WTB: 1873 trapdoor rifle parts

[ewmail15]

Hi. Picked up an M1873 Trapdoor a few months back, serial 49678, and after I cleaned it all up very nicely, realized I have the wrong lockplate, rear sight and rear barrel band. It's all good learning... It cleaned up beautifully from what it was when I picked it up, but it's not a big collector piece. With that, would anyone have a bare lockplate with the "1873" on the face (believe lockplate parts interchange), a correct rear sight and rear band? Not looking for anything high priced. Restorable/fair condition would be fine/preferred. Please send photos and prices. Thanks, Eric.

[Carolina Reb]

Go over to www.trapdoorcollector.com (http://www.trapdoorcollector.com) and look at the parts section on the catalog & classified page. Al Frasca runs that sight and he is one of the best. He has a '73 dated lock listed there now and gets '73 plates regularly. If he doesn't have the other parts you are looking for he can usually find them for you.

[John Bly]

Contact Ed Knisely in York, PA 717-741-2556 or EdKnisely@aol,com. He has a lot of trapdoor parts.

[ewmail15]

Al has the three parts, but would probably cost me more than I paid for it. I'll see if either of them have cheaper quality parts to make it worth restoring to original model parts. Thanks both.

[ewmail15]

I picked up a correct 1873 rear sight several months back for $25 that cleaned up beautifully, from granpasgunparts. Neither they nor anyone else seems to have the rear sight spring. Would anyone possibly have one to sell, or could you maybe provide measurements and pattern photos so I could make one myself? Thanks, Eric.