1873 Trapdoor Question

[bote]

I have a model 1873 serial number 68673 which I read to be 1876 build. I'm told that early 1873s were narrow breech until 1876. How can I tell which kind mine is?

[Dick Hosmer]

Change in receiver width occured in late 1878, somewhere between 96271 and 96309, so there should be no mystery here.

[bote]

Thanks, rifle is in great shape but cut down barrel has absolutely no rifling. If I replace the barrel, might as well get a full-length rifle barrel. Which also means a new stock. Guess there is a pretty narrow range of stocks for this rifle.

[Dick Hosmer]

There are two versions of stock for the narrow receiver, differing in the comb length. The early ones were 9.5", but yours should probably have the later (and scarcer) one with 10.25" comb. Barrel will be no problem, but neither stock is going to be easy, or cheap, to find. I'd not be too choosy as to which version, since in that range it could go either way - if you find a decent stock within your budget, go for it.

There is a difference in the barrel shank - yours is square, but any later round one will fit your receiver with no problem. The reverse would not be true, so you lucked out there.

[bote]

Here is a pic of the breech.

[bote]

It's the nicest trapdoor I've seen. Not seen many though. I suspect it was turned into a 410 shotgun as the barrel was cut off and a bead installed. The stock was shortened but never sanded. All the cartouches are sharp. It has a few dents but is nicer than most of my ww2 garands. The stock has an 1888 cartouche. I'd like to turn it into a fireable rifle. With the stock so nice, if I could get a good carbine barrel, I'd go that route.

[reincarnated]

I am fascinated with the idea of a .410 bore Trapdoor. Looks like a lot of fun. Were it mine, I would not be in a hurry to restore it. Is it really a .410 or simply a .45-70 that someone shot .410 shells in? There is no reason that you can't put a shot load into a .45-70 case and use it as a ".410 equivalent". Where did I put that hand thrower gizmo?

[Dick Hosmer]

The owner and I have had other correspondence. The receiver is at odds with the rest of the gun. Am trying to find him a proper barreled action and the needed metal parts to restore the rifle.

[reincarnated]

Reads to me that the OP has a nice stock and now needs a rifle to make it complete.

[Dick Hosmer]

Reads to me that the OP has a nice stock and now needs a rifle to make it complete.

No, he has a very nice [SWP/1886] stock which someone whacked, thus he needs a forend extension, rod, and the upper band bits. The barrel is toast, too. He has (I've no idea how) a totally out of context 68xxx receiver - and all the rest of the metal matches the stock.