Assembler left his Print on the back...

[Fred]

The assembler or somebody left a perfectly preserved finger or thumb print on the back of the polished steel mirror inside a 45-70 trapdoor Springfield bore inspection reflector I found lying around here. Wow, that person has been dust since before I was born.

image.jpg

[free1954]

that my friend, is pretty cool. something to be preserved.

[45govt]

Hello
Would be interested to see a photo of the complete device
Thanks
Don

[Fred]

image.jpg

[Fred]

The Mirror inside is made of steel, polished on one side.
image.jpg

[Fred]

image.jpg

[45govt]

Thanks Fred
I think that one is a .30 cal. rifle or ?? bore inspection device, someone who has more knowledge on those will chime in.

The Springfield device is in ROC for 1888
attached is the pages.

[Fred]

No, it will not fit into a Krag or 1903 chamber. Too big. It's of .45 caliber diameter.
I bought it thinking it was for an 03 because its of the later design one finds for them. However it turned out to be for a 45 caliber chamber.
So, apparently this design was carried over to the Krags and 03's!

[Dick Hosmer]

Looks VERY much like the one for the M1? Mine is glass, however, not polished steel.

[Fred]

I thought that the reflector on this one was glass, until I took it apart and found that the reflector is metal.
The glass mirrors used in the .30 caliber sized bore inspectors always seem to create a slightly double image. One reflecting off the mirror coating at the back of the glass and another reflection off of the surface of the glass.
This reflector's image is Sharp.

[Dick Hosmer]

Very interesting - I wonder if the piece of steel is a replacement, or if you have a "scarce variation". I do NOT believe for one second that is 19th century work, with the stamped sheet metal and greenish color. Externally, it appears to be exactly the same as the M1 style, right down to the retaining grooves. We need a tool expert here!!!!!

[Fred]

It's tapered at the end for easier insertion into a .45 straight case chamber.
Could there have been a need & requests for .45 caliber bore reflectors based on the the existing .30 model? OR... Could this Bore Reflector be a late design that evolved into the next model for the 30-40 and the 30-06?

[Dick Hosmer]

Fred, I do not know, but I still doubt that it is "old". Interesting item - hopefully someone will come along who can enlighten us!

[45govt]

Hello
Here is a short article on the M1 bore inspection device

https://www.thegca.org/pdfs/2-05_all.pdf

[Fred]

I wonder if it could be for a Trapdoor Line Throwing Gun.