
45-70 cartridge was the ammunition used to slaughter the majority of the American Bison during the American Indian Wars. SP0175 Bridle Screw (Original) For 1873-1889 Springfield 45/70 Trapdoor & Joslyn Carbine 7. 45-70 Government cartridge could be very accurate with an enormous amount of power. The Model 1873 did not disappoint during testing.

45-70 Government, self-primed, metallic cartridge. It was known as the Model 99, but its new designation was the Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle, once officially adopted by the United States Army.īecause the Model 1873 was built from the ground up, Allin gave the rifle a rifled barrel and chambered it for the. Erkin Allin chose to go back to the drawing board and design a new gun from scratch. In 1870, the United States Army Board of Ordnance decided to hold more tests for a new standard-issue rifle. Still, the Army's Board of Ordnance felt that adopting a repeating rifle would cause front-line troops to use more ammunition than was necessary. At the time, repeating rifles were gaining popularity. The rifle was in service from 1865 to 1870 but was slowly integrated into use in the field. As a result, it was a cost-effective conversion. The Model 1873 was the fifth improvement of the Allin design. An additional 6,521 weapons were ready by March 31, 1874. The United States Army Board of Ordnance adopted the Springfield Model 1865 quickly because the gun's production used existing parts. It is known that trapdoor rifles were not developed until after the Civil War and through Springfield’s manufacturing records we find the first 1,940 Model 1873 carbines and two rifles were not made until the final months of 1873. Thus, it was the birth of the Springfield Model 1865 Trapdoor Rifle, and it was adopted immediately by the United States Army.

50-caliber conical shot loaded in a metallic casing. In addition, he scaled down the caliber from a. To achieve the goals set forth by the United States Army Board of Ordnance, Allin modified modern muskets with a trapdoor on top of the gun's receiver. Allin was the master armorer of the Springfield Armory located in Springfield, Massachusetts. The design that won the contract was the Springfield Model 1865 Trapdoor Rifle, designed by Erskine S. Gunmakers from all over the world had offered firearms for testing, but only one passed all of the Army tests. The Board of Ordnance made it known that trials would soon begin for a new standard-issue infantry rifle. Trapdoor rifle Stock Photos and Images A Springfield model 1888, a so-called trapdoor rifle, Rifled bore A US Trapdoor rifle M1873 on display in the.
#1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR CARBINE PARTS SERIAL NUMBER#
It has a blade front sight, Model 1873 notch and folding ladder rear sight graduated 1-5 on the base and 6-12 on the ladder, "MODEL//eagle head/crossed arrows/US" on top of the breechblock, the low serial number "5749" at the rear edge, a saddle ring and bar on the left side of the stock, "1873" below the standard Springfield markings on the lock, standard carbine "US" marked buttplate and trigger guard, and single barrel band with "U" on the right and a sling swivel.In 1865, the United States Army had decided that the musket was no longer suitable for battle or the United States Army Board of Ordnance.

While they offered less rapid fire than the repeating arms of the era, their longer range capabilities and stronger cartridge were well suited for the battles of the era. After the battle, their carbines were gathered up by the victors and used in later battles with the U.S. Custer's men were armed with Model 1873s when they were annihilated near the Little Bighorn River. The early trapdoor carbines saw extensive use on the Great Plains and in the Southwest during the Indian War era. Springfield Model 1873 carbine was originally built in 1873, early enough to have been used at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
