Left: The hinged and arched breechblock is shown pivoted forward for loading. Right: The Springfield Trapdoor Carbine is fitted with a sliding ring and bar, which allowed a cavalryman to carry it clipped to his carbine sling.
The Springfield Trapdoor came about in 1873, as a redesign of the Army’s Allin Trapdoor rifle. The Springfield Trapdoor was made to hold the new, more powerful .45-70 military cartridge. Full-stocked, 32" barreled rifles as well as half-stocked, short-barreled carbines were produced for the military.
With their new 1873 Trapdoor Carbines, Custer and the 7th Cavalry rode off to the Little Big Horn and into the pages of history. The powerful Trapdoor single shot rifle was also quite popular with many famous Indian warriors. Sitting Bull was carrying a Trapdoor Carbine when he surrendered to American troops at Fort Buford, North Dakota. And Geronimo was carrying his faithful Trapdoor Carbine when he turned over his arms to General Miles in 1886.
Along with seeing service on both sides during the Indian Wars in the American West, the Trapdoor was also widely used by American troops during the Spanish American War, both in Cuba and the Phillipines.
MSRP $1,669
Blued receiver and barrel; case-hardened buttplate
MSRP $1,429
Blued receiver and barrel; case-hardened buttplate
| ITEM NUMBER |
MODEL | CALIBER | BARREL LENGTH |
MATERIALS | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Trapdoor Rifle | |||||
| 71008 | Carbine | .45/70 | 22" | Blue Steel Frame and Barrel, Case-Hardened Trapdoor | $1429 |
| 71007 | Rifle | .45/70 | 32.5" | Blue Steel Frame and Barrel, Case-Hardened Trapdoor | $1669 |
SPECIFICATIONS: Number of Grooves: 6 Twist: Right Total Length: 41.3" or 51.9" Weight: 7.27 or 8.81 lbs. Buttplate: Case-Hardened Stock: A-grade walnut
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