Springfield Trapdoor 50-70
- Thread starter Goodwin81
- Start date
Depends on a lot of factors. I've seen quite a few 50-70 Trapdoors up here that are assembled from mixed parts of very questionable origin. Ive also seen a few very nice original 1866, 1868 and 1870 models here. Many Trapdoors up here are not as advertised. Be careful and use good reference material. There is a big difference in quality, originality and in some cases safety with these.
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There are a lot of variables to consider.
The Second Allin's conversion, Model 1866 was a full length muzzle-loading musket altered by adding a hinged breechblock and chambering it for 50-70 eliminating the muzzle loading feature and making it a breechloader. it used the civil war musket rear sight and cleaning rod. Additionally it used the civil war mucket lock plate that is dated 1863 to 1865.
The next variant was the Model M1868 which featured a full receiver/breechblock assembly and a slightly shorter barrel then the model 1866. It was marked with a year on the breechblock that ranged from 1868 to 1870, the receiver/barrel are serial numbered
The 1868 and 1870 both used 1863 through 1865 dated lock-plates and the stock is flat opposite the lock plate.
All of these are finished "Bright", only the breechblocks were blued.
Check the website https://www.trapdoorcollector.com/index.html for detailed information.
you can make the brass from 348 cases if you can find them. I have had 2 rolling block 50-70s and they seemed to have a long throat in the chamber. They were not accurate with the government style bullet but were using a loverin style bullet because the nose was a little blunter and in effect the slug was seated closer to the rifling. Loverin style bullets have several narrow grease grooves rather than the wide ones found on Keith style bullets. Worth mentioning that I tried seating the government style bullets as far out as I could get them but they were still a bit short relative to the chamber
cheers mooncoon
