Trapdoor Rifles

Thank you to both Dick and John for your input. I may have to consider recovering the serial number if at all possible. The guy I got it from lived in Canada but he said he bought it at an auction, so who knows what the history could be on this one. There was quite a bit of pitting throughout all th...

Tony, rubbing white chalk on the serial number was a good idea, but I still only see the first and fifth digits. I’ll try to post a picture of that serial number. Perhaps the best way to restore the serial number would be to take it to a certified lab that does that sort of thing. Also, the stock is...

Dick, On second thought, the dimple could’ve just been caused by repeated shooting, but the barrel rifling looks pretty good on this old carbine. I wish I knew what the actual serial number is, but I’ve decided not to try to get it restored, as I think it’s better to just leave it alone. I am going ...

A couple of years ago, I required another early trapdoor carbine. The serial number has five digits, beginning with one and ending with six, but the middle three digits cannot be read because of rusting. The face of the early hammer has a fairly deep wear mark or dimple from the contact with the spr...

Dick, Thanks for the positive review of this carbine, 40877. I will take good care of it. I plan to get another copy of your book next spring. As for the rack number 24 NGC, stamped into the butt plate, maybe it stands for “National Guard of Custer”, ha ha! Thanks again, Jim Meredith

I recently bought a Custer Era carbine #40877 on GunBroker. It is item # 1066947270 ,which can still be viewed if anyone wants to see it. I believe that it is unaltered and all correct. It does have a rack number, 24 NGC, stamped into the butt plate, which could possibly be from the National Guard o...

Dick, After you soak this in Coca-Cola for a few days to pit it slightly, will you have to apply any kind of bluing or finish to make it match the rest of the parts. Thanks, Jim M