"Reverse Trapdoor" conversions

[John S.]

Okay, everyone here is familiar with the half million Erskine Allin trapdoor rifle models 1865 through 1888. THe trapdoors on these are hinged at the front and open forward.

But, there were also some trapdoors hinged at the rear and open rearward. Ed Hull has written a very detailed article on these, published in the Fall 2020 American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin.
Enjoy!
https://americansocietyofarmscollectors ... L-v122.pdf

[FrankD]

Thank you for sharing great article.

[John S.]

Don't thank me, I just posted a link.

Thank Ed Hull who has consistently done great research and writing. And, he has been doing that since the mid 1970s!
I heard he is putting together a compilation of his many articles, and I highly recommend them for convenient access. Most are trapdoor era. I hope he will post details on what is available and how to order.

[carlsr]

Found that article when searching for information on my Miller conversion.
Excellent information on those early conversions!!

[Ehull]

The first volume is out on Amazon- Antique Firearms 1849-1899, A four Decade Anthology

Working on Vol II.

[John S.]

Ed is a great researcher and writer, but a lousy salesman. He did not provide a link.

So, here is a link to the paperback version for us dinosaurs who like dead trees:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6Y4XTPR?bi ... 698&sr=8-1

Also available as a Kindle book for juveniles who understand all that digital stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Antique-Firearms ... 167&sr=8-2

The description is:
The era of the mid 1800s saw rapid advances in the design of breechloading longarms for the use of the American military. Some well known firearms inventors such as Christian Sharps, Ambrose Burnside and Christian Spencer saw much success in profiting from their innovative designs. Yet the ideas of other inventors were less successful — or even outright failures — due to many factors: impractical designs, manufacturing difficulties, cartridge deficiencies or just poor timing. Consequently, these inventors and their firearms have been all but forgotten…until now. Some inventors, such as Alonzo Perry, George Morse and Albert Ball saw their designs adopted by the U.S. Army and Navy. Yet another 13 inventors were far less fortunate and their stories are also told here.

The author's over four decades of research and writing are collected in this anthology’s first volume of 18 chapters, with following volumes in the series that include 40 years of published articles from a variety of magazines and journals. This volume discusses the following breechloading military longarms designs:

Whitney-Laidley Rifle Peabody Carbine

Colt-Laidley Rifle Broughton Rifle

Perry Carbines Belgian "Allin" Rifles

Brand Patent Firearms Maynard Muskets

Marsh Musket Morse Conversion Muskets and Rifles

Ashcroft Rifle Wilson & Flather Musket

Crispin Rifles Hubbell Musket

Clement Musket Van Choate Musket

Conroy Rifles Lamson's Ball Patent Muskets

W.X. Stevens Carbine


NOTE- I do hope that his piece on U.S. Arms sold for the Franco Prussian War is included in a future volume. IMHO, that is an exceptionally important and insightful article virtually ignored by all other writers.

[Ehull]

“ NOTE- I do hope that his piece on U.S. Arms sold for the Franco Prussian War is included in a future volume. IMHO, that is an exceptionally important and insightful article virtually ignored by all other writers.”

This is in Vol. II. It’s a couple of months away.

[carlsr]

Thanks for posting the link John S., Ordered one this morning.
Looking forward to reading your book Ehull!

[45govt]

“ NOTE- I do hope that his piece on U.S. Arms sold for the Franco Prussian War is included in a future volume. IMHO, that is an exceptionally important and insightful article virtually ignored by all other writers.”

This is in Vol. II. It’s a couple of months away.

Received my copy today and will be interested to read about the Laidley guns.

[Dick Hosmer]

Neat little treasure. I have the standard (army) volume.