M1868 Springfield Trapdoor Carbine

Tidewater_Kid · May 1, 2016, 03:36 PM

I have wanted a 50-70 carbine and I had a box of parts. I needed a barrel donor and wanted one I didn't feel too badly about cutting. I found this barrel and receiver and thee last 6 inches were toast. I cut it down and proceeded with the project.

They originally only made 4 prototypes of these and I can't seem to find any pictures. Dick Hosmer was kind enough to give me some pointers in what things should look like. I didn't want to make a fake, just something that fits the bill. The stock is from a musket and was cut down long ago. The nose profile is wrong, might have to splice a new one on at some point.

Anyway on with the pictures. I hope to shoot it soon!

Tidewater_Kid · May 1, 2016, 03:37 PM

A close-up of the font sight. These had brass inserts.

Hawg · May 1, 2016, 04:49 PM

It looks pretty good. I think you have too much taper at the muzzle and it needs to be crowned. If you can find a trashed carbine stock you can splice it under the barrel band. I've seen that done on cut down 45-70's.

Tidewater_Kid · May 1, 2016, 05:27 PM

Thanks Hawg. The barrel is pretty fat at the end due to it being a cut down rifle barrel, but I didn't realize it was such a steep taper until I took the pictures. I will work on that. It will take a musket end I think to fit the large diameter of the 50-70 barrel, but I'm looking.

Model12Win · May 1, 2016, 08:01 PM

A 19th century M44 Nagant! Love it!!

Hawg · May 1, 2016, 08:31 PM

A Mosin my hind end. A Mosin will never see the day it has that much class or any class at all for that matter.

Tidewater_Kid · May 2, 2016, 07:52 PM

Thanks Hawg! I think it's classy too, but I'm biased.

**4V50 Gary** · May 2, 2016, 08:53 PM

Mod12Win - ouch!

Tidewater_Kid · May 8, 2016, 09:59 AM

Well it shoots. 2" to 3" groups at 50 yards. I was also able to hit the 12" gong at 100 yard several time. Not my best eyesight day, but I think it will get better. The front sight is too tall, so I will need to file it down a bit. I intentionally left it a bit high. I use sized .510 450 grain pure lead bullets with 50 gains of 2F Goex and card wads to take up the space.

TK

Doc Hoy · May 8, 2016, 05:05 PM

Sweeeeet

Tidewater_Kid · May 8, 2016, 07:44 PM

Thanks Doc. I was hoping you would stop by. You inspired my fun with trapdoors with your projects!

TK

drobs · May 9, 2016, 03:32 AM

Nice work!

Model12Win · May 10, 2016, 09:51 PM

Quote:

A Mosin my hind end. A Mosin will never see the day it has that much class or any class at all for that matter.

Tell my mint-condition Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant that it doesn't have any class. More like one of the most accurate, reliable military bolt action rifles ever made. It's plenty classy, thank you very much!

Doc Hoy · May 11, 2016, 04:03 AM

Was a Rifle I bought from Sears and Roebuck for under 20.00 and it was purchased through a catalogue and mailed to my door.

They had two versions. One was original military issue. The other was "Sporterized" (They hacked off the front of the stock, painted the metal parts and lost most of the eliminated furniture.) Military issue was 14.95. I bought the sporterized version (like an idiot) for 19.95. I added a box of ammunition for 5.00. No surprise that Sears would devalue the rifle with the modification and still figure out how to sell it for more money.

Sears and Roebuck advertised the rifle as "Fin Cub". They also referred to it as the "Finnish Mauser". I had a friend at the time who purported to be an expert. He said it had a "Three-part-Mauser bolt".

Nearly every round jammed in the chamber through case expansion. (Milsurp) Had to use a ram rod to bang out the empty case. The bullet was a steel jacket and would pass through a twelve inch dia. tree.

The rifle was eventually stolen when I moved to my first duty station in Hawaii. It went into the shipment but was gone when my stuff arrived in HI. (1971)

Hawg · May 11, 2016, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Tell my mint-condition Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant that it doesn't have any class.

Your Finnish Mosin doesn't have any class.

Yeah they were made by Sako and yes they're accurate but it's still a butt ugly Mosin. My opinion, your's may vary.

May 2, 2016, 08:53 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,843	Mod12Win - ouch! __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 8, 2016, 05:05 PM	#10
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	TK Sweeeeet __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

May 9, 2016, 03:32 AM	#12
drobs Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2015 Location: South Central MO / Africa Posts: 1,111	Nice work! __________________ NRA Life Member

May 11, 2016, 04:03 AM	#14
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	My first rifle of caliber higher that .22 Was a Rifle I bought from Sears and Roebuck for under 20.00 and it was purchased through a catalogue and mailed to my door. They had two versions. One was original military issue. The other was "Sporterized" (They hacked off the front of the stock, painted the metal parts and lost most of the eliminated furniture.) Military issue was 14.95. I bought the sporterized version (like an idiot) for 19.95. I added a box of ammunition for 5.00. No surprise that Sears would devalue the rifle with the modification and still figure out how to sell it for more money. Sears and Roebuck advertised the rifle as "Fin Cub". They also referred to it as the "Finnish Mauser". I had a friend at the time who purported to be an expert. He said it had a "Three-part-Mauser bolt". Nearly every round jammed in the chamber through case expansion. (Milsurp) Had to use a ram rod to bang out the empty case. The bullet was a steel jacket and would pass through a twelve inch dia. tree. The rifle was eventually stolen when I moved to my first duty station in Hawaii. It went into the shipment but was gone when my stuff arrived in HI. (1971) __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

May 1, 2016, 04:49 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	It looks pretty good. I think you have too much taper at the muzzle and it needs to be crowned. If you can find a trashed carbine stock you can splice it under the barrel band. I've seen that done on cut down 45-70's.

May 1, 2016, 05:27 PM	#4
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	Thanks Hawg. The barrel is pretty fat at the end due to it being a cut down rifle barrel, but I didn't realize it was such a steep taper until I took the pictures. I will work on that. It will take a musket end I think to fit the large diameter of the 50-70 barrel, but I'm looking.

May 1, 2016, 08:01 PM	#5
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	A 19th century M44 Nagant! Love it!!

May 1, 2016, 08:31 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	A Mosin my hind end. A Mosin will never see the day it has that much class or any class at all for that matter.

May 2, 2016, 07:52 PM	#7
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	Thanks Hawg! I think it's classy too, but I'm biased.

May 8, 2016, 09:59 AM	#9
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	Well it shoots. 2" to 3" groups at 50 yards. I was also able to hit the 12" gong at 100 yard several time. Not my best eyesight day, but I think it will get better. The front sight is too tall, so I will need to file it down a bit. I intentionally left it a bit high. I use sized .510 450 grain pure lead bullets with 50 gains of 2F Goex and card wads to take up the space. TK

May 8, 2016, 07:44 PM	#11
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	Thanks Doc. I was hoping you would stop by. You inspired my fun with trapdoors with your projects! TK