The last chapter of the Trapdoor rifles -serial number 561529 dated 1893.

[Tom in N.J.]

I have a Model 1884 Type 2 cadet rifle, 1893, #564257. One piece trigger guard with sling swivels. I believe the last of the last were made up for school use. Checking Waite / Ernst, I see the last 4320 rifles made were cadet rifles.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Rafsob]

This is my addition to your post. She is serial number 503800:











As of right now, I shoot only black powder in her. She is very accurate for a gun that is over 110 years old. I picked this beauty up about 8 yrs ago for $500. The barrel has a nice patina to it. But when I removed the stock from the barrel, the underside of the barrel was a beautiful blue. I believe she was made in 1889.

[No4Mk1(T)]

Here is mine. Ser # 5631xx. She's well warn but has a very nice bore. Only thing wrong is it presently has a Carbine back sight ladder.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Condition wise and age wise -

WOW! Those are some beautiful late trapdoors. I only know a little about them and I didn't know they went to a rod bayonet later. That's really interesting. I guess the design carried onto the first 1903 Springfield with the rod bayonet before they decided to go back to a standard bayonet. I read that Teddy Roosevelt didn't like the rod bayonet idea for the 1903

Before my father passed away several years ago he gave me this older model trapdoor that his young business partner had given to him because he didn't want it.
(I didn't even know what it was when he gave it to me)

His partner's grandfather gave it to my dad's partner years earlier and he didn't like guns so he kept it out in his garage. When he got married his yuppie wife told him she didn't want a gun in the house so he gave it to my dad, and my dad gave it to me because he knew I collected old military guns. My dad had a large collection of hunting rifles and several handguns but he didn't have any interest in military rifles. He said after having to lug a heavy Garand around in Korea he had all he wanted of them.

It was covered in grime and surface rust, and the stock was so bone dry it was splitting open. I carefully cleaned it up and put probably the first oil on it that it had seen in 30 years or more, and also soaked the poor old stock with linseed oil. The open grain closed up fairly well after a while.

It was rode hard and put up wet (literally) After the hard life it had, I figure it was more a 'relic' condition but thought it looked nice enough to display as a wall hangar. At least it has a better home than piled with shovels and rakes in some garage.

It's dated 1878, SN 188218 -

I have a collection of WWI and WWII US firearms and it was interesting to discover an earlier firearm made by Springfield than my 1903's. I only know a little about trapdoors from what I've read on the internet. Does anyone know if there's a good basic book about trapdoors that tells the history etc? I'd like to learn a little more about them just for interest, but don't need an advanced book. Down the road I'd love to get a nice one, and maybe something I could shoot. I know there's a learning curve like everything else and I like to study up before doing anything.

Thanks,
~ Harlan

[Emri]

Here you go Harlon,

Take your pick.

Amazon.com: william brophy: Books

We both know about Poyer's book about M1903's, but I can't make any comments about this one listed here. Maybe Craig Reisch kept him on a truthful path.

Also, Flayderman's Guide to Antoque Firearms has a nice chapter on them with a lot of info.

HTH,

Emri

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Thanks Emri,

I wouldn't have associated either of them with trapdoors but I trust them 1903's and M1 carbines.

The price is sure right at $15!