color me surprised !!!

[bigted]

i found this trapdoor on gunjoker and put a bid of $425 on what i thought was just a refinished 1878 model springfield that had been refinished and chopped down shorter then a carbine from a rifle length rifle. this rifle had the bore reamed out to a smooth bore and chopped back to what apeared as around 18 inch. had the buffington rear sight but no front. there was a long "projectile" with a ring on it that was described as brass that was suppose to be used for throwing line ["small rope"] and the wood and metal was very smooth and in very good shape in the photo's

i kinda didnt want it but figured that i could re-barrel and maybe wind up with a nice shooter carbine of mostly vintage origins. HOWEVER.......

my $425 bid ,,,with only a couple hours left,,,was sadly overbid with a very surprising bid. it sold while i slept in my chair for a bid of $1250.00 ...yep twelve hundred and fifty dollars !!!!!!!

so has anybody else heard of this configuration and use of an old springfield? im just searching for information...either the other feller got snookered big time or i was biding on something WAY outta my knowledge/pocketbook at this time. i had no intention of trying to get something for nothing as the feller selling it obviously didnt know what he had either if it was of value as a line throwing unit.

thanks for the information.

Ted[smilie=s:

[Reg]

Wow !! I have heard of "sniping" and do it myself on occasion but that is a special case !!!! Someone really was on to something or someone really got stupid. Now days it takes a good Trapdoor to bring that kind of money.

:popcorn:

[M-Tecs]

Navy and fire departments used them. Some info here. Saw one as a kid. It was in a carrying case like in the two last links. It was marked New York Fire department.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/showthread.php?27660-Ray-Meteka-s-Rope-Gun-on-Pawn-Stars

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/cgi-bin/afrasca/bulletin/config.pl?read=15559

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gunlistings.org/uploads/1_collectibles_springfield_model_1873_trapdoor_rif le_107178.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gunlistings.org/ohio-gun-classifieds/cincinnati/collectibles/107178/springfield_model_1873_trapdoor_rifle&h=371&w=495&sz=109&tbnid=gNYhpdGTTn0_nM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=136&zoom=1&usg=__jFU_Pj2xx0s6C0A96PF-jKRCaX0=&docid=siqoRP1k7RwLFM&sa=X&ei=TQOzUO_lKcO9ywHwlIHADw&ved=0CGYQ9QEwCQ&dur=305

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/9070232709/8723140/line.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum%3D8723140&h=360&w=700&sz=42&tbnid=KLQU_i-6lPyGDM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=136&zoom=1&usg=__Fra6HFIcok4_PSlwp1Bbchrj8rQ=&docid=7QPh6VqumyjMbM&sa=X&ei=TQOzUO_lKcO9ywHwlIHADw&ved=0CGAQ9QEwBw&dur=449

http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/springfield-model-1884-trap-door-line-throwing-gu-1-c-5e2629aba6

[bigted]

very cool. guess i seemed to be a bit igorant on this one but i hope the seller got the rite sale outta it. he stated that he didnt know anything about it so maybe the top bidder did do him rite.

thanks for the information.

while ive got you,,,where could i find what year corresponds with the serial numbers on trapdoors...such as a 498xxx number was manufactured in what year?

thanks again.

[M-Tecs]

http://trapdoorcollector.com/production.html

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/mildateslookup.php?file=us_trapdoor.dat

[bigted]

thankyou kindly

[Ed in North Texas]

In addition to Trapdoor conversions, purpose made Martini action line throwing guns were "common" at one time also. In fact they might have been more common than the Tradoors. They may have mostly been made by BSA, and maybe Greener.

Ed