Trapdoor Rifles

I corresponded with Dick Hosmer about this and he said he’s never seen these type threaded holes in this location before. He validated that this trigger guard is on a legit Type 1 version of the M1870.

Trying to figure out if these holes may have been for some type of pistol grip attachment.

Sometimes addition of set trigger parts added screw holes in the trigger guard strap, but there would have been some added inletting in the wood behind it to accommodate them.

Or, maybe it was for addition of some sort of spur or rest or grip to suit an individual's taste.

I would bet that it was NOT armory work, or even done while in service at the unit level.
All strictly guesses and you are free to agree or not.

John S. wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 1:17 am Sometimes addition of set trigger parts added screw holes in the trigger guard strap, but there would have been some added inletting in the wood behind it to accommodate them.

Or, maybe it was for addition of some sort of spur or rest or grip to suit an individual's taste.

I would bet that it was NOT armory work, or even done while in service at the unit level.
All strictly guesses and you are free to agree or not.

John, your guesses are 99% more qualified than my speculations...

And since Dick said he hadn’t seen something like this before either, it is likely that these may not have been done by the military.

I’ll need to decide now if I should replace this trigger plate with one that does not have these drilled and tapped holes in it, and If I do I’ll keep this trigger plate with the rifle as part of its history.

Quick way to tell if they are armory, are the threads #10, 11 or 12-26? Springfield liked 26 TPI, but it is decidedly non-standard today. Internal lock screw are #10, The lock plate through the stock screws are #11 (0.2" diameter) and the barrel tang screw is #12. Try threading one of those screws into the plate. Don't force it if it doesn't want to go. Also, the thread angle is 55 degrees instead of today's 60 degrees, but modern threads will fit with a little drag.

I bought one like that in 1971. It had been pawned by an Airman from Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson Arizona. It only had the one large extra hole in the middle, not the one close to the trigger bow. It had a nice standard ironpistol grip mounted in its single extra hole. It was comfortable, and perfect fit for my hand. . The only one I have seen besides the one posted. It was really well done. I do not know if Springfield did it , or a gunsmith, but it had been on a long time.

gorloff wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 3:15 am I bought one like that in 1971. It had been pawned by an Airman from Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson Arizona. It only had the one large extra hole in the middle, not the one close to the trigger bow. It had a nice standard ironpistol grip mounted in its single extra hole. It was comfortable, and perfect fit for my hand. . The only one I have seen besides the one posted. It was really well done. I do not know if Springfield did it , or a gunsmith, but it had been on a long time.

My Dad had a M’73 Cadet that he had mounted the cast steel ordnance-produced pistol grip. (an original)
Because installing the grip in the position prescribed by ordnance (too far to the rear) was near-useless, he opted to install it further forward to a much more “useful” position.
I now have . . . .and shoot . . . .this rifle, and likewise find the grip position very comfortable.

Jim - does the pistol grip fit the slimmer Cadet wrist properly, or are there gaps? If it is a nice tight fit I wonder if there is a new grip variant to look for?

Dick Hosmer wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 3:04 pm Jim - does the pistol grip fit the slimmer Cadet wrist properly, or are there gaps? If it is a nice tight fit I wonder if there is a new grip variant to look for?

You guessed it, Dick . . .
The grip does NOT fit the stock nicely . . . .There IS an unsightly gap around it.
I have filled the gap with a few layers of black plastic electrical tape . . . .trimmed neatly around the grip.
From ten feet away, it doesn’t look too bad!
My hope was to try to keep from “imprinting” the stock wood with this grip.

Before I installed it, I “try-fitted” it to my ‘88 RRB (in the Ordnance “dictated” position) and determined it would fit perfectly . . .albiet too far to the rear!
If I was to fit one of these to a regular service stock, I’d try my very best to “insulate” the grip from the wood!

I only have one steel grip - frankly, I don't like the look of them, and they do sit too far back to be much more than a hand-stop. That said, if I ever do get around to finishing restoration of my remaining Long-range rifle, that is where it will go...

I like the look and feel of the wood Kelton style that is shown on the main page.
Here is the one on mine that dad made and checkered for me
https://pbase.com/45govt/image/171367955
https://pbase.com/45govt/image/171367956

and the Kelton long range rifle
https://armscollectors.com/trapdoor/SN162403.html