Any one know anything about the Remington Headley or Hadley trapdoor rifle? ~1880, I believe. Could be .66cal? I've not been able to find anything on the internet. Thanks.

   The generic term "trapdoor", or sometimes "cellar door", was not specific or exclusive to the American Springfield military rifle which was initially designed by Allin for converting civil war era muskets into breech loaders.

  There were other firearms which had a door mechanism for access to the breech area of the barrel and the term "trapdoor" was used to describe those arrangements as well as the Springfield.

Hi Glen. Just thought I'd throw in my agreement with CMM. While the term "trapdoor" can be really generic, kinda like "Kleenex" the usual application seems to be accepted as the Springfield family of rifles unless otherwise specified. I've seen a couple of J.P. Gemmer conversions using other than Springfields that can actually be desribed as trapdoor. Fun, huh???


TD Dick.

 
   Good morning Glen,

    I would bet that our mutual friend, Chris C., has some information in his memory bank pertaining to the Headly.

   Webb

Thanks. I'll see Chris either this Saturday or next. But, the news is, now that I've got more info on the rifle, is that the owner, who is new to single-shot rifles, did not know that it was a falling block and not a trapdoor. Is a Remington Hepburn. Mystery solved. Thanks to all.