Odd 45/70 round
Moderator: 45govt
Re: Odd 45/70 round
This makes sense as it was later used as a coast guard training facility, so the guy would have had more experience with them. I bet that’s why he mentioned the trapdoor line thrower.
Re: Odd 45/70 round
Note that I said the trapdoor line throwing guns were "Coast Guard approved" which means they met the statutory requirements for life saving devices aboard commercial ships (similar to those for life jackets, fire fighting, pumps, life boats, etc).
But, the Coast Guard did NOT use the trapdoor line throwing guns.
Instead, they have used .30 caliber M1903 Springfields for line throwing purposes since 1935 (and still use them). These have the stocks cut off, sights removed, lead weights added in the butt and a canister for the line attached to the barrel band. There were also some M1917 Enfields altered in a similar manner used by the USCG, and the USN contracted for a few .30 caliber shoulder line throwing guns made to the same specs as the USCG contracts.
https://laststandonzombieisland.com/tag/m1903-line-gun/
But, the Coast Guard did NOT use the trapdoor line throwing guns.
Instead, they have used .30 caliber M1903 Springfields for line throwing purposes since 1935 (and still use them). These have the stocks cut off, sights removed, lead weights added in the butt and a canister for the line attached to the barrel band. There were also some M1917 Enfields altered in a similar manner used by the USCG, and the USN contracted for a few .30 caliber shoulder line throwing guns made to the same specs as the USCG contracts.
https://laststandonzombieisland.com/tag/m1903-line-gun/
Re: Odd 45/70 round
Yep I'm a retired Coastie and all the line throwing guns I saw were 03's with C type stocks.
Re: Odd 45/70 round
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/_FD047D5B99
Here is a complete 45/70 line throwing gun up for auction.
Here is a complete 45/70 line throwing gun up for auction.
Re: Odd 45/70 round
That’s interesting stuff! Cool line throwing kit! I never had anything to do with ships or line throwing but it’s pretty interesting to me how this stuff gets re-purposed.
Re: Odd 45/70 round
In addition to ships and maritime use, line throwing guns were also widely used by fire departments.
American LaFrance, a major manufacturer of fire engines (engines, pumpers, ladder trucks, etc) also offered line throwing guns as one of the accessories. They seem to be the source of the .50-70 trapdoor conversions to line throwers.
Coston Company, a long time supplier to the maritime safety trade, was the source for most of the .45-70 line throwers, like the one linked above.
American LaFrance, a major manufacturer of fire engines (engines, pumpers, ladder trucks, etc) also offered line throwing guns as one of the accessories. They seem to be the source of the .50-70 trapdoor conversions to line throwers.
Coston Company, a long time supplier to the maritime safety trade, was the source for most of the .45-70 line throwers, like the one linked above.
Re: Odd 45/70 round
The line throwing gun kit in that link shows rounded nose line throwing blanks in the picture it seems but no canelure in the case.
Re: Odd 45/70 round
The cartridges shown are the round nose type, but NOT the type contained in the box, which is the common Navy contract Mark 1 cartridge with a straight case and open mouth.
Doctrine at the time called for the straight case and open mouth which allowed the projectile to be slid down the barrel and into the mouth of the case, possibly to keep the projectile fully pressed against the cartridge for firing. In my opinion this was not a good idea as it may have increased pressure on firing.
The later M32 cartridge used a slightly rounded mouth crimp (not the much more completely rounded crimp being discussed here) which prevented the projectile from seating in the case mouth.
Doctrine at the time called for the straight case and open mouth which allowed the projectile to be slid down the barrel and into the mouth of the case, possibly to keep the projectile fully pressed against the cartridge for firing. In my opinion this was not a good idea as it may have increased pressure on firing.
The later M32 cartridge used a slightly rounded mouth crimp (not the much more completely rounded crimp being discussed here) which prevented the projectile from seating in the case mouth.