Trapdoor Rifles

It's not mine, nor am I at all affiliated with the seller, but just thought I'd mention that there's a Model 1881 for sale on Gunbroker right now.

Some damage to wood, barrel quite pitted. SN seems to be 533. Something seems weird about the dowl plug - It appears the front of the plug is missing (ahead of screw), but the part behind the screw seems to go back a lot further (longer) than I would expect. Otherwise seems complete and correct to me, though I know it can be a tricky one.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1045188277

Looks 100% legit to me, as to features, and the condition isn't all that bad - they were not well cared-for.

533 is a previously unreported number, but I have added it to the registry. Stephen McCartney, where are you? Long time no contact . . .

Starting price seems perfectly reasonable, if not low.

FWIW, mine (912) also has the front part of the dowel missing. While they may have had basic, overall profile templtes to work to, I'd guess the final shape was achieved by hand, and glue quality/application, etc. could well have varied from gun to gun. If you need one, I've seen worse. I also have NO connection with seller . . .

And when's that list going to be published? *nudge nudge* ..and the new book edition? Have a fistful of dollars waiting for the new book.

That one has been on GB for some time now, he has dropped the price in this auction. I've seen this on at a show some time ago priced at 2400.00. I passed on it for several reasons, one being the bore condition and if you zoom in on picture # 3 and 7 you will notice pipe wrench marks.
I'm sure SA did not use pipe wrenches to assemble arms
All that being said it's now at a price that's decent for a display piece.
I have bought from this seller a while back, purchased what he had labeled as a "What We Believe to Be" an 1884 round rod bayonet rifle. Turned out to be a composite RRB made from Springfield parts and a triangular rod bayonet stock.
I believe it may have been a Keith Rush creation

Thanks for the added info, Carl. I did not zoom in on the pics . . . Ah yes, Keith Rush - I'd like to say RIP, but that was one crooked SOB. Shakespeare was right: "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones . . ." For those keeping score, that is the ONLY W.S. quote I can remember.

OpenIrons wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 9:13 am And when's that list going to be published? *nudge nudge* ..and the new book edition? Have a fistful of dollars waiting for the new book.

Still in progress. I'm almost 87 and a FULL-time caregiver for my wife. I don't get anywhere near as much time to work on them as I'd like. (1) reformat "58/50" to match "More" (2) Unscramble "More" and add things like the Forager numbers (3) Compile/edit the work of Branum & Haynes on the "standard" .45-70s. Because this will virtually duplicate Poyer, will not come even close to Frasca, and is thus almost superfluous, it is last on the list, and least likely to happen. But hang in there . . . .