Some outfit made a shooting repro of the trapdoor springfield years ago. I heard the originals had problems with blow-out from the door in the breech.
If I had the money back then, I would have bought one of the repros. I think the cartridge was a .45/70.
Another gun I'd like to get is the Sharpe's Buffalo gun. There is an outfit in Montana that makes good repors of them that run well over $1,000 and they have a waiting list. I think some Italian fiorm makes a repro of them that is of less quality but cheaper. I think they came in .45, .50 and .54 with different powder charges.
Really like that movie "Quiggly Down Under".
A friend of mine has one of the repro trap-door Springfields. He lent it to me a few years ago when I did a presentation on the Little Big Horn at our Church's men's breakfast.
Yes, the original was in 45/70. The Calvary also carried the 1873 Colt Army Model revolver, also in 45/70 (it came to be known as the Peacemaker). Thus, the ammunition was common to both weapons.
For years, historians believed that a major contributor to the Cavalry's loss at Little Big Horn was because the Springfields were prone to cartridge jamming after repeated firing. The 1883-84 field surveys at the battlefield turned up little corroboration, although evidence did show it happened.
I didn't mention it in my initial response but I'll mention it now. I have an original Winchester model 1886 in 40/82 (one of it original calibers). It shipped from the factory in 1895 according to Winchester. It's in fine condition, although there is a missing ejection mechanism that mounts on the left receiver wall (you can see the screw hole). This prevents the cartridge from actually ejecting although the slide 'presents' it sufficiently to top ejection opening.
Believe it or not, I bought it from a buddy during high school. He was looking for cash for the Junior Prom. I had a choice of this or a Parker 10 ga. double barrel. I paid $15.00 for the Winchester. That was LONNNNNNG ago.
The Montana outfit is SHILOH Sharps. I had a lesser grade of the Quigley. .45-70, 34" barrel. Weighed about 13 lbs. Traded it for a 1959 Winchester .30-30 and a 28 guage O/U.
You may not be speaking of the one I am familiar with, but there are a few well-known gun/knife makers in my area. I am acquainted with the gentleman that made Quigley's knife; the one shown in the beginning of the movie, shown as he sheaths it.
He also makes replica guns and spurs. His work is high dollar and well respected.