Any Trapdoor Gurus?

[Michael J. Spangler]

Hi guys and gals.

I picked up a couple trapdoors today. I don’t know much yet other than they have 28” barrels, are missing their hammers and are chambered in 50-70.
Once dinner is done I can get some pics together and try to sort them out.

I figured this would be the place to get some info or learn where to look to get sole info.

[M-Tecs]

https://gunsmagazine.com/our-experts/the-other-trapdoor-the-50-70/

[Michael J. Spangler]

275750
275751
275752
275753
275754
275755
275756
275757
275758
275759

Maybe these will help.

[single shot jimmy]

Model 1873 would be 45-70. 28 inch barrels should be cadets, not rifles if I remember correctly. Those are not cadet trigger guards, they wouldn't have sling swivels. Wonder why they are missing the hammers?

Check to see if the firing pins are frozen. You can find hammers on ebay. How do the bores look?

ETA The rear sights look to be from the earlier 50-70? Going from memory. Not really sure what you have there. Maybe parts guns.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Firing pins move freely.
They are indeed 50-70 chambers. I checked with a piece of brass.
Bores appear to be very nice.

[FLINTNFIRE]

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/mildateslookup.php?file=us_trapdoor.dat https://www.trapdoorcollector.com//index.html

I could not read serial numbers but check out these sites for some information

[M-Tecs]

Parts and info here:


https://trapdoorcollector.com/

The 1873 breech blocks are not correct for a 50/70 but sights and trigger guard looks correct for a 1868.

https://trapdoorcollector.com/m68.html

[koger]

I have a 1868 Trapdoor in 50/70. Mine is in much worse shape on the outside, with heavy pitting around the reciever and firs few inches of the barrel where it had been carried. These rifles were shipped in the white, one reason when you find one they are usually rough. Yours would grade at very good or better. Mine is rough on the outside, but has a mint brite bore.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Thank you. The bores on these are very nice surprisingly.

[Deadeye Bly]

They are certainly put together guns. The stocks and locks are 1873 models which should be in 45/70. The 1868 and 1870 models were 50/70 and used the percussion locks from the 1861 Springfield with a different hammer and had paneled areas around the locks. Perhaps these are Bannerman assembled rifles. He bought tons of surplus military goods and did whatever he could to make a buck.

[varsity07840]

They are certainly put together guns. The stocks and locks are 1873 models which should be in 45/70. The 1868 and 1870 models were 50/70 and used the percussion locks from the 1861 Springfield with a different hammer and had paneled areas around the locks. Perhaps these are Bannerman assembled rifles. He bought tons of surplus military goods and did whatever he could to make a buck.
My opinion, too.