Trapdoor Rifles

Another from the back burner . . . mostly courtesy of Al Frasca.

(a) Rare Hotchkiss stock, which some @#@%@*@ idiot sporterized. In addition to the circumcision, it has some sort of glass-bedding repair which prevents a lock from seating correctly, and a glossy modern finish.

(b) A decent section of forestock which is a pretty good grain match but the color is off. It has plenty of wood for a good lap splice though.

(c) Barreled action 116189 with six-groove barrel having a long throat but standard chamber. Bull's modified M1879 rear sight (from Tony Beck)

Balance of correct-era parts to come from my stash. Will look a LOT different when all together! The rear part (because I didn't want to show the hack-job) of the rifle, dummied up, is pictured on page 84 of "More .45-70 Springfields." That is, however, the ONLY such "trick shot" in the book!

Hope to start this in about a week. Fooled around with the lock mortise a bit today - in my storage area, which is not my workshop - and I'm STILL not seeing what is hanging up. I guess the stock MIGHT have been sanded a little before it was clear-coated, but nowhere near enough to show HALF the plate edge when it is in as far as it will go, which is, about half way! So, it SHOULD fit right when 'bottomed', but it doesn't. I'll take a spare (stripped) plate, insert screws from the front so I can wiggle it around, and see if that will help. There is some glass bedding which MAY be intruding into the space for the main-spring lug, but cannot really tell w/o tools.

Great project Dick. If you ever stumble into another cut Hotchkiss stock and don't want it, PLEASE drop me a line!

Absolutely, my friend - but I'd not hold my breath! Less than 200 such stocks ever made, most survivors likely accounted for!