a chance...Seems like a serious collector would appreciate having as much of the background story of an Indian War and Spanish American War antique as they could. If this is the outcome, I would gladly supply the current owner with all I know of the rifle and would have to be happy knowing that it was in caring and loving hands.
3. The current owner has died and the rifle has been passed on to his kids and they're gun people and not looking to sell it because it's a gun. Again, they might have no idea it's being searched for....
4. The current owner has forgotten he even owns it, even if he's aware of my little search....don't laugh, I know a couple people who each have more than ten gun safes and hundreds of guns. They can't possibly remember each one of them....

Buying one that's "close" is a good idea, and I like having duplicates of nice firearms anyway....just scored a second Dan Wesson 445 Super Mag last weekend.....:cool:
 
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I would try the archive at the Denver public library or history colorado. History Colorado would be the better place and the staff in the archive is super nice and helpful. The dpl is a mess. You mentioned you dont live there anymore but if your close, worth a shot. Before you go, be sure to call and email them about what you are trying to find and the proper protocol. You'd need to know the paper at least and the general time. If you can't make it in there they might actually be able to find it for you. Those people are employed to do that kind of thing. Be a lot easier to find a phone number than a rifle in the back of a closet. Once you find that number, Google can be a wonderfully creepy tool
 
TheClasonater said:
I would try the archive at the Denver public library or history colorado. History Colorado would be the better place and the staff in the archive is super nice and helpful. The dpl is a mess. You mentioned you dont live there anymore but if your close, worth a shot. Before you go, be sure to call and email them about what you are trying to find and the proper protocol. You'd need to know the paper at least and the general time. If you can't make it in there they might actually be able to find it for you. Those people are employed to do that kind of thing. Be a lot easier to find a phone number than a rifle in the back of a closet. Once you find that number, Google can be a wonderfully creepy tool
Click to expand...

Newspapers.com is an alternative option -- they have pretty good coverage from the 1990s. The search would still be tedious, but at least it's possible to do from home.
 
The more sites and pictures and videos you can post, the more the Google algorithm will pick it up and bring up the number in other people's search results.
So I would create a Facebook post or even a group. Make it public. Make it easily searchable. Ditto for Instagram and Twitter. Make a Youtube video about it.

Basically, let Google do the searching and posting for you.
 
Sending another shout-out looking for Trapdoor Springfield serial number 4068! I'm happy to pay a finders fee and good money for the rifle! If anyone can point me to it that is....

Happy New Year everybody!!
 
I saw one for sale recently and did check it's #, not yours. It wasn't a functional example , missing parts and rusty .
Keep looking, kind of fun for me to keep this in mind and check trapdoors I see. I'd be super excited to find # 4068 and see it go home.
 
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