Trapdoor

[Tascosa Joe]

Were the lock plates on 1884 Carbines blue or case hardened?

[SGT John Chapman]

Look under "Real or Repo"........Lot of other good stuff here too,.....


http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/

[Tascosa Joe]

Thanks for the link.  it appears lock plates and breach blocks were CCH not blue.  The carbine I was looking at was in a gun shop and is high condition but it is blue.  I suspected a refinish from first look.

T-Joe

[SGT John Chapman]

Glad to help Joe....

[JimBob]

Thanks for the link.  it appears lock plates and breach blocks were CCH not blue.  The carbine I was looking at was in a gun shop and is high condition but it is blue.  I suspected a refinish from first look.

T-Joe

Altough both parts were case hardened there were two different processes used.Breech blocks were quenched in water giving the typical color case finish everyone is familiar with.Lock plates were quenched in oil giving a bluish-black finish with none of the typical coloration in CCH.Also depending on date not all breech blocks will be CCH,some were done the same as lockplates giving a bluish black finish.

Here's a near mint example of a rifle on GunBroker http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=237202456 Note the color of the lockplate,dull not a bright modern blue.Also note the case color on the breechblock.Most modern case color jobs are a lot brighter looking than SA case colors.

I would do some serious study before laying out money for a carbine,fakes abound.M1884 carbine production was confined to the years 1886,
1887,1888,1889,and 1890.If a stock cartouche is present that would be one indication of originality.A serial number check in the SRS books might also turn up something.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Sounds like JimBob knows whut the hell he's talking about!

[JimBob]

LOL I made an expensive mistake once. ;DSince then I've bought a lot of books.A good one on original trapdoor finishes is a reprint of Ordnance Memorada No.22 Fabrication of Small Arms.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Expensive mistakes, while bad, are great teaching aids!