Trapdoor Rifles

Hello, I'm Dave Dimmick and new to your forum. I'm a frustrated Indian War historian first and a collector second. True history and honest artifacts are imperative to me. By no means am I an expert on trapdoors but I have studied the book titled "The .45-70 Springfield' with 3 new chapters, by Poyer & Riesch.

At the advice of a friend in ND I have just acquired 2 books he recommended: "The .45-70 Springfield" Book II 1865 - 1893 by Frasca. And "More .45-70 Springfields 1873 - 1893" The Uncommon, the Scarce & the Rare, by Hosmer. Have only scanned them but it looks like I am about to get an education.

I acquired this 1873 Springfield SRC #25230 from Brian Akins at the Franklin Civil War Show in 2022. I had met Tim Prince at the Wheaton Illinois Civil War Show in April of 2022. He looked at it in 2023 at Wheaton. Both these gentlemen were straight up with me, and neither could find a true 25XXX SRC ever being made.

It's in beautiful condition and according to my research using the Poyer & Riesch book, all cartouche, circle P, stamps, long necked stock, barrel, locks, side plate, lettering, etc. are correct. If someone was spurious with this gun, they were expertly spurious.

I need someone smarter than me to physically inspect this weapon. I could send pictures and my write up of notes I took when I had it disassembled but pictures don't always do justice and my write up may leave me in an embarrassing light as my terminology of parts are rather basic.

If there is a straight up honest (like the gentlemen, I mentioned) and well experienced "Trapdoor Guy" within reasonable driving distance of West Central Illinois, I would certainly like to make contact.

Respectfully,
Dave Dimmick

Well, my book "More" shows four 25xxx carbines. Granted, it's not a "hot" range, but nothing is perfect. Large as it is, my registry barely scratches the surface, so the gun may well be perfectly OK. I'd be glad to look at pictures.

Thanks Mr. Hosmer!
Really enjoying your book and Frasca's. initially it seems like there may be a gap of 10K between 22,000 and 32,000 in production records.
I'm busy for next couple days but will get some pictures posted. Dave D.

dmdimmick@gmail.com wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:33 pm Thanks Mr. Hosmer!
Really enjoying your book and Frasca's. initially it seems like there may be a gap of 10K between 22,000 and 32,000 in production records.
I'm busy for next couple days but will get some pictures posted. Dave D.

Well, there's a jillion "gaps" we only have about 6% of the numbers. There only thing that is certain sure is that the early carbines were made in three batches, and the closer the number is to the center of a batch the better we feel about it! Glad you are enjyong the book(s)! After looking at your pictures, I'll most likely add it to the list..What is marked on the left side of the barrel, just above the wood, ahead of the receiver?

I got up early to take pictures on my iphone. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to post these pictures. I could easily email or text these pictures but posting an image on this site is a BEAR. Dave D.

Tell ya what.... I just emailed myself 18 images. If there is an email address I can forward this to, let me know and someone else can post on your forum. Deal? Dave D.

Nothing is marked on the left side of barrel ahead of receiver. . I tried again to copy and paste with the Img icon. No picture posted.

dmdimmick@gmail.com wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:46 am Nothing is marked on the left side of barrel ahead of receiver. . I tried again to copy and paste with the Img icon. No picture posted.

That was a trick question - "nothing" IS the correct answer for that time period.
Feel free to email me: richardahosmer@comcast.net