Please check your trapdoor serial numbers against this list

[John S.]

INFORMATION NEEDED ON "WWII DONATION TO US NAVY" Trapdoors

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THESE TRAPDOORS?
WHAT IS THEIR CURRENT CONFIGURATION-
A- Line throwing gun with barrel cut to about 12-14 inches?
B- Normal rifle, cadet or carbine configuration?
C- Something else?

The 850 numbers listed below are from records in the National Archives as "WWII DONATION TO US NAVY"
All but two are listed as 1884 rifles (one 1873 and one 1888), although serial numbers range from low of 1863 to high of 590924 plus one obvious typo listing for 858230 (which I deleted). This suggests that they may be any sort of trapdoor, administratively marked down as 1884. Or, Frank Mallory may have arbitrarily assigned an 1884 designation based on context indicating trapdoor of some sort but not specified in the document.

Transaction date is 31 March 1943 for about 95%, with remainder mostly 7 May or 22 May 1943, with a lot of the lower numbers in these later dates. I do not have a copy or context for the original document, but it sounds like an inventory report for rifles donated for USN use during WW2. But, for what purpose? There is no indication the Navy used trapdoor line throwers in WW1 or WW2, although they were used on some merchant vessels.

Thanks for checking!


TRAPDOOR
SERIAL MODEL MMDDYY
1863 84R 033143
2296 84R 033143
5176 84R 033143
5479 73R 052243
5965 84R 033143
8509 84R 050743
8905 84R 050743
8977 84R 050743
9056 84R 033143
10464 84R 033143
13728 84R 033143
14482 84R 033143
14860 84R 050743
15809 84R 050743
16049 84R 050743
16313 84R 033143
16696 84R 050743
16815 84R 050743
17399 84R 050743
18341 84R 050743
18613 84R 050743
19402 84R 050743
19982 84R 050743
21651 84R 050743
22744 84R 033143
23863 84R 050743
24145 84R 050743
24613 84R 050743
24962 84R 050743
25169 84R 050743
26261 84R 050743
27796 84R 050743
28155 84R 050743
28980 84R 052243
29245 84R 050743
29681 84R 033143
29692 84R 070743
29969 84R 050743
30539 84R 033143
30884 73R 052243
31511 84R 033143
39265 73R 052243
39876 84R 052243
41637 84R 050743
44857 84R 050743
46551 84R 033143
47801 84R 033143
48240 84R 033143
48286 84R 033143
48537 84R 033143
48964 84R 033143
49035 84R 033143
49301 84R 033143
49307 84R 033143
49661 84R 033143
50267 84R 033143
50366 84R 033143
50587 84R 033143
50779 84R 052243
50950 84R 033143
51394 84R 033143
55559 84R 033143
56462 84R 033143
56721 84R 033143
56762 84R 033143
56828 84R 033143
56966 84R 033143
57325 84R 033143
57347 84R 033143
59416 84R 033143
59591 84R 033143
59734 84R 033143
59961 84R 033143
60115 84R 033143
60895 84R 033143
61670 84R 033143
62560 84R 033143
65338 84R 033143
65566 84R 033143
66727 73R 052243
67949 84R 033143
68154 84R 033143
68172 84R 033143
68210 84R 033143
68217 84R 033143
68396 84R 033143
68485 84R 033143
68525 84R 033143
68631 84R 033143
68637 84R 033143
68740 84R 033143
68793 84R 033143
68937 84R 033143
69460 84R 033143
69551 84R 033143
69619 84R 033143
69773 84R 033143
69834 84R 033143
69868 84R 033143
71712 84R 033143
72634 84R 033143
77246 84R 033143
77255 84R 033143
77745 84R 033143
78641 84R 033143
78824 84R 033143
78976 84R 033143
79062 84R 033143
79071 84R 033143
79492 84R 033143
79501 84R 033143
79516 84R 033143
79583 84R 033143
79585 84R 033143
79606 84R 033143
79619 84R 033143
79639 84R 033143
79643 84R 033143
79645 84R 033143
79674 84R 033143
79700 84R 033143
79757 84R 033143
79782 84R 033143
79809 84R 033143
79815 84R 033143
79854 84R 033143
79861 84R 033143
79887 84R 033143
79888 84R 033143
79908 84R 033143
79913 84R 033143
79928 84R 033143
79931 84R 033143
79961 84R 033143
80019 84R 033143
80024 84R 033143
80072 84R 033143
80089 84R 033143
80162 84R 033143
80163 84R 033143
80166 84R 033143
80222 84R 033143
80237 84R 033143
80258 84R 033143
80302 84R 033143
80484 84R 033143
80548 84R 033143
80585 84R 033143
83296 84R 033143
83375 84R 033143
83826 84R 033143
83868 84R 033143
83907 84R 033143
84178 84R 033143
84231 84R 033143
84384 84R 033143
84422 84R 033143
84528 84R 033143
84819 84R 033143
84963 84R 033143
85131 84R 033143
85300 84R 033143
85419 84R 033143
85617 84R 033143
85910 84R 033143
87000 84R 033143
89133 84R 033143
89319 84R 033143
90747 84R 033143
91378 84R 033143
91743 84R 033143
92147 84R 033143
92157 84R 033143
92231 84R 033143
92300 84R 033143
92340 84R 052243
92412 84R 033143
92461 84R 033143
92469 84R 033143
92497 84R 033143
92502 84R 033143
92581 84R 033143
92604 84R 033143
92627 84R 033143
92714 84R 033143
92730 84R 033143
92742 84R 033143
92766 84R 033143
92776 84R 033143
92827 84R 033143
92931 84R 033143
92941 84R 033143
93040 84R 033143
93233 84R 033143
93314 84R 033143
93523 84R 033143
93605 84R 033143
93667 84R 033143
93925 84R 033143
93936 84R 033143
94375 84R 033143
94410 84R 033143
94802 84R 033143
95225 84R 033143
95345 84R 033143
95432 84R 033143
95487 84R 033143
95520 84R 033143
95529 84R 033143
95573 84R 033143
95594 84R 033143
95743 84R 033143
95903 84R 033143
95921 84R 033143
95923 84R 033143
95930 84R 033143
96494 84R 033143
97867 84R 033143
98468 84R 033143
98609 84R 033143
98767 84R 033143
99170 84R 033143
99285 84R 033143
99573 84R 033143
99712 84R 033143
99740 84R 033143
99852 84R 033143
99861 84R 033143
99917 84R 033143
99964 84R 033143
99976 84R 033143
100406 84R 033143
101164 84R 033143
101362 84R 033143
101369 84R 033143
101457 84R 033143
101543 84R 033143
101715 84R 033143
101863 84R 033143
101889 84R 033143
101902 84R 033143
102387 84R 033143
102574 84R 033143
103028 84R 033143
103060 84R 033143
103193 84R 033143
103381 84R 033143
103617 84R 033143
103664 84R 033143
103789 84R 033143
103798 84R 033143
103835 84R 033143
103845 84R 033143
104187 84R 033143
104628 84R 033143
104892 84R 033143
106059 84R 033143
107328 84R 033143
107366 84R 033143
107875 84R 033143
107995 84R 033143
108089 84R 033143
108093 84R 033143
108195 84R 033143
108394 84R 033143
109165 84R 033143
109477 84R 033143
109480 84R 033143
110209 84R 033143
110773 84R 033143
112023 84R 033143
112032 84R 033143
112039 84R 033143
112048 84R 033143
112624 84R 033143
113340 84R 033143
114047 84R 033143
114377 84R 033143
114567 84R 033143
114615 84R 033143
114626 84R 033143
115124 84R 033143
115146 84R 033143
115223 84R 033143
115691 84R 033143
115712 84R 033143
116507 84R 033143
116565 84R 033143
116581 84R 033143
117381 84R 033143
117401 84R 033143
117404 84R 033143
117459 84R 033143
117499 84R 033143
117556 84R 033143
117602 84R 033143
117619 84R 033143
117635 84R 033143
117647 84R 033143
117870 84R 033143
118041 84R 033143
118102 84R 033143
118276 84R 033143
118369 84R 033143
118437 84R 033143
118647 84R 033143
118662 84R 033143
118683 84R 033143
118865 84R 033143
118955 84R 033143
119015 84R 033143
119311 84R 033143
119316 84R 033143
119346 84R 033143
119515 84R 033143
119563 84R 033143
119902 84R 033143
119951 84R 033143
119959 84R 033143
120311 84R 033143
120405 84R 033143
120476 84R 033143
120547 84R 033143
120658 84R 033143
120665 84R 052243
120666 84R 033143
120804 84R 033143
120818 84R 033143
120900 84R 033143
120902 84R 033143
120931 84R 033143
121700 84R 033143
121743 84R 033143
121806 84R 033143
121822 84R 033143
122063 84R 033143
122614 84R 033143
122618 84R 033143
123557 84R 033143
123922 84R 033143
124006 84R 033143
124324 84R 033143
126152 84R 033143
126849 84R 033143
126870 84R 033143
129142 84R 033143
129560 84R 033143
130372 84R 033143
130900 84R 033143
131068 84R 033143
131217 84R 033143
134310 84R 033143
136816 84R 033143
144054 84R 052243
145523 84R 033143
151851 84R 033143
152919 84R 033143
158035 84R 033143
159777 84R 033143
159854 84R 033143
160379 84R 033143
160412 84R 033143
160789 84R 033143
161950 84R 033143
163967 84R 033143
164390 84R 033143
164575 84R 033143
164661 84R 033143
166788 84R 033143
167916 84R 033143
169794 84R 033143
174441 84R 033143
174980 84R 033143
175260 84R 033143
175382 84R 033143
180655 84R 033143
180663 84R 052243
180683 84R 033143
180698 84R 033143
181685 84R 041943
184875 84R 033143
186027 84R 033143
186245 84R 033143
186401 84R 033143
186446 84R 033143
190078 84R 033143
190501 84R 033143
190512 84R 033143
190595 84R 033143
190601 84R 033143
190672 84R 033143
190752 84R 033143
190785 84R 033143
190797 84R 033143
190802 84R 033143
190833 84R 033143
190863 84R 033143
190873 84R 033143
190984 84R 033143
191145 84R 033143
191663 84R 033143
191743 84R 033143
191934 84R 033143
191939 84R 033143
192011 84R 033143
192177 84R 033143
192183 84R 033143
192223 84R 033143
192226 84R 033143
192235 84R 033143
192272 84R 033143
192299 84R 033143
192397 84R 033143
192529 84R 033143
199819 84R 033143
200424 84R 033143
200812 84R 033143
200860 84R 033143
200913 84R 033143
201095 84R 033143
201150 84R 033143
202857 84R 033143
203095 84R 033143
203185 84R 033143
203208 84R 033143
203528 84R 033143
206874 84R 033143
208073 84R 033143
208323 84R 033143
209825 84R 033143
210351 84R 033143
210998 84R 033143
211337 84R 033143
211806 84R 033143
212252 84R 033143
212318 84R 033143
213158 84R 033143
217438 84R 033143
219338 84R 033143
220768 84R 033143
221741 84R 033143
223369 84R 052243
224773 84R 052243
225726 84R 033143
228668 84R 033143
230536 84R 033143
234363 84R 033143
237719 84R 033143
238014 84R 033143
238253 84R 033143
238307 84R 033143
242675 84R 052243
244311 84R 033143
244981 84R 052243
246289 84R 033143
251210 84R 033143
253326 84R 033143
255070 84R 033143
256758 84R 033143
258446 84R 033143
259258 84R 033143
269131 84R 033143
274413 84R 033143
274643 84R 052243
275192 84R 033143
275445 84R 033143
276517 84R 033143
276800 84R 033143
281109 84R 033143
282378 84R 033143
288581 84R 033143
288957 84R 033143
292415 84R 033143
293069 84R 033143
294245 84R 033143
295897 84R 033143
295907 84R 033143
295949 84R 033143
296672 84R 033143
297061 84R 033143
297408 84R 033143
298000 84R 033143
298393 84R 033143
299548 84R 033143
299841 84R 033143
301149 84R 033143
301235 84R 033143
301517 84R 033143
301756 84R 033143
303156 84R 033143
303163 84R 033143
303524 84R 033143
304574 84R 052243
304613 84R 033143
305346 84R 033143
305699 84R 033143
305735 84R 033143
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307137 84R 033143
308580 84R 033143
309493 84R 033143
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313253 84R 033143
313254 84R 033143
313305 84R 033143
313312 84R 033143
314797 84R 033143
314800 84R 033143
314989 84R 033143
315071 84R 033143
316320 84R 033143
316663 84R 033143
317310 84R 033143
317894 84R 033143
317960 84R 033143
318102 84R 033143
318389 84R 033143
320494 84R 012544
321765 84R 033143
321848 84R 033143
321932 84R 033143
321997 84R 033143
322027 84R 033143
322630 84R 033143
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328232 84R 033143
328605 84R 033143
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329100 84R 033143
329234 84R 033143
330140 84R 033143
330294 84R 033143
330503 84R 033143
331553 84R 033143
331585 84R 033143
332035 84R 033143
332060 84R 033143
332137 84R 033143
332352 84R 033143
332742 84R 033143
332968 84R 033143
333002 84R 033143
333121 84R 033143
333504 84R 033143
333505 84R 033143
333844 84R 012544
333979 84R 033143
334265 84R 033143
334574 84R 033143
334998 84R 033143
335877 84R 033143
336477 84R 033143
338811 84R 033143
339800 84R 033143
339856 84R 080143
339938 84R 033143
339992 84R 033143
340032 84R 033143
340302 84R 033143
345594 84R 033143
346166 84R 033143
348133 84R 033143
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350083 84R 033143
350384 84R 033143
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359115 84R 033143
359808 84R 033143
360100 84R 033143
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361464 84R 033143
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365534 84R 033143
367383 84R 033143
369566 84R 033143
370268 84R 033143
373304 84R 033143
373364 84R 033143
373674 84R 033143
373697 84R 052243
373706 84R 033143
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374068 84R 033143
374639 84R 033143
374805 84R 033143
375082 84R 033143
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375340 84R 033143
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376018 84R 033143
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385591 84R 033143
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387000 84R 033143
387138 84R 033143
387297 84R 033143
388095 84R 033143
390968 84R 033143
390998 84R 033143
391034 84R 033143
391039 84R 033143
391529 84R 052243
391554 84R 033143
391851 84R 033143
391981 84R 033143
392034 84R 033143
392048 84R 033143
392246 84R 033143
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396149 84R 033143
396309 84R 033143
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405149 84R 033143
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406435 84R 033143
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408185 84R 033143
408432 84R 033143
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408458 84R 033143
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408693 84R 033143
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408800 84R 033143
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436206 84R 033143
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437388 84R 033143
438366 84R 033143
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473019 84R 033143
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476304 84R 033143
476829 84R 033143
477678 84R 033143
478621 84R 033143
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479824 84R 033143
480001 84R 033143
480261 84R 033143
480279 84R 033143
480471 84R 033143
480491 84R 033143
480655 84R 033143
480663 84R 033143
480962 84R 033143
481101 84R 033143
481234 84R 033143
481285 84R 033143
482540 84R 033143
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485279 84R 033143
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497119 84R 033143
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497362 84R 033143
498678 84R 033143
498876 84R 033143
501843 84R 033143
502019 84R 033143
502160 84R 033143
502468 84R 033143
502695 84R 033143
503006 84R 033143
503020 84R 033143
503043 84R 033143
503110 84R 033143
503179 84R 033143
503438 84R 033143
525125 84R 033143
525146 84R 033143
525167 84R 033143
546702 88R 052243
559939 84R 052243
583441 84R 033143
590924 84R 033143

[carlsr]

Thank you John S for the numbers. Unfortunately I have no hits

[Dick Hosmer]

Nor I.

Must admit that my guns all get checked on incoming, though, so I was spared a line-by-line check!

[Tom Trevor]

Those numbers cover the whole run!

[Dick Hosmer]

Those numbers cover the whole run!

???????

[daneal]

I'd say it's a fair bet that any trapdoors still in government hands, National Guard, possibly some Land Grant colleges, local militias (yes, we had them in the 1930s), or just stuck away in arsenals were swept up and issued to the swabbies. I know the Navy sent people through stores and pawn shops, buying new commercial guns that would help fill their needs.

[Dick Hosmer]

Those numbers cover the whole run!

???????

I can be very dense/literal sometimes - I'm just not grasping the meaning of your comment. The whole run of what? Navy donations?