Looking really good! Did you make the stock?

No. I ordered an unfinished replica stock. Trying to do one from scratch would take skills and time I don't really have. I did have to do some work on it to fit the particular bits of hardware, as well as cut down and rework the front end to the shorter length. Still need to sand down and finish the stock, as it was only roughly machined out.

I make custom stocks for air rifles. A good band saw and rotary rasp is all you need for basic shaping. The hardest part is channeling for the air chamber or barrel and keeping the channel straight.

Well, as I'd be on the bad side of the learning curve for such a job- even the little bit of inletting was about all I could deal with, and with only so-so results- I'd have to pass.

Even unfinished and damaged like she is, she's coming along well. It's a shame it was damaged, but at least it's in better hands now.

A buddy is looking for a .45-70 Govt. Tippman makes a single-shot, but the price--Yipes!

New England Arms/Harrison and Richardson makes a simple break open action in a wide range of calibers, including 45-70. Brand new they usually go for under $200.

Unfortunately NEF/H&R under the management of Remington has stopped production of those singleshots a few years ago. CVA does have something similar in the Hunter line of single shot rifles. I had a multi barrel set on the NEF rifle receiver - .45/70, .22 Hornet and 20 Gauge shotgun - there used to be a barrel fitting program. Send in receiver and payment and they would fit your barrel or barrels of choice to the receiver.

I got individual guns in .58 BP, 45-70, 223, 20 gauge shotgun. Sorry to hear about them being out of production. Knew about the interchangable barrels, but only after I got the individual pieces.

H&R produced a modern reproduction of the shorty Officer's Carbine Trapdoor a number of years ago. Friend of mine worked for them at the time and said that the proof testing they did was with modern loads. They're still around (ya gotta look), but aren't cheap.

The carbine was for horse soldiers, as far as I know, and was loaded with a somewhat reduced charge, both in powder and bullet weight. There are repro standard and carbine pieces out there, they are into four figures.

Oh, they had multiple loads for the trapdoor, including a shotshell for foraging. A lot of people forget that the cartridge designation "45-70" originally denoted the bullet projectile - "45-70-405" or "45-70-500". I've held a couple of the first ones chambered in "50-70".

The very first used a 58 cal rimfire. Specifically a 58-60-500 used on the first Allin conversion of 1865. It was the second version in 1866 that used the 50-70. Originally, it used 58 cal. barrels with a sub-calibre liner. Later, the 45-70 used purpose made barrels and receivers rather than converted barrels. The lock work remained all but identical to the 1861 musket through the 1873 model and presumably beyond(?)

Nice!

The stock for your Trapdoor is looking great by the way. A nice linseed oil finish would work well on it - used that to keep the stock of my old M1868 50/70 from cracking in the dry AZ environment.

Looking good so far.


-Badger-

we need to get these semi-fully automatic assault weapons off our streets...

But note it doesn't have an extended magazine, nor provision for a bayonet. The lack of blackness also makes it safer.

"the lack of blackness also makes it safer" ...I don't know how racial crime statistics have anything to do with this. >:L

Black furniture was also used to determine the evil-wickedness of baby-killer guns back in the day. Since sporting arms used wood instead, they could be given a pass, even if they were wooden-stocked military arms. But put the same action into a black plastic stock, then it became evil-wicked-nasty.

Sand with 100 grit, then "raise the grain"< then sand with 300 grit, and raise the grain.
Then sand with 0000 steel wool, then apply boiled linseed oil in three coats, separated a week apart.
then finish with either a cow bone, or brown paper until nice and smoooth.

A local gunsmith uses very thinned lacquer in multiple coats over time. I'm considering that process.

The linseed oil will make it more water resistant, though. Anything good enough for the US Army is good enough for me. XD

I found that micro fibre wash cloths are great to pull the saw dust out of the grain of the wood as it's being sanded. I've got 120 grit for the initial shaping and removing the milling marks. Thanks for reminding about the dampening. Then several passes with the fine stuff, using 400 because it was at hand. And, like I said, the micro fibre cloth really cleans things up. Still need a bit of slice and dice to get the butt plate to fit. Slightly different contour, and the stock above the upper part of the plate needs to be trimmed down a fair amount. Will also straighten the profile a touch while I'm at it. I'm going to try the lacquer technique, as it promises a harder finish. Linseed oil is nice enough, but is still a bit "soft" to my experiance.

Recovering and restoring a work of art is art in its own right.

And I'm going to start keeping my eyes open for both Rolling Blocks and Trapdoors. I won't even have to use my C&R FFL.

If you find a 2nd version Allen conversion, basically the trap door action bolted on to a musket barrel for anything like an accessable price, that would be my lust gun. Especially with the original three band arrangement.

The M1866? Cripes there is one hanging on display at a shop in my area - owner won't sell it. I've tried a few times to get it.

Before I knew enough to get wiggley, there was an antique store that had one for an almost accessable price, but by the time I knew what it really was, it was gone.

Very nice fit; can't wait to see the finished product. Have you slugged the bore yet?

No, though it looks pretty good

Slugging the barrel gives you the exact diameter and makes it easier to fit or swage/size bullets.

Just did a thing. Seems right on spec.

Perfect, then!

Ah , this might help as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHyoUF50rF0

http://www.rustblue.com/

Part II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrAJr8o3fDU

Going to keep it bright rather than blue. Especially with BP shooting.

Fair enough. More of an ACW Look, I suppose. My Model 188X Trapdor was blued (and has that useless Knitting Needle Bayonet.)

But the Bluing tips might be good for some future 20th century projects you may ruin across. I am eyeballing a beat up Type 38 Long rifle, with a nice bore at my local shop that I waant to bring back to an arsenal refit condition.

Just checked and found that mine was a first year of production gun from 1874.

Dang, that is an early one. I tried again today to get a price on the M1866 i'd mentioned. Shop owner still won't budge on it, the 1888 Rod Bayonet model or the Spencer Rifle that are hanging next to each other. Did snap a pic on the sly with my phone
I need to look around in my parts box, I may have a spare firing pin for the .45/70 laying around. Gun Parts Corp sent me the wrong pin some years ago and I never returned it. Also have a M1870 combo tool - swing blade screw driver for the trapdoors and it has a fitting for keeping the main spring compressed if you need to work on the lock. Let me know if you have any interest

I've been using vice grips on the lock main sprint for decades. A bit farby, but works. Just started the coating on the stock. Looks pretty. And still need to figure out an ignition system for my steampunked 1863 musket. Tazers have dramatic sparks, but can't ignite BP. So, I'm looking into an automotive ignition coil and back pack or sling pouch power supply for my electric musket.

Am jelly. I still got to finish my project guns.