S/N info for my infamous WWII trapdoor

[rekkert]

I was told, years ago, that my trapdoor was one of the "infamous" WWII trapdoors and wanted to see if I can be the first to ask for s/n info here
to confirm it's past? S/N is 200913 (was that a Jan. 3rd 2009 date?) cartouche is an SWP and of course the ultra rare never found 1878ish, er 73 block, buffington sight, ect..... thanks for any help!

[Jim K]

I guess I will plead ignorance. What is a WWII Trapdoor, infamous or not?

Jim

[Bob - The Beagle Master]

It seems that when the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands at the start of WWII, they overwhelmed the 22 Alaska National Guard members of the Oppoua tribe who were defending Kiska and took their trapdoors as spoils of war.

These trapdoors were found to be without ammunition since the white eyes didn't trust the tribesmen with bullets but a search of a nearby Dick's Sporting Goods yielded several boxes of .410 shotgun shells which were found to fit the chambers.

The Japanese took the rifles and ammunition back to Japan where they were subsequently issued to Japanese soldiers. These soldiers were sent to southeast Asia where they captured Tibetian gong ringers and imprisoned them for the duration. One of these gong ringers attempted to escape and a Japanese guard shot at him with his trapdoor. Since the gong ringer was over 300 yards away the buckshot left him unharmed but the sound of the shot caused an avalanche which buried the prison camp and all of the remaining prisoners and their Japanese guards.

I had heard rumors that Global Warming had caused the snow to melt and that the rifles had been found. I sincerely hope that you will post pictures of these rare WWII Trapdoors so that all can see them and thank you for posting the information. :madsmile:

[John Sukey]

Interesting story.
In the early days of WW2 when rifles were urgently needed for the army, some sailors were walking guard in the Navy yards with trapdoors.

[shjoe]

i remember reading about the navy guards using trapdoors aswell. the war time stories of recruits marching with brooms is also correct. simply not enough weapons to go around. infact, as the war time urgency got worse, a special 45/70 cartridge was produced in limited numbers for use by the navy when boarding ships. their cut-down trapdoor rifle/carbines (receiver marked 4-1) were loaded with a cast 500gr bullet with a hollow cavity filled with explosive. as they approached a ship to be boarded, a volley of these rounds would be fired to provide an early version of "shock and awe". followed by a quick reload of 45/70 buckshot when boarding. each sailor was issued a cutlass, so after the ssecond round was fired, they resorted to 19th century warfare. very interesting reading showing our country during the early war years, "making do" with whatever was on hand. :D best john

[John Sukey]

They still use boarding cutlasses in basic training for the squad leaders, though I have been told they are not the originals.

Now lets not forget the 45-70 Line throwing guns.

[rekkert]

This one came up in the in the springfield report when it was online, and I just wanted to know if there was any more information on it, and if it had a better past then its ex navy WWII history.

[Kragman71]

I was told, years ago, that my trapdoor was one of the "infamous" WWII trapdoors and wanted to see if I can be the first to ask for s/n info here
to confirm it's past? S/N is 200913 (was that a Jan. 3rd 2009 date?) cartouche is an SWP and of course the ultra rare never found 1878ish, er 73 block, buffington sight, ect..... thanks for any help!

rekkert
According to my data,a 200,000 serial number indictes a receiver made in 1883.
The Buffington sight indicates a 1884 model.
Frank

[Jim K]

Some great stories there. I expect to hear about the avalanche from Al Gore any day now, as solid proof for global warming.

Jim

[rekkert]

I guess the buffington sight was added so the poor joe that had to carry it on the docks could poke holes in any sub that may have turned up! :move eek:

[Mk VII]

serial no. 200913 is recorded in the Springfield Research Service database as "WW2 donation to US Navy" in a reference dated 03/31/43. I bought the Vol.2 book that they issued in 1986 and it is in there. There are numerous other numbers listed under this reference and they run the whole gamut of the serial range. As for whatever the precise info is, you would have to pay them the $50 or whatever it is now to find out

[wayne10]

You have a WW2 donation from the wner to The US NAVY. Donated in 1943.

It is a historic gun.

Wayne
US MARTIAL ARMS COLLECTOR and SPRINGFIELD RESEARCH SERVICE

[Bear 45/70]

.................These trapdoors were found to be without ammunition since the white eyes didn't trust the tribesmen with bullets but a search of a nearby Dick's Sporting Goods yielded several boxes of .410 shotgun shells which were found to fit the chambers......................

The 410 DOES NOT fit the chamber of the 45/70 and will almost always slit the shot shell. The 410 and the 45 Long Colt have the same outside dimensions (except for length). The 45/70 is much larger diameter. Shoot 410 in a 45/70 will eventually damage the chamber. The 45/70 has a rim diameter of .600" and base diameter of .500", while the 410 has a rim diameter of .525" and a base diameter of .470". Not even close.