The joy of surviving

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

Its possibly a Springfield trapdoor conversion. Look just below the lock, see the lever. That might just be the lever that releases the trapdoor for loading.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by Cpl. Kalkwarf

Its possibly a Springfield trapdoor conversion. Look just below the lock, see the lever. That might just be the lever that releases the trapdoor for loading.

I agree, from this site http://www.schiferli.net/Springfield%20Trapdoor.htm the last of the 'trapdoor Springfields' were made in 1893. That's only 24 years before the date in the picture.
I'd say that most of the bolt-action military rifles were likely to have been unavailable for a private company to use for research purposes and it's worth noting that apparently the last of the trapdoor rifles were chambered for .45-70 which would have had a decent amount of energy for testing purposes against the armour

[General Pain]

[General Pain]

[weswood]

Originally Posted by General Pain

That's a hell of a lot better than the guy I saw walking his Santa suit wearing dachsund.