M14 Forum

glockshot

A guy at work has been after me to sell 3 guns of his for a yer now..We met on Sunday and I got them.A nice pre 64 winchester lever in .32,a so so peerless 12ga double,and something I have never seen,a trapdoor 12ga single barrel.It has a hammer and the trapdoor is attached to the side of the receiver and swings up to the right side.The trigger guard is real wide and has metal fingergard back the comb.The butt stock and butt plate look like a springfield trapdoor as does the trigger guard. I did'nt see any markings on it,but have not done a close inspection yet either..Anybody ever see one of these ?????

brassmagnet

IIRC quite a few trapdoors were converted to 20 Ga, but I don't remember ever seeing a 12 Ga version.

CAVman

Can you post a pic of the 'Trapdoor'?

CAVman in WYoming

Seventh Fleet

It sounds like you may possibly have a .20 gauge 1881 Springfield foraging trap door on your hands. They are very rare since just a few were issued to each Army post for foraging small game for the post. It would make a dream addition to any military weapons lovers collection. However if it's indeed a .12 gauge all bets are off and it's probably something someone cobbled up on their own. Since Springfield Arsenal only made 1400 of them and only in .20 gauge.



http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/m81.html

7th

savagefellow

If I'm reading correctly, you say it opens to the side? If so, you may have a Needham-Bridesburg conversion. Like this?

http://gundersonmilitary.com/riflene...uzzlering.html

Mike Pearson

glockshot

Well,It does'nt look either one of those.There is a rod with a coil spring on the right side of
the receiver that acts as a hinge of sorts.The breach block swings up and to the right side.
Instead of swinging up to the front like a 45/70 trapdoor,it swings up and over the right side.It could be a 20 ga,looksroo big though.I will need get some pictures up. thanks for the responces so far...... Glock

savagefellow

Gotcha... Snider?

http://militaryrifles.com/Britain/Snider.htm
Mike

glockshot

Thats real close,Have to check it out when i get home.I did'nt see any markings jumping out at me,will get my loop and go over it and report back..Thanks...Glock

GCBurner

A lot of British Sniders were coverted into shotguns in India, Africa, and Afghanistan. A lot of them were imported into the US by Bannerman's Imports in the early 20th century.

glockshot

Yep,It was a French Mle 1857 percussion rifle converted to a 1867 brecch loader and then converted into a smooth bore 12ga shotgun,useing a modified Snider hinged block action.It was converted in Belgium as indicated by the Liege proof marks I found.They have an interesting history,but not much worth overall.I may take it to the Baltimore show in March and try and peddle it for him...Thanks for all the help with this..Glock