H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted August 30 Posted August 30 No, I have not found and obtained one. According to what I have read, only 1,376 were made, so I'd say the odds of me finding one in shootable condition is remote at best, and then even if I do, they would be prohibitively expensive. That being said, if someone were to market a modern made reproduction of the thing, would people be interested? I know I would be. That said, I think the odds of this happening are probably less than finding an original. Reproduction Trapdoors are not a common thing, after all, so making one in anything other than .45-70 is probably not gonna happen. Still, it's fun to speculate. Which brings up a related question, various old time single shots that were/are available, either originally or on the reproduction market, in rifle and pistol cartridges, and sometimes even shotguns. Part of me thinks that if reproduction trapdoors were available in these more diverse options that they might be very popular. I am onto a valid concept, or am I just coo coo? Quote
Rip Snorter Posted August 30 Posted August 30 https://openirons.com/2022/11/30/springfield-armory-made-a-trapdoor-shotgun/ Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted August 30 Author Posted August 30 Interesting that people would fake them. But that also brings up another question. I am sure that today fakes are indeed out there, but I wonder if some gunsmiths back in the day when these things were being sold a surplus and were not seen as really valuable in any way might have converted a few themselves and tried to sell them off as "better than the Army's version." Or maybe that's an an exaggeration. Just as many cap and ball revolvers got period conversion, maybe some of these rifles were shotgun converted as well with varying degrees of quality. Quote
Sedalia Dave Posted August 30 Posted August 30 IIRC 32 gage Shotshells will chamber in a 50-70. Quote
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted August 30 Posted August 30 I have seen several Rolling Block , 20 gas. I figured they were a Bannerman Special / franken gun not sure if I have ever seen a TD shotgun CB Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted August 30 Author Posted August 30 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 said: I have seen several Rolling Block , 20 gas. I figured they were a Bannerman Special / franken gun not sure if I have ever seen a TD shotgun CB I have a Rolling Block 12 Gauge. According to some experts, it may have started life as a muzzle loading Remington Rifle. Then, after the Civil War, it's barrel was mounted on a rolling block action after making it's way to Europe. Eventually made it's way to Belgium where it was rebarreld to 20 gauge. It's a gun of Theuseus, I guess... Edited August 30 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Quote
watab kid Posted August 30 Posted August 30 1 hour ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said: I have a Rolling Block 12 Gauge. According to some experts, it may have started life as a muzzle loading Remington Rifle. Then, after the Civil War, it's barrel was mounted on a rolling block action after making it's way to Europe. Eventually made it's way to Belgium where it was rebarreld to 20 gauge. It's a gun of Theuseus, I guess... i have a converted 1881 martini action enfield that was changed to 22lr for the miniature training use then again by a gunsmith to 12 ga Quote
Catamount Kid Posted Monday at 08:01 PM Posted Monday at 08:01 PM I love my Rolling Block. Don’t know how or why, but my Great Great Grandfather had it in Quebec. He had already decorated and old school sporterized it. With a fore end cut down and repair as well. He was native to their and when my great grandfather came over from France as a young man, he gave it to him as a dowry for marrying his youngest daughter Off finally. It ended up with my grandmother from Quebec, to New Brunswick, to Nova Scotia, to Maine. Her husband died and my oldest Uncle (half uncle) got it. Her next husband, my grandfather, left all his guns to my full Uncle, my Dad, and my aunt. My oldest uncle knew he was dying and left me an old HEGE imported Armi Jager Dakota 45 Colt, a cap and ball replica, and old EIC smoothbore converted percussion from flintlock Yeoman carbine, and the Swede Rolling Block. He cost me a fortune. The SAA clone was my first 45 Colt, so of course I got a Marlin and a Redhawk in the same caliber. I had to mess with BP, percussion caps, get a couple extra cylinders for the Navy .44 percussion pistol, then more percussion caps, ball, and powder, etc. to shoot the musket, ‘and the Rolling Block was in 12.7 x 42 Rimfire. That involved research, finding a 12.7x44R centerfire block, getting 50 Alaskan brass, cutting it down, and making ammo for it. He could have made it easy and left the the M1 carbine, Garand, and M14, and 1911A1 that he left to my cousin who just sold them off- 3 Quote
watab kid Posted Wednesday at 12:57 AM Posted Wednesday at 12:57 AM i had an enfield that was a snyder conversion , i had gotten most of the stuff to load what would have basically been about a 24ga shot shell to shoot it with , another collector bought it all from me before i got it all done , i think he has completed it and shot it Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.