I recently returned to a small LGS in Connecticut to check out an early RB sporter as described in Marlinguy's post regarding the same. That didn't pan out for a number of reasons but something else caught my eye. Stacked in the corner was an unissued 1889 Trapdoor! Not often seen these days. The bore was packed with old dried grease, as was the outside. I paid his asking price and was happy the long trip was not without reward. Once home it did indeed clean up to unissued, no rust, mint bore, bluing, and CCH. Some small storage dings on the stock though. I'll be looking up loads here pretty soon!

Thanks, I'm very happy to have found it. Always had not so good ones, it's nice to find one like this, finally. It's funny, when I collected 1903's, M1's etc., I always passed on Trapdoors and Krags. Mostly because they were everywhere! Of course, that was in the 1970's. Different story today.

Thanks a lot! I was amazed when I saw the condition once I cleaned it up. Even more amazed that it survived!

Well, honestly I have been mulling that over. The breach face is unmarked, the shell trough is shiny blue, and the only thing dirty in the bore was old grease. If this gun was fired, it was a very small amount, if at all. So, I'm sorta on the fence about shooting it. But, really, my first impulse is to shoot it. Thanks to you all for your comments about my consolation prize!

Gunfunpow, did you buy it at from Jay at Hansons?

Aaron