Trapdoor Rifles

Some time ago while shooting my M65 the breech block support was loose and when fired a piece of the stock next to the lock broke off. I epoxied it back on but my repair job did not turn out as well as I had expected.
Yesterday I removed the barrel and lock so that a gunsmith could finish the repair properly.
When the lock was removed I noticed no milling for the ejector linkage
I looked through Al's news letters and found that some earlier produced M65's didn't have the milling but other writings on the lock say that the milling must be present??? Which is considered correct at this time? I looked on line for a correct plate but none are to be found.
Anyone here have one that they would part with? Thanks

I guess there are "correct" Firsts without the milling, but I'd sure rather have it. For one, it was apparently deemed necessary (or they wouldn't have done it) and secondly - if it is there (and not freshly cut) you have a better chance of having an original gun. The wood in that area is, of course, almost non-existent, so breakage is always a potential issue. Not to discourage your pleasure in shooting it, but the fewer times it is taken apart the better . . .

Thanks Dick.
The lock is not hand ground or groved in any way although I did find this shim under the the front portion. Photos of both sides of the shim which has ridges on the edges, I do not believe this is Springfield made??

M65 chart from the news letters.
The breech block on my rifle is an early variation with the rectangle cut. According to Al's chart there were rifles recorded that did not have the relief cut in the lock plate.

Never seen, or heard of, that shim before - but it would seem to have been put in to perform the same purpose. May not be SA's, but I'd surely keep it with the gun!!! I guess the square sighting notch is quite scarce. My 3-band (which is a 'composite' piece) has it, while my "cadet" has the oval. My "cadet" is one of the properly-proportioned ones, about which a manufacturing controversy exists - they were probably done by Whitney.

There is a LOT of great info in those newsletters

Al very kindly provided a complete set and I need to find time to start posting them.

Will someone post a photo of the lock with a relief cut? Thanks Ken

Not sure what happened to the pictures, but here they are.

Here are pictures of my 1865 lock plate with the relief cut. Unfortunately I only have the plate.

kenneth wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 3:47 pm Will someone post a photo of the lock with a relief cut? Thanks Ken

Here are photos of the milled lock from the news letters Kenneth.

Great information.

I wish someone would approve the pictures in my post as well.