Trapdoor Rifles

Okay, we have a suggested method to remove the crud from the metal, but what about getting it off the wood?

My guess is that it is nicotine stains from tobacco smoke, which will leave a brown residue on metal and wood. I have been searching for a SAFE way to remove tobacco smoke stains from guns for quite a while, and not really having much luck. It is a common problem, and antique dealers and house resto...

The short version of the "star" serial numbers on trapdoors is on the FAQ part of the main Trapdoor Collector site, but see Al Frasca's books for detailed discussion and analysis.
https://www.armscollectors.com/trapdoor/FAQ.html

If you had a bunch of money, you could have walked out of this year's Baltimore show with a pretty complete collection- I noticed a positive cam, a couple of Metcalfes (likely restorations), M1884 experimental rod bayonet models, a long range model, lots of 1873, 1877, 1879, 1884 and 1888 models and...

Update March 22- Talked with Jack's son, who was there. Jack is doing well, in good spirits with good care. He will basically have daily "wound care" for a month or so to ensure that the would heals from the inside out, avoiding infection, etc. There will be extensive physical therapy and ...

Believe Dick Hosmer, not IMA. Although IMA does a pretty decent job on their very detailed descriptions, they are not experts on all things and sometimes make mistakes (as with any cataloger). Absent any documentation, the only known trapdoors which were nickel plated for service use were the M1868s...

Certainly not an Army approved combination of stock and action, but "good enough" match of parts for someone to use as a shooter. Of course the collector value is greatly diminished, but for a shooter it still has some value. Why? Lot of loose parts on the market over the last 125 years so...

Jack Lewis, trapdoor guru and occasional poster here is home from the hospital. Report from someone who has talked with him is: "Through and Through 308 [to his leg]. - missed all vital structures and bones - fantastic news. He's doing well, to undergo home health - wound care, dressing changes...

Ever since full interchangeability became armory standard with the Model 1842, the quality of work was amazing. Enforced by careful use of gauges and the miracle of modern machinery capable of holding tight tolerances--- when operated by skilled craftsmen or women, At various times I have found new ...

A site devoted to the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth uses this as a header, so that is the probable location. https://fieldgradeleader.themilitaryleader.com/cgsc-overview/ I do not know for sure if JJP ever attended C&GS College. He had an interesting career- Teddy Roosevel...