1881 Trapdoor Carbine

[Wade]

Thank you Dick.

[Wade]

Dick,
How were the slotless rear sight screws installed?

[Dick Hosmer]

Had to have been done with a collet/clamping device of some sort. IF I am remembering correctly, the tool itself has never been found/identified. I suspect they might have been run in by hand as far as possible and then tightened with the tool. When removed they apparently used a little chisel, which explains the mutilated screws found today with two little stab marks. I have never seen a detailed description of the install process, but am GUESSING they may have installed the sight on the barrel before installing the leaf - either way the spring had to be compressed, and if the base was already on the barrel it might have saved a vice operation.

[Wade]

Thank you for the explanation. The collet tool makes sense to me.

[Wade]

Dick,
Would the wider breech block be dated 1873 or another date?

[Dick Hosmer]

It should be marked "US/MODEL/1873". For your era, it should have the smaller font of the two versions made, but that is not super important - biggest thing is to get the width right.

1873 dated blocks were used well into 1887 (three years after the "Model 1884" was adopted) because they had thousands on hand and the ONLY difference was in the marking. The term "Model 1884" basically referred to the flat "Buffington" rear sight as there were no other changes.

[Wade]

Thanks again Dick. Does anyone have a wide breech block to trade for a good narrow one?

[Dick Hosmer]

I'll take a look to see if I have one that would be right, but it may take awhile.

[Wade]

I appreciate that Dick.