Trapdoor Rifles

Anyone have any idea what this would be?


You can find many more great rifles, OM's, Long Range, Carbines, etc. at https://bid.poulinauctions.com/Fall-202 ... on_as93698
starting on page 8

That is one odd item. With no sights it must be a test bed for something? John gross you were looking for a officers rifle there are several here in this collection.

When I see oddball stuff like this, if there is not an obvious "ordnance" related explanation, I very quickly jump to "art or decorative purpose" soon followed by "surplus dealer extremely creative idea to help move stale inventory." Then, really weird explanations.

Shortened barrel argues against ordnance explanation in my mind. I am thinking more like a lamp, coat hanger, door handle for GAR bar, or something like that. In the even weirder category, perhaps a modification by some fraternal organization for initiation pranks or theatrical purposes. But, all those are guesses.

I slightly knew Tom Mulligan from Baltimore shows, and consider him an honest guy, and serious collector, but not a condition collector, and sometimes ending up with some guns with "problems". Nice guy, helpful to beginning collectors, and I have missed seeing him the last few years. I am surprised at the number of Officer Models he had. Between him and Glen Mattox, that is about a dozen hitting the market within a year.

The only thing that comes to mind is some sort of early attempt at a flash-hider?

As to Officer's Models, they were not, are NOT, and probably never will be "rare" in the conventional sense. Plenty were made, most have survived. If you want one, all you have to do is have the money and a finger to dial with. There is ALWAYS at least one, usually several, for sale at any given time. They were,and are, treasured as works of art, family heirlooms, etc. Many guns (like Hotchkiss Army rifles) that really ARE rare - as in you can NOT find one - are often under-appreciated.

It looks a lot like the fitting on the front of a Martini Henry "fencing musket" used to fit a spring loaded bayonet shaped blunt piece of steel into a rifle

Any thoughts on the 1884 RRB?
Stock looks better than the description along with the barrel. Only thing I seen concerning is that the pin that holds on the sight housing had been removed at some time and rather badly at that.

Someone paid 1700.00 "sold to floor+BP"? for it I hope they know what it is. Prices in the Poulan auction were lower than expected but so was quality of arms in general. Carlsr the 1884 RRB brought 2300.00 + 506BP=2806.00.
Buyers premiums are running up to 25% at many auction houses!!!!
And lets not forget the consignor agreed to the house charging 15-20% to sell the collection on their end!

That would have been 2806.00 plus tax, shipping and transfer fee for me which would have been a total of over 3000.00. I guess not a bad price for what it is??
I totally forgot about the auction until I just saw your post Tom, thanks for letting me know what it sold for.