1884 trapdoor help needed

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stevey3737

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Hello all I have been humming and hawing over whether to buy one of the pederosoli springfield trapdoors that marstar is selling and I found this https://www.joesalter.ca/products/collector-grade-1884-springfield-trapdoor
my question is: is this a fair price for what it is? I was going to pay around that for the remake but this is a nice example of an original what is the general opinion or is there one?
I know I am the one who has to decide but I don't know a lot about them except I want one haha
 
For the money, buy a decent shape Antique.

Decent shape means, buy the best you can afford, then add a few more dollars.

Your not just buying an antique Trapdoor Springfield, your buying an investment.

There are many different models, research out what you want.

Trapdoors are high on my my list of beautiful made rifles.

Quality and craftsmanship are second to none.

Salter's prices are alway's high to me, but sometimes he comes up with some beauties.

The one listed looks good, price a bit too high.

Add dollar difference, shipping n good ole GST.

trapdoor.com and trapdoorcollector.com

Look at both web sites and buy from trapdoor collector.
 
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Rifle - $1200
cleaning patch jag - $35
sling = $300+

Maybe slightly less in the US but for a piece in such nice shape maybe not. Then add 25% for the difference in the dollar.

IMHO, even though Salter's prices are high, his stuff is usually top of the heap.

I am willing to bet that with the right bullet that rifle will shoot as well as you can hold.

I recently sold a rifle in not quite as good condition as that rifle for $1000 and the new owner is tickled pink with it. That rifle was missing the sling. The only reason I sold him the rifle reasonably is that I know him and his passion. The old girl is actually being taken out and put through its paces again. The rifle I sold was the 1884 Cadet model and the breach block had been replaced which is common on the Cadet models. The original blocks were purposely altered in one manner or another to make the rifles inert. When they were sold off as surplus, the blocks were replaced with working units.

The prices listed at the Salter site are in Canadian dollars.
 
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Well I pulled the pin and bought the springfield, I did some looking on the American websites you guys shared and a nice example like the one I posted with all the stuff is 1200 us plus shipping and taxes or duty so I am up to 1800 Canadian anyway so here,s hoping I made the right choice ;-)
 
stevey3737 said:
Well I pulled the pin and bought the springfield, I did some looking on the American websites you guys shared and a nice example like the one I posted with all the stuff is 1200 us plus shipping and taxes or duty so I am up to 1800 Canadian anyway so here,s hoping I made the right choice ;-)
Click to expand...

just remember you are most likely going to have to reload and even cast bullets for it(because things are not always standard with these old guns)
 
If I am not mistaken, it is on the Down East Trading website, so is on the Canadian side of the wire and is priced in Canadian dollars. I have found Joe to be very trustworthy and agree his prices tend to be on the high side.
 
Down east trading is a Canadian company so no $ difference. Joe is a great guy to do business with.
cigar_man said:
For the money, buy a decent shape Antique.

Decent shape means, buy the best you can afford, then add a few more dollars.

Your not just buying an antique Trapdoor Springfield, your buying an investment.

There are many different models, research out what you want.

Trapdoors are high on my my list of beautiful made rifles.

Quality and craftsmanship are second to none.

Salter's prices are alway's high to me, but sometimes he comes up with some beauties.

The one listed looks good, price a bit too high.

Add dollar difference, shipping n good ole GST.

trapdoor.com and trapdoorcollector.com

Look at both web sites and buy from trapdoor collector.
Click to expand...
 
Okay... this might sound a bit irresponsible and maybe I should have known better, but....

I have a very old Springfield trapdoor Model 1873...



And was told from the guy I bought it from that I could shoot it all day using THIS ammo... as it says " For Use In All Rifles "



Now... a bit late in the game to come asking my fellow CGN'rs... but I still have my face and head intact, so...

Is this ammo good to go in the 1873 ???

I realize it's smokeless, but was told these are very mild loads, and even though they are jacketed bullets, it would not be a problem.

Advice????? ( And once again, thanks to all for the input....)
 
Remington Express Rifle ammo 45-70 as posted in above pictures is safe to use in a Trapdoor Springfield.

I think Winchester also makes a version, not sure of it's name.

I am personally not too kinky with the idea of jacketed rounds on these old girls, but they say they are safe.

I would get into reloading for the Springfield series of rifles, that way you can tailor your own.

Myself, I reload with cast bullets for my 1888 Springfield. (Black Powder or American Pioneer)
 
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Notice that it says on the box "for use in all rifles"
SAM_2979-1.jpg

that means it's safe.
As for using a steady diet of jacketed bullets in an original trapdoor, I wouldn't, in deference to the older steels used in them. But a few rounds now and then won't hurt
 
Thanks for the input, gents!

I hardly shoot my "old girls" anymore, so I guess a few jacketed bullets down the old bore shouldn't hurt it much. I was mostly worried about any over-pressure issues on a 140 year old action....

I don't reload so the lead bullets are out, but I agree they're a lot softer than copper and would be easier on the old steel rifling. I shoot maybe a box a year.

Anyways... now I know I'm good to go ! Thanks again...
 
By the looks of the receiver you have an early Trapdoor...pre 1878. I would suspect it is 5 digit serial number on the gun. Check the breech-block, the part that fits into the receiver. There will most likely be a pronounced relief cut in it, known as a high arch.
Buy the factory ammo, and pull the bullets and powder, avoid firing them in the gun pictured. If the gun was a later model (1884) then it woudl not make a huge difference.
Reload the new virgin brass with black powder (50 to 55 gr.) and lead bullets (sized to 0.459, weighing at least 400 to 410 grains).
 
Alonzo said:
By the looks of the receiver you have an early Trapdoor...pre 1878. I would suspect it is 5 digit serial number on the gun. Check the breech-block, the part that fits into the receiver. There will most likely be a pronounced relief cut in it, known as a high arch.
Buy the factory ammo, and pull the bullets and powder, avoid firing them in the gun pictured. If the gun was a later model (1884) then it woudl not make a huge difference.
Reload the new virgin brass with black powder (50 to 55 gr.) and lead bullets (sized to 0.459, weighing at least 400 to 410 grains).
Click to expand...


Good advice here, folks and OP. You have only to have your Trapdoor 'self-eject' on firing the one time to be convinced.

tac
 
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