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Very rare Springfield Armory 50-70 trapdoor pistol

Started by Fjold , Sep 13 2012 07:43 PM

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15 replies to this topic

#1 Fjold

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Posted 13 September 2012 - 07:43 PM

I thought some of you guys would be interested in seeing this:


Right after the Civil War Springfield Armory made eight (8) single shot 50/70 trapdoor pistols for US Calvary officers for use in the Indian Wars. These guns were originally calvary carbines that the factory modified the stocks, barrel, sights, etc and turned them into pistols.

Serial number 1 is in a private collection, #2 is in the Springfield Armory Museum, #3 is in the Smithsonian and this is #4 that I'm holding in my hand. A good friend of mine owns it and has the most complete private collection of US military handguns in the U.S. You won't find many rarer guns than this. The other 4 guns that were made are also in private collections.

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Frank
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#2 mackeralboy

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Posted 13 September 2012 - 08:03 PM

Wow, That is very cool Fjold. Thanks for sharing.

#3 Shoot-it

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Posted 13 September 2012 - 09:20 PM

that's something I have never seen before must have been fun to hold on to.

#4 BearWhoHunts

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Posted 13 September 2012 - 09:30 PM

My goodness that thing is awesome. Thanks for sharing such a cool piece of history.

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#5 KNOCKED UP

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Posted 14 September 2012 - 03:59 AM

That is nice,and nice to know the history.
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#6 Bennie

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Posted 14 September 2012 - 07:45 AM

Very neat pistol. Thanks for sharing.
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#7 ShooterJohn

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Posted 14 September 2012 - 08:25 AM

That is really an interesting piece Frank your friend is lucky to own it.

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#8 Canis mortuus

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Posted 14 September 2012 - 09:52 PM

That is an awesome firearm! I'll bet that thing is something to hold on to when you touch it off.
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#9 Mutt

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Posted 15 September 2012 - 06:12 AM

Sweet!

#10 StoneTower

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Posted 15 September 2012 - 07:55 PM

http://www.trapdoorc....com/cal50.html

Very nice.

The article says "The only two Springfield made .50 caliber trapdoor pistols reside in museums: the Smithsonian and the Springfield Armory museum." I guess the author did not know about the other six.

#11 Fjold

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Posted 15 September 2012 - 09:10 PM

http://www.trapdoorc....com/cal50.html

Very nice.

The article says "The only two Springfield made .50 caliber trapdoor pistols reside in museums: the Smithsonian and the Springfield Armory museum." I guess the author did not know about the other six.


That's interesting. I sent the webmaster of that site one of the pictures of the gun above. I wonder how long it will take him to email me back?

:pot:
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#12 zippy1970

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Posted 17 September 2012 - 02:50 PM

Not to be an ** but did you get to shoot it ?


Andy

#13 Fjold

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Posted 17 September 2012 - 04:41 PM

Nope, he showed it to me at his shop in the middle of town.
Frank
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#14 zippy1970

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Posted 17 September 2012 - 04:53 PM

Bummer .

But fondling counts . I like the pic alone as I can add it to my pile of " rare , unusual , " file .

Andy

#15 rustygun

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Posted 18 September 2012 - 01:51 PM

He is one lucky man with a rare gun to hold onto. I didn't even know that they made any of those. Thanks for sharing.

#16 sxshooter

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Posted 21 September 2012 - 01:48 PM

Very cool.
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