Deadeye Bly wrote on Dec 28^th, 2025 at 9:46am:

  I had a trapdoor many years ago some idiot welded a blob in the chamber. I wound up parting it out many years ago. Up until then I only thought europeans silly enough to destroy rifles like that. 

TomKlinger wrote on Dec 28^th, 2025 at 11:30am:

That is some seriously beautiful work you did there. Is your muzz loader barrel not too large a bore diameter for caliber ?.

Trapdoor Springfields

I built a .50-70 Govt Gemmer on an original 1870 action and hammer I got from Ed Lucas at the Allentown Show back in the late '70's.  Used a Navy Arms repro 1864 Springfield  lock, fitted up the hammer, cut the tumbler for a fly. Used L&R triggers, guard, underrib, thimbles, and patchbox.  Browned barrel and all steel parts with Birchwood Casey product. Rough inletted stock from ???, fancy curly maple, stained with nitric acid/iron filings and heat, killed the stain with baking soda, then finished with multiple coats of Tru-oil. Rich Hoch rifled, chambered, and fitted a custom barrel.  Turned out rather pleasing I think.

I shot a wild pig through the chest at fairly close range with it one time. The buddy that was along said blood came out in a stream as big as your thumb!
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Schutzenbob wrote on Jan 14^th, 2026 at 2:04pm:

Those gentlemen have their Distinguished Rifleman Badge. Those Badges were solid gold. At that time it meant they got an extra $5.00 a month. A interesting point the bull is oval, because a trapdoor pattern was oval. They fired a oval target.