Trapdoor Rifles

Here is the other one my dad gave me. It did not have a front sight nor was there any indication that it ever had one. I had one dove tailed in. It appears to have been buffed or polished at some point most markings are almost gone. Possibly a re barrel.

More pictures

NO trapdoors were originally made without a front sight permanently attached to the barrel, except the 1000+ M1884XRBs. That is a Krag rear sight, model 1902, rifle version. Barrel looks too fat, almost certainly from a cut-down rifle. Stock and some other parts MIGHT be carbine. Is there a trap in the butt?

Here's the pics of the butt nothing really exciting LOL
Not sure if it's a re barrel or if it's a restock.

That buttplate looks like it has been there for awhile! Not sure I would want to disturb it.

But, ALL legit carbine stocks with long comb and inletted for the the wide (post 96300) receiver had traps. My first thought was that it was a cut-down rifle (and it still may be) however there ARE carbines listed by SRS in the 341k range so who can say for sure? Does the barrel have a proper crown and is the muzzle dianeter about the same as a dime? Maybe the entire sight base was busted off?

Another reason for wishing they could talk - it isn't "right" but it seems impossible to say for sure why/how what is "wrong" is wrong!!

Pics of the crown
Could be considered proper in some parts of the world.
If only they could talk in some cases that's a lot of popcorn. I have a model 92 Winchester that would be pretty much a mini series LOL.
It has some character to it might make a good reenacting gun.

Bubba cut - NOT SA work, not even close... Sorry.

Pull the butt plate to see if it has the chambers for the carbine ramrod and tools.
A carbine rear sight can be had to replace whatever it is that is on it now. Definitely a cut-down but still fun to shoot. I have an original 1880 that was relined by Bob Hoyt. I try and take it out to hunt deer at least one day a year.

The Krag rear sight required an additional for the rear screw which is spaced farther apart than trapdoor sights.
ALL .45-70 trapdoor sights use the same screw spacing, so any of them will fit. The graduations are different for the carbine sights, but since you will not be shooting at Indians at 400-1200 yards they are meaningless anyway. I'd look for a M1879 rifle sight which would look good and be functional, and not too expensive.

You can plug the additional screw hole using a 8-32 screw turned in tight, cut off and filed to match the barrel contour for better looks than an empty hole.

This gun can be a fun shooter, using the readily available .45-70 loads sold for the cowboy action shooters, although accuracy will not be the best possible. Or, you can fiddle with finding oversize bullets and working up the optimum powder type and load and reloading your own.

Enjoy shooting this one.

Dick Hosmer wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 7:28 am Bubba cut - NOT SA work, not even close... Sorry.

Like I said in some parts of the world LOL.

Yep this one I'll take out on old gun day which is coming up pretty soon. We go to the range with old tech including replicas no glocks etc.