ever seen an octagon barrelled trapdoor springfield??

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:11 pm

here is one, never heard of this:

http://www.antiqueguns.com/auction/item ... jmillet-61

beautiful gun and should be a real shooter, i guess.

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:15 pm

NOPE THAT IS A NEW ONE ON ME. I HAVE SEEN AN 1873 TRAPDOOR WITH A SHARPS OLD RELIABLE BARREL ON IT, AND IT HAD BEEN ON IT FOREVER.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:22 pm

Nope, but I did have my hands on one that was arsenal chambered for the 30-40 Krag but as the owner knew there were only a half dozen made, he wouldn't part with it.

p.s.--I bet if you look real hard on the octagon barrel on Antique Arms, you will see "Numrich Arms" stamped on it

Either way, if its not arsenal correct , (and its not) its just a contempory alternation.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:44 pm

If you read the description, it does lead one to believe that it was turned into a "Sportsman's" rifle. That being said, I'd place it in the "Bannerman" catagory.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:03 pm

I saw one in a Reno Pawn Shop years ago... Genuine old time custom gun on a TD action w/ long octagon barrel.. Hammer had been reshaped.. Had Set triggers .. checked straight gripped half stock...Sucker was worn to a frazzle too...

gon2shoot · Post by **gon2shoot** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:29 pm

Anybody smell fish?

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:06 am

"superb original untouched condition"...rebarreled with a octagon barrel.???
Bannerman's did do some also, but the two I've seen were also restocked with some gorgeous wood too.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:11 am

No fish smell from here - IMO, the seller's being (although a "salesman") honest.
To wit, an exerpt from the ad descripton:

During 1883 the famed New York arms dealer Hartley & Graham bought surplus Trapdoor rifles from the government, and had them converted (some say by the Whitney Arms Company) into these beautiful Sporting Rifles to satisfy demand from the Western buffalo trade. This work consisted of installing a heavy new, finely-blued octagonal barrel with buckhorn ladder rear and Rocky Mountain German silver front sights, truncating the stock at the rear band, filling in the ramrod channel and band spring cutout, carving the forend tip with the eye-catching schnable design and adding a buffalo horn insert (see photographs). Offered in both the popular big .40-65 and .45-70 calibers, all rifles were nearly identical and their hand workmanship was superb, as this example attests.

Ram Hammer · Post by **Ram Hammer** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:07 am

It seems fishy to me since the Springfield Armory was still manufacturing trapdoor rifles in 1890. Why would they be turning out surplus in 1883? The serial number indicates manufacturing date of about 1882.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:10 am

Ram Hammer wrote:It seems fishy to me since the Springfield Armory was still manufacturing trapdoor rifles in 1890. Why would they be turning out surplus in 1883? The serial number indicates manufacturing date of about 1882.

IIRC guns were issued to civilians in some circumstances. On the other hand, why would the government do anything it does?

guido4198 · Post by **guido4198** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:34 pm

That is sure enough a nice rifle. A "sporterized" version of a military Trapdoor. Probably done when civilians were buying surplus rifles for $2.50 each from the govt. I'd enjoy shooting one like that, made up from a new production Trapdoor , have a H**L of a lot less than 5000.00 in it, and not miss a thing in "historical value".

budliteguy · Post by **budliteguy** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:42 pm

Looks like a Bannerman special, Trapdoor receiver and a sharps barrel.
But it is an interesting rifle. would look good hanging on the wall. It has a sharps or winchester rear sight on the barrel, thats not a trapdoor sight.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:59 pm

I looked at that gun several times since you posted it and have wracked my poor, slovenly organized gray matter in order to answer your question. I finally went to the master of memory and asked my wife if I'd ever seen a Trapdoor with an octagon barrel. I can, in all good conscious, state, "I don't think so." But, that one must be a very fine example.