[Does so]

I inherited an 1884 Springfield (Trapdoor) rifle that had been decommissioned by the factory by a gouge taken out in the chamber. The rifle was decommissioned due to a large bore defect, and although it’s in mint condition, didn’t sell online at $1200. It would make an expensive lamp, so, is it feasible to have a gunsmith convert the chamber to the much-milder .44WCF caliber?

[CrazyIvan]

I’ve done a fair amount of machining and I think it would be possible to make a chamber insert similar to those used to convert a 30:06 to .308.

[Charles Martel]

Depending on where the chamber gouge is located, you may be able to “shorten” it with an insert (.45 Colt would be another candidate). If the gouge is near the chamber throat, it may be possible to bore out the entire length of the original barrel and install a rifled liner in an appropriate caliber. Either way, it deserves to be more than a wall-hanger.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

We had an neighbor years ago who had an old Revolutionary War flintlock turned into a lamp. It sickens me today but hillbillies had no idea of the historical value of anything like that.
The wires for the lamp went in the drilled out touch hole and up inside the barrel.

[Vaquero]

You can have the whole barrel and chamber relined back to 45-70. Will be stronger than the original. I have a slightly sporterized 1884 (some clown butchered it.) made in 1891. I shoot smokeless powder loads using 300 gr jacketed and 405 and 500 gr lead bullets. Shoots tight groups.

I loaded some BP loads for it. Too messy.

[Swordmaker]

I inherited an 1884 Springfield (Trapdoor) rifle that had been decommissioned by the factory by a gouge taken out in the chamber. The rifle was decommissioned due to a large bore defect, and although it’s in mint condition, didn’t sell online at $1200. It would make an expensive lamp, so, is it feasible to have a gunsmith convert the chamber to the much-milder .44WCF caliber?

You could have it bored out and a sleeve installed. Probably would shoot ok.