The development of this round and its subsequent rifle-literally made for each other-would mark the American shift from muskets to longer range rifles.īy the time they decided upon the. It is surprising that both government and private manufacturers took so long to realize that by increasing powder and lessening bullet weight, it could produce rifles with much greater range. The round deemed so effective, Colt began making Gatling guns to utilize the same round later that year. The winner would be barrel #16 with the #58 ammunition, which would be the 45-70-405 cartridge. Each variation had its own barrel and fired 20 test shots at six targets from a distance of 500 yards. 45 caliber bullets, powder amounts from 65 to 80 grains, several rifling variations and bullet weights from 350 to 450 grains. It was a separate, yet related, study to determine which combination of caliber, powder charge and bullet weight would provide the best performance. Springfield Armory Model 1875 Officer’s Model Trapdoor Rifle, Late Type IIĪt this point, the Terry Board held a “sidebar” study. They rejected all but 21 almost immediately, and only two of those were modifications of the current. They again received both foreign and domestic submissions from some of the most prominent firearms manufacturers of the day such as: Winchester, Remington, Springfield, Sharps, Spencer, Whitney and others. Terry, requested roughly 100 different breech-loading rifles from various makers to put through trials. The Board, now known as the “Terry Board,” headed by Brigadier General A.H.
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This trial was designed to find a rifle more in line with their preference toward range and power than the Model 1870 being “test driven” by soldiers in the field. Then, on September 3, 1872, the Board of Army Officers held another trial. This went on for about five years from National Armory’s Model 1865 to its Model 1870. As reports came in from the field in subsequent years, the rifle would be adapted, redesigned and replaced in the field in small numbers. Armory at Springfield, later just “Springfield”) design, now referred to as the “First Allin.” However, this “adoption” was more of a test drive than a final acceptance. The Board adopted the National Armory’s (a.k.a. Single-shot rifles were thought to force a more efficient use of ammunition.The Board’s priority of long-range accuracy over rate of fire.It looked similar to proven guns of the past, especially with its pronounced hammer.Single shots were viewed as more reliable and rugged than repeaters or magazine rifles.(Money was an important factor given the War Department’s newly slashed budget.) It used existing materials, thereby saving money and manufacturing time.This appealed to the Board for a number of reasons: Allin, was to take the existing Civil War muzzle-loaders, of which there were thousands, and convert them by adding the now well-known “trap door” to the receiver. The idea of the Master Armorer at the U.S. This led to the formation of an Army Board who, in 1865, would host trials for different rifles by makers both foreign and domestic. To be specific, it wanted a breech-loading rifle that would chamber a self-primed, metallic cartridge. Rare Early Springfield Armory Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle with Rare Metcalfe Device Breech from above of the Officer’s Model 1875 Origins…What Role Did the Springfield Trapdoor Play in History?Īfter the Civil War, the War Department wanted a breech-loading rifle. Today we discover a bit more of this rifle, its origins, the question of its performance, and its role in history. Militarily, it represents the watershed transition for U.S. It also played a role in the wars against the Native Americans. The Springfield Trapdoor would kill buffalo by the thousands as America expanded westward. The rifle would take its place in history just after the Civil War-despite the justifiable hesitation of many military personnel who were all too aware of the superiority of repeaters and magazine fed rifles. Produced for over 20 years, the Springfield Trapdoor experienced many changes throughout its life. In terms of American military long arms, very little attention is given to a predecessor of the much-heralded M1903 and M1 Garand, the Springfield Trapdoor.
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