Trapdoor Rifles

Does anyone have any sort of notes or census figures shwoing the number of Long Range trapdoors with SHARPS rear sights.

Both the recently discovered LRRs from Baltimore and the Single Shot news have the Sharps sight. Someone suggested that the Ordnance Department bought 24 sights, but I have no idea if that is accurate or documented or just "gun show gossip."

Any info would be appreciated.

I do not recall where just now, but I definitely have seen it somewhere "official", most likely in Al's material - perhaps the Newsletter.

As you know, specimens have only been recorded from 162001 to 162048. I was incredibly fortunate to have had custodianship of 162036 for almost 20 years.

The emergence of previously unknown 162012 has brought the discovered total to eight. Surely there are a few more hiding in closets around the country - it is unlikely that such a work of art would have been trashed.

This is in the Newsletter

These are on the known LRR #162045 shown on pg 94 of Al's book.

Those are exactly the same as the sights on 162036. I assume the barrel is NOT drilled & tapped at all?

Correct. No holes. I have not shot it yet but hope to by eoy. The new "find" in BPN is sure amazing. Are we now looking at 9 known?

I looked back at John's post re Baltimore and he said the number was "correct" - don't know if that meant it was in range (and known) or a new number. So, it is at least 8, with the possibility of 9. I truly do suspect there are others out there. Might not be an OM, but, I'm sure that any family who had one would treasure it and not cut it down, etc. We reach, and interact with, only a TINY percentage of the TD-owning community at large.