Other Springfield Trapdoor Owners Here?

[wobble]

I recently got interested in Springfield .45-70 trapdoors and bought a restored Model 1873 in great condition off a gun auction site. It looks almost new. Now I am looking for a nice carbine version of the same gun.

I'm going to pick up some BP ammo for it and do a little shooting at the range.

I'll post pictures later but I was wondering how many others on this forum are trapdoor owners. It's a fascinating gun that played a big part in American history, particularly in the Indian Wars, including Custer's Battle of the Little Big Horn.

 

[Guncollector1982]

I have one i bought with a horrid leaded/beyond help bore. Looked like someone sandblasted the metal it looked horrid. I bought a barreled action on gunbroker for 100 dollars that has a nearly prestine bore. The remaining metal parts besides the barrel i sanded lightly and steel wooled then plumb browned it. The barrel and reciever are natural patina the rest is fake. The stock i cleaned with Murphys oil soap and reoiled with linseed then truoil. Its not a collector now of course but it wasnt before in its condition and now it is quite attractive as well as functional. The barrel/reciever/trigger are from a 1884 model, the breach blocks a 1873, and the rear sight is a 1879 kinda a johnny cash gun. Havent shot it much making some soft bullets using a Lee replica mold of the origional 405 hollow base bullet with black powder under them when the soft lead gets here. Fired it some so far aiming at rocks hundred yards a away its been very accurate.

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Just a thought... Carbines are way out of my price range but i see alot of cutdown rifles people have converted to carbines over the years on gunbroker and what not that sometimes go pretty reasonable due to there collector value being degraded. Ill get one someday i think just due to affordability as a shooter. I know one person that has a cutdown 50/70 trapdoor. He didnt do it himself he bought it that way the only obvious giveaway is the small ramrod hole that you can still see in the end of the stock under the barrel.

 

[Iggy]

Deleted.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

I have one. It is probably a component rifle. The lock is stamped 1863 and the trapdoor mechanism is stamped 1873. The rifle was a gift from an old friend. He used it to hunt bear when he was young. The rifle found it's way into my friend's family by way of their family doctor. The doctor supposedly carried in in Cuba during the Spanish- American War. His initials are carved into the butt stock, and there is a drain hole whittled next to the trigger plate. I was told that was to drain water from the trigger and lock area which might have collected there from crossing the swamps in Cuba. It is a nice old functional piece.

 

[Guncollector1982]

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/production.html


heres a good link to serial number ranges by years for trapdoors if anyone interested in them is curious.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have 4-an excellent M1884, 3 M1888s, one of which needs some restoration-it was "sporterized" years ago, the front part of the stock cut away, the bayonet mechanism gone-but they left the bayonet. I use them for Living History, I do a Spanish American War Volunteer impression.

 

[StrawHat]

Yes, I have a Trapdoor, mine is a Frankenrifle I put together using the barreled action of an 1866 (50-70) and the rest of the rifle is from an 1841 Mississippi Rifle (Italia replica). After bedding the action and barrel, altering the lock to handle the CF action, fitting new sights and refinishing the stock, I have a trapdoor I really enjoy shooting. I also have a 45-70 coming to me but that is a ways off at this time.

I like the simplicity and strength of the trapdoor and marvel at the idea of how it was created and the ammo it used. Starting with the 58 rimfire, going to the 50-70 and ending with the 45-70, it providing the post war Army with a good reliable firearm. And they are even better now with the better ammunition of today.

 

[Rock Island]

Yes, I have had them for years, 1866 2nd Allan 50/70, 1868 50/70, 1873 45/70 rifle, 1873/84 45/70 rifle, 1873 H&R carbine, 1888 round rod Bayonet 45/70. They are all original, ( the H&R is a repop) all excellent shooters, and I load for all of them. Great lot of fun on the range, and despite being shot with BP for over a century the bores are spotless.

 

[FiveStrings]

Wobble, since you cited Johhny Cash, I will too - that's a fine looking Mo-chine.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have a second Allen, an 1873 and an 1884. A buddy of mine is thinking about selling a trapdoor in 58 cal. But I'm sure it is a bubba home conversion instead of real Springfield conversion. The barrel has Italian proofs.

 

[wobble]

I have a second Allen, an 1873 and an 1884. A buddy of mine is thinking about selling a trapdoor in 58 cal. But I'm sure it is a bubba home conversion instead of real Springfield conversion. The barrel has Italian proofs.

Sounds like a Pedersoli or Uberti replica from Italy. There are very good quality and are good shooters but they are not antique Springfields.

 

[TomADC]

Mines a new one an H&R Officers model the 100th anniversary one.
But I do shoot it.

 

[BHP FAN]

I have two, one an H&R plain troopers version circa 1976, and the other an original converted to ''Carbine'' and then more recently rebarreled with a premium quality barrel.

 

[rusty from italy]

That's mine H&R carbine dated 1973, 100 years past the original born

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Here in the field

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ciao
Rusty

 

[Iggy]

That is a beauty.

 

[ughlee52]

i too have an orignal 1873 trapdoor.as does my dad. we shoot BP and his cast bullets at a range in hotchkiss CO. The friends of Billy Dixon shooting comp there has a target of three mounted indians at a distance of 1538 yards. orignal leaf open sights are used. visit their web site for pics. www.friendsofbillydixon.org

 

[Loosenock]

I picked up this original '73 Springfield that has been cut down to carbine (on top). Perfect condition and bore.



'Loose

 

[HisSoldier]

Years ago we made two runs of ramrods for these, the old guy wanted us to make them in one piece but I couldn't figure out how Springfield made them, forged somehow I guessed. Well, all I have to make them is CNC lathes so we made ours in two pieces, the rod screwed onto the larger part, and where they met it was hard to see that they weren't one piece. I guess maybe we made 100 of them all together. Managed to lose money both times.

I still wonder some times how they made them originally, probably wire drawn from the larger part perhaps?

There were better designs to change the single shots to breech loaders, but the Trapdoor won out somehow. Our local pawn shop has one in .69 caliber (What centerfire cartridge was .69?), the breech piece swivels over from right to left to expose the chamber, there are few markings on the gun and the pawnshop FFL hasn't been able to find any reference either.

I should go buy it as a conversation piece.

 

[Pete D.]

orig

I have an original 1873 - a carbine - that was lovingly cared for by those who tended it before me. No pictures, sorry.
Pete