Trapdoor Rifles

This arrived recently
I know it was not made for a TD but still for a Springfield

Well how about that, it will work on the 79 sight

I used that tool many times back when I was an active competition shooter (Late 1950’s thru the late 1970’s . . . .when the ‘03 Springfield was still being used extensively.)

When I used it on the firing line, I had other shooters wanting to use it, but I didn’t want the lower brass claw to receive harsh treatment, so I always said, “No.”

The best way to alleviate wear when using, is to loosen the top knob BEFORE sliding the adjuster forward, off the sliding leaf.

Interesting to see that it is marked "USCG 26." While these were popular with all target shooters, they were not generally issued by the Ordnance department, but undoubtedly some military teams/team members procured them to help get the best possible results.

Hello John
There is also a number under the "USCG 26" but I can not make it out

NICE!!
There's one on eBay for around 300.00 and also another type, forget the exact name of that one.

The "other" number looks like a very light "USCG 36"

Of course the U.S. Coast Guard did not exist until 1915, when it was created by merger of the U.S. Life Saving Service, the Light House Service and the Revenue Service, and trapdoors may have been used by some of those entities. Also, some of the USCG Beach Patrols during WW2 reportedly had trapdoors. But the O'Hare sight micrometer shown here is definitely for the M1903 rifles, even if it could be used with some of the trapdoor sights.

Here is some background on USCG competitive marksmanship programs:

"During the watch of Commandant Rear Admiral Frederick C. Billard, perhaps one of the
most forward-thinking men ever to hold the post, the Coast Guard’s competitive
shooting program took shape in 1928. Billard was urged on by Commander Russell R.
Waesche, the Coast Guard’s Chief of Ordnance; a man with a keen interest in small
arms training. Waesche envisioned competitive shooting as the capstone of a service
wide effort to improve the state of small arms training and skill. From frozen Arctic
waters, where it enforced marine and fishery law, to the lengthy eastern seaboard and
Gulf Coast, where it battled alcohol smuggling along “Rum Row”, a Coast Guardsman’s
ability to use rifle and pistol was a vital military skill. "
Source: https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... ooting.pdf

Very nice. I have one around here somewhere, got it as a companion to my refurbed 1903 NM. That rifle is one of my 'scores' - got it for the price of a decent shooter at auction because nobody removed the front sight cover to see the star gauge mark.

Yes, not trapdoor but - Here are my 2, both US marked. One new in the original wrapper (opened obviously) with the packing grease (cosmoline?) The other one that I used for years in matches and well worn from being in shooting bags and coats. Interesting that acquired years apart but with numbers that are close.

pics of new one