The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - Another interesting Bill’s .50-70 rifle

Another interesting Bill’s .50-70 rifle (reply)

Slow Hand — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:30:46 +0000

I saw this one recently and didn’t remember ever seeing it before. Apparently it was buried with Wild Bill and removed after they moved his body. I have an old Allen Trapdoor that has been cut down a hair and had a pretty rough stock. I always thought it would be neat to make a vintage sporter looking rifle out of it. Seeing Wild Bill’s resparked that interest.

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27262/lot/3/wild-bill-hickoks-springfield-trapdoor-rifl...

That rifle... (reply)

Slow Hand — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 02:31:00 +0000

Yes sir.

It was a couple years later I read it. (reply)

JimT — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:46:05 +0000

I aint quite THAT old!

That rifle... (reply)

AaronB — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:06:23 +0000

...is that a Trapdoor in .50-70 government?

-AaronB

You read it back in the 1880's...? (reply)

AaronB — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:05:01 +0000

Boy that HAS been a while.

-AaronB

I found the story .... it was 1872 .. (reply)

Slow Hand — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:50:22 +0000

I wonder of it was Lucretia that Cody loaned the Grand Duke. I believe it was that trip that cemented the Russians ordering S&W top breaks for their army.

I found the story .... it was 1872 .. (reply)

JimT — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:12:35 +0000

The Grand Duke Alexis from Russia. He was with the Army and Buffalo Bill. Rode his horse up near a buffalo and fired his pistol 6 times and missed with all 6!

Cody loaned him a .50 caliber rifle and he managed to kill a buffalo with it the first shot.

I read about a Russian Duke or something (reply)

JimT — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:07:30 +0000

In the 1880's I think it was, shooting Buffalo (Bison) with a S&W .44 ... I don't remember if it was the .44 American or the .44 Russian. He would ride up close and shoot them. I need to look that up. It's been a really long time since I read that.

Sixguns for Bison Defense (reply)

AaronB — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 19:30:23 +0000

I don't know what sixgun would be appropriate for bison, but I think that climbs up into the realm of armaments for dangerous game.

Those are the chamberings for which, if you're not actually about to get crushed to death by some ginormous angry animal, it's not worth the pain of dropping the trigger.

(See: .500 Smith & Wesson)

-AaronB

She Should Have Had A Sixgun

JimT — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:52:17 +0000

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/03/12/that-was-my-last-resort-iditarod-rookie-re...