Trapdoor Rifles

Hi Mr. Hosmer. Would you consider putting together a brief guide to establishing authenticity of the .58 and .50 rifles and carbines, something like the five or six things to look at when considering each model? It basically would be a condensation of your current excellent reference work. Jim Hmmm...

carlsr wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:30 pmWOW!!

I'll see that WOW, and raise you two more.....

Thank you very much! That was my intent - to provide a HANDY reference that one could take to shows, and if it dropped on the floor - no big deal. I had never intended to compete with Al - his education and research capabilities were FAR beyond mine. Before Joe Poyer's illness and death, we had talk...

Guns sighted like that do turn up. Many years ago, a VERY VERY well-known authority in another genre told me that he too had an 1870 carbine. Considering his knowledge of frontier firearms I was expecting something great, but it turned out to have a long receiver, no barrel number, and a musket sigh...

If it's a single-digit 1868 date, I'd look further into buying it. We know that #6 has a musket sight, but it is inletted slightly into the nose of the receiver. If the side numbers do not match, or if the barrel lacks one, I'd pass for sure. Almost 99.9% sure it's a Bannerman/Bubba...

John, I cannot thank you enough for the information about the powder horn. AFAIK, ALL Hosmers in the US are related. Two brothers came over early - Thomas was one of the founders of Hartford CT (1632) and James - my ancestor - settled in Concord MA in 1635. I have Mayflower roots as well, as does my...

Thanks John! With reference to Lexington & Concord, my Facebook post from 19 April : As has become my custom on this date, April 19th, I post in remembrance of my cousin Abner Hosmer (19) who was one of the two patriots KIA at the Old North Bridge in Concord in 1775. His name is engraved on the ...

Forgot to mention. This will make a big mess. I do it outside on the deck and then hose down the deck. It's good to clean stocks when your significant other will be out for a couple hours. You also forgot to mention it takes away any old original sheen /patina from the wood. And it will forever loo...

Now that I look at it more closely, I see your point. That does NOT look like SA numbering, AND the area appears to have been diddled with! I've not seen such a perfect point before and the milling of the blade at the hilt seems just a hair off to my eye. Believe I'd pass, yet someone just kicked th...

Pretty nice knife - but the classic whack on an 1887 scabbard - one of the pics clearly shows the old straight stitching... That said, I almost wonder if it is a legitimate "late service" repair/repurpose? The work does NOT look fresh, and seller has a good reputation. He also accepts retu...