Springfield Model 1873 “Trapdoor” Rifle
Arguably combining the best of both worlds, was the Model 1873 “Trapdoor” Springfield. A single-shot breech-loader, the Springfield featured the ballistic characteristics of large-caliber weapons, like the Sharps rifle, while still maintaining a modest rate of fire. Chambered in .45-70-405 Government, the Springfield boasted a higher muzzle velocity than the Sharps and comparable accuracy. Its unique “trapdoor” action additionally allowed a skilled shooter to fire approximately 15 rounds per minute, nearly matching the output of several magazine-fed weapons, such as the Spencer rifle. Ordnance officials selected the Model 1873 as the standard service weapon of the U.S. Army, over 98 competitors, based upon these excellent characteristics.
The Springfield series of “trapdoor” service rifles were based on a much earlier improvised weapon, the Model .58 Allin conversion Springfield musket. Army officials previously considered adopting a breech-loader as their standard service weapon, but their plans were placed on hold at the outbreak of the Civil War. As the war ended, the army invited inventors and gunsmiths to find a way to convert its thousands of surplus muskets into breech-loading rifles. Erskine S. Allin, a Springfield armorer, patented a method that involved modifying the older Model .58 that was met with tremendous acclaim. Five subsequent revisions culminated in Model 1873.
The “trapdoor” Springfield, unfortunately, suffered from extracting issues, prompting many critics to question the reliability of the weapon. Early rifles were originally issued with copper cartridges, which expanded too rapidly in the trapdoor block, preventing the extraction of expended shells and the reloading of the weapon. Compounding the matter was Custer’s disastrous 1876 defeat at Little Bighorn. Most soldiers were armed with single-shot Springfields, while their Indian assailants carried Henry and Winchester repeaters. Recent scholarship details a variety of factors leading up to the massacre, but popular opinion of the time pointed to reliability issues with the Springfield rifle and carbine.
An improved Springfield “trapdoor,” with increased reliability and accuracy, eventually superseded the Model 1873. Nevertheless, Springfield gained the respect of many soldiers, who saw extensive action across the Great Plains. With over 700,000 rifles and carbines issued to the U.S. Army, the Model 1873 was involved in many major engagements of the Plains Indians Wars. Several specialized versions of the weapon, including sporting and officer models, also appeared on the frontier. In hindsight, the Springfield was met with mixed reviews but served as the workhorse of the U.S. Army during the apex of the Plains Indian Wars, deciding the outcome of numerous battles in the West.