Any Trap Door experts?

[pmanton]

I screwed up and bought an 1892 Trapdoor before I did any homework.

It has been shortened, and the mechanism for the rod bayonet is missing, the Buffington rear sight is in terrible shape, etc etc.

Question. Is the rear sight spacing, thread size and pitch the same between years? Could I put an earlier rear sight on easily?

How is the front sight fastened to the barrel ?
I am considering making it into a carbine look a like.

It's a shame since what remains of the original rifle is in excellent shape.

 

[diyj98]

I'm not a Trapdoor expert or an expert in anything, but I've owned a number of Trapdoors over the years. Your rifle is an 1888 Trapdoor. 1892 is probably just the manufacture date as seen in the cartouche on the side of the stock.

Any Buffington sight should work, but I can't swear the spacing on the 1873 type sight is the same since I don't currently have one to measure.

I believe the front sights were soldered on. Replacement shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[cgt4570]

You can do a decent 'carbine' clone by inletting a carbine saddle ring and base on the left side. You can silver solder a carbine style sight base on the shortened barrel. Carbine 'Buffington' rear sights are pricey, but you can use a regular rifle rear sight, since it isn't an original carbine.
Check with The U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Rifle Information Center .
I've bought rifles and parts there. Great guys!
I have a nearly new 1873 rifle and a well used 1884 carbine. Both are great shooters.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a TD rifle cutdown into a carbine. I glued a wooden dowel into the cleaning rod channel and stained it to match the stock. You can barely tell it.

 

[waffles]

Yeah, I've got one in the den to keep meddling kids at bay. If one of those rubes pulls on the candelabra it'll drop and trap them and their goofy dog.

Oh woops might be talking about the wrong trap door.

 

[Kid44]

Trap Door Expert

My treehouse had a trap door in it.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I have a carbine TD that had no rear sight on it when it came to me. I've mounted both Buffington and 1873 style rear rifle sights on it so the mounting screw placement is the same. It being a carbine, and a slightly sporterized on at that, I stayed with the 1873 sight and sold off the Buffington. The latter are bringing from $125 to $150.
My carbine is not cut down but shows no cartouches, has a checked fore stock and had the front sight cut off and a ramp sight installed. better for shootin', not so much fer collecting. I believe it is likely a Bannerman special.

John

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A carbine uses a 4 click action a rifle uses a 3 click action. You can always tell the difference.

I have an 1873 carbine, the serial number is either very very late 1874 or 1875, but only 5 were made in 1875.

Ivan

 

[Golddollar]

My treehouse had a trap door in it.

So did my long johns.

 

[StrawHat]

A carbine uses a 4 click action a rifle uses a 3 click action. You can always tell the difference.

I have an 1873 carbine, the serial number is either very very late 1874 or 1875, but only 5 were made in 1875.

Ivan

I never knew that! I must have fired or handled 50 of the Springfield Single Shot long guns and never noticed that!

I come here to learn.

Kevin

 

[Muley Gil]

]A carbine uses a 4 click action a rifle uses a 3 click action. You can always tell the difference.[/B]

I have an 1873 carbine, the serial number is either very very late 1874 or 1875, but only 5 were made in 1875.

Ivan

The question I have is WHY the differences? When you say "action", do you mean opening the trapdoor to insert the cartridge or cocking the hammer?

 

[jake1945]

Al Frasca's website has a bunch of trapdoor accessories for sale as well as a lot of answers. The 'Jouster forum' has a section on trapdoors. Dick Hosmer is also an expert with them.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The question I have is WHY the differences? When you say "action", do you mean opening the trapdoor to insert the cartridge or cocking the hammer?

When you cock the hammer.

Ivan

 

[diyj98]

A carbine uses a 4 click action a rifle uses a 3 click action. You can always tell the difference.

I have an 1873 carbine, the serial number is either very very late 1874 or 1875, but only 5 were made in 1875.

Ivan

I'm not sure that's correct. I've owned examples of both and don't ever remember any difference in the hammer clicks. Why would there be any differences in the lockwork?

I may be reading your post wrong, but Al Frasca's site shows 7,211 carbines built in 1875.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

A carbine uses a 4 click action a rifle uses a 3 click action. You can always tell the difference.

I have an 1873 carbine, the serial number is either very very late 1874 or 1875, but only 5 were made in 1875.

Ivan

I'm not sure what you mean by "4 click action" but there were
two different tumblers used in the manufacture and repair of
the Springfield "Trapdoor" rifle.

Originally, the tumblers were two position (safety and full).
Then in August of 1874 a memorandum was generated
specifying that carbines would be fitted with a 3 position
tumblers (safety, loading, and full). By December 1876,
the same three position tumbler was now standard for
both rifles and carbines. Earlier firearms that were repaired
after that date would have the later 3 position tumblers installed.


Cheers,
Webb

 

[smoothshooter]

Do some work on iut and turn it into a decent Sporting Rifle.
There were so many variations thay you should be ablt to find pictures of one that suits you to copy.
For replacement parts try Dixie Gun Works, S & S Supply, etc.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I should have added that there is a difference between the carbine and rifle rear sights. Carbine are marked "C", rifle "R". The calibration marking are different due to the different loads used. Both the sights I used on my carbine were actually rifle marked but both were adjustable for use with my carbine and smokeless loads (10-14 gr Unique).

John

 

[cwneely]

The front sight base is attached by a shallow dovetail and then brazed. The whole is then machined off so that it appears to be one piece. Probably more secure than you will need but a good idea on a military rifle.
All the rear sights have the same hole spacing.