1873 Springfeild Trapdoor Project

[AR22]

This is my latest shooter project..It was converted to a Fencing Rifle in the early 1900s..The barrels were cut shorter, as were the stocks and two holes drilled in the side of the barrels at the muzzle to attach a practice bayonet.Sights removed.Latch levers cutoff..Sidelocks removed..Sometimes they filled barrel with lead..This was was not..It has a pristine bore..

Something like this a labor of love and I likely have more in it than it is worth to anyone else..But I am no stranger to that scenario,LOL I have a total of round 600.00 in it..It is probably worth 400.00,LOL

Anyway here a pic of what I started with and a couple completed pics..It turned out pretty cool and I do like it though..

[Ora Serrata]

Nice! Thanks for sharing. I picked up a similar one at auction a couple years ago. It has a shortened barrel with only one drilled hole in the muzzle. And a shortened forestock. On mine I had to file the stock around the lock mechanism because the hammer wasn’t fully hitting the cap.

[AR22]

Thanks..I sent a PM back with what help I can provide you.

I was able to cut down my barrel to Carbine length and eliminate the two holes in the muzzle ,and re crowned the barrel in the Lathe eliminating the errant holes all together.

[Ora Serrata]

Here are some pics of mine. Thanks again for posting, I hadn't heard of the fencing trapdoors before, but that makes sense for mine. I've cleaned it up a bit since these pics were taken, but I still haven't shot it yet.

[pitfighter]

Love these kind of restoration posts, nice job!

[MasterChief]

Nice saves!

OP: Would like to see more, evenly illuminated pictures of your completed project!

[AR22]

Thanks


I will take some out in the Sunlight tomorrow and post em..

[Darto]

The 3 greatest American guns from the civil war to wwi all in the same year: Springfield Armory, Colt, and Winchester. Hollywood producers could not walk into a gun store to buy trapdoors for their stockrooms, so the western movies showed Colts and Winchesters. Often even by the cavalry.

[Enzo rules]

Looking good OP.

[AR22]

Thanks

I did not get more pics today..Got busy working on another project and forgot.. Tomorrow

[Springfield45]

Great job OP! Good way to keep these old war horses going. I have an old Nepalese P1853 Enfield that has the muzzle rusted out and I am thinking I could shorten it to a two band P1858 Enfield model.

[Wyatt Burp]

[Notpc]

Great job OP!
My Dad left me one. He actually hunted with it. It sets in the back of the safe. It looks like someone did a rough job of turning it into a carbine, before Dad picked it up in a trade. I think the few shells I have for it are black powder. Dad told me that the gun was supposedly used in the Modoc Indian war. No documents to back that up though.

[smle-man]

The 3 greatest American guns from the civil war to wwi all in the same year: Springfield Armory, Colt, and Winchester. Hollywood producers could not walk into a gun store to buy trapdoors for their stockrooms, so the western movies showed Colts and Winchesters. Often even by the cavalry.

In the 1965 movie 'Shenandoah" with Jimmy Stewart, the soldiers are armed with trapdoor Springfields in lieu of muskets. Hollywood can never get it right!

[sbo80]

Job very well done. Though I'm curious why not leave it in that configuration and get a proper practice bayonet for it? They are an interesting, and legitimate military configuration. I'll admit I'd probably never buy one, but there can't be that many around.