Trapdoor News!!!

U.S. Springfield Trapdoor News!!

This page is for readers interested in continuing with the newsletter information that was previously supplied quarterly in the, Trapdoor Springfield Newsletter. This new format will have new information that readers can download, or email me with further information on the subject. afrasca@erinet.com. .


The following list of carbines put into service between September 1, 1876 and 1878 are listed below. This list comes from the article, TEXAS RANGER TRAPDOORS, Co.F Frontier Battalion, 1876 Issue Records and Beyond by Don Jones. The article was published in the Fall issue of the Texas Gun Collector.
30568 ------ 39783
32325 ------ 41168
34126 ------ 41321
35351 ------ 41351
35360 ------ 41368
35388 ------ 41541
35390 ------ 41544
35397 ------ 41568
35444 ------ 41832
35474 ------ 43208
35520 ------ 43451
35540 ------ 70880(8)
35560 ------ 80238
35572 ------ 80244
35574 ------ 80259
35609 ------ 80297
38029 ------ 81240
------------- 103810
Look carefully at the number sequences and it is clear that these carbines are from partial shipping crates indicating the clustered SNs were received at the same time. Email Don Jones at DJNJPI@aol.com

  • 4/2/2008

    Unfinished and Damaged Springfield Parts
    The three receivers shown consist of a damaged M73 with an "ear" broken off and an unfinished M68 and M73 receiver. The two unfinished receivers have a deep stamped C somewhere on the exterior. Neither unfinished receiver has been threaded for the breech screw or the barrel. Also, the ejector stud mount has not been finished.

    The two front bands for the M73 rifle have not been finished. Their surface is rough and on the edges there are some spurs from the forging process. The holes have not been drilled for the sling or stacking swivels.

  • 1/21/2008

    Non-Springfield M75 Set Trigger Systems


    The three set trigger systems are thought to have been made by the same Pennsylvania maker. He has died recently and the systems were recently accumulated. Two belong to Ed Knisely and I own one. Look carefully at the trigger plates, two are M64s and one M63. One is drilled for Bannerman screws. The engraving is much too shallow and too fancy and with too much fine detail. Two of the trigger bows are homemade from rifle bows. The center one may be a carbine bow. The variation and crudeness of the mechanism is something noticeable. Also, the size and length of the bolt through the plate is questionable. Also, one and possibly two of the plates have been welded together.

  • 11/17/2007

    Unfinished Carbine Barrel circa 1878


    The following unfinished barrel was just recently purchased by Bill Hatch. The barrel has a number of interesting features associated with its exterior and stampings.
    FIRST, the "CCC" evidently indicates the barrel has been condemned.
    SECOND, The barrel had been test fired twice and passed both burst tests as indicated by the "P P" stamping on the underside. This stamping was used from about SN65000 to SN160000 or from the period 1876, to 1880.
    THIRD, The "V/P/Eagle head" is on the barrel. OM22 indicates this stamping was not done until the front sight and the exterior of the white barrel were found to be satisfactory. Hmmm???
    FOURTH, the barrel is about 0.004" too large in diameter indicating that surface filing was needed. There are several slag pits in the surface of the barrel that are deep enough to not be removed in the finishing process.
    FIFTH, the threads on the barrel are for screwing the barrel into the gang firing fixture for the burst testing.
    SIXTH, the front sight stud has not been drilled or cut for the front sight blade. The top of the sight base has a small shoulder on the sides parallel to the barrel. These could have been used with a retainig tool to align the sight with the barrel.
    SEVENTH, the bore is exactly 0.450, but there is quite a bit of rough surface in the bore that appears to be very deep.

    See Book II pages 384-385

  • 11/8/2007

    Another M68 Rifle made in 1868
    George Sears has just purchased an M68 Rifle made in 1868. It has the following specifications: SN96 (barrel and receiver), 1868 dated breech block (all numbers hand stamped), 2 visible cartouches (musket cartouches in rear of stock flat), and it does have a lined barrel (the braze is visible at the muzzle). The gun is all original minus the cleaning rod. This rifle, like he others found, was made for testing and not for issue. See the Trapdoor Newsletter, page 346, for more information and photographs of these rare rifles.

  • 11/6/2007

    U.S. Grant's Cadet Rifle:


    Peter Nelson forwarded to me the following information that Charlie Pate located in the National Archives. The original copy was pretty thin, so I did not try to reproduce it.

    ".......Headquarters Army of the United States

    Washington, April 13 1868
    (Bvt. Maj Gen. A.B. Dyer,
    Chief of Ordnance U.S.A.)

    General:

    I have the honor respectfully to request permission to purchase of your Department for my own use One Cadet Rifle and five-hundred rounds of ammunition for the same.

    Very respectfully,
    Your obed't. Servant,
    U.S. Grant
    General..............."

    Charlie also went on to note that General Grant's Chief of Staff requested a second Cadet Rifle (which I am assuming, due to the 1868 date of the request letter and the Production Schedule Table (on Page 48 in BOOK II) for the "Cadet Model 1866 Rifle", was most likely a Model 1866 (since production of the new Model 1869/Type I Cadet Rifle did not start until the July-December period of 1869, and only 2 are being shown as having been produced in that period).

  • 10/31/2007

    Benecia Arsenal Powder Measure:


    Tom Trevor submitted the following images of an 1883 Benecia Powder measure and was curious if any were made earlier? the FA ones have a steel hopper and this is brass. The small "T" wrench goes into the powder drop and by turning it clockwise or counterclockwise the powder charge can be adjusted to the charge desired, 55 carbine, 70 rifle or any othercharge they might want to experiment with. The tool has small scribe lines on it that would correspond to charges. This may have gone out shortly after the reloading sets were issued to make charging more uniform than the small scoop issued with the reloading sets. Both the scoop and the measure were designed and a patent issued to O. E. Michaelis, Ordnance Dept., on Feb. 13, 1883. See the POWDER FLASK book by Ray Rilling page 140. also see Ordnance Notes 114, 231 and 322. Tom

  • 9/13/07

    NEWSLETTER ERROR, Page 369


    The listing of 1877 produced carbines either has an error in recording SN87964, or the gun has had parts interchanged. SN87964 has the cartouche with the closed 8 and serifs on the top and bottom of the 1. Also, there is a faint cartouche in front of the sling bar. There is no circled P, but the stock inspector's initial is very clear and the cartouche is deep and sharp. I am beginning to wonder if Springfield sold off all the partially completed narrow receivered guns and some company bought them and assembled guns using their own cartouche. Remember the circled R and the RGS cartouches look pretty much like Springfield work. Hmmm????

  • 10/1/07

    STEEL PISTOL GRIPS:


    The following dimensions for the S&S Firearms repro pistol grips were supplied by Peter Nelson. LENGTH: (Along the centerline where the Grip rests on the Trigger Plate): 2.335"
    WIDTH: (Measured at the widest point using a 6.00-inch dial caliper): 1.724"
    HEIGHT: (measured at the highest point): 1.375"
    DIAMETER OF THROUGH-HOLE FOR SCREW: 0.234" [A 15/64" (0.2343") diameter twist drill just fit through].
    DIAMETER AT TOP OF COUNTERSUNK HOLE FOR SCREW HEAD: 0.392"
    CHECKERED PAD AREA: 1.125" Long x 1.050" wide.

  • 9/13/07

    STEEL PISTOL GRIPS:


    The following photos were supplied by Tom Trevor . On the left is the Springfield metal pistol grip and on the right is the Dixie Gun Works or S&S Firearms pistol grip. These repro grips have been around for at least 15 years. Note the crudeness of the casting. The original armory grips were forged.


  • 7/8/2007

    STEEL PISTOL GRIPS:


    I recently bought and sold a most unusual pistol grip. The new owner, Kees Punt, has sent me images of both the standard pistol grip and that of the unusual one.

    The grip on the right is the standard one and the one on the left is the unusual one. Note, the hole for the retaining screw is not large enough to pass the standard trigger plate screw. It is not clear if this was to be a replacement for the wood Officer's Model pistol grip or if it is one of the prototype grips that Kelton requested around 1878. If you have additional information about this unusual grip, please contact me.

    The dimensions for the two grips are given below.
    The Standard Grip:
    length:2.16 inch
    height: 1.41 inch
    width: 1.77 inch
    hole for screw: 0.22 inch
    area for screw head: 0.331 inch
    Checkering: width 1.09 inch and length 1.13 inch

    "Experimental" Grip:
    length: 2.24 inch
    height: 1.37 inch
    width: 1.75 inch
    hole for screw: 0.165 inch
    area for screw head: 0.307 inch
    Checkering: width 1.02 inch and length 0.972 inch

    COMMENTS:

    Tom: The mystery grip looks like the one Navy arms cast in the late 70s after they got the remaining H-R stock. They put out some carbines with the H-R OM tang sight and a metal grip. The parts all seemed to be H-R rejects as these were the ones that often opened on firing. Also TD Galore sells a repro grip. Just a thought.

    Al: Tom, the pistol grip does not look to be cast, but forged. Does anyone have the Navy Arms rifle that Tom mentioned???

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