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Title:RIFLE, MILITARY -  U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR .45-70 SN# 3687
Maker/Manufacturer:ALLIN, ERSKINE S.
Date of Manufacture:1874
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:SPAR 758
Measurements:OL:132CM 52" BL: 82.8CM 32 5/8" 9.3 lbs.

Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR .45-70 SN# 3687
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. in 1874 - Standard Model 1873 single-shot breechloading rifle. Casehardened breech and tang. Barrels secured by two barrel bands, spring fastened. Blued throughout, with bluing slightly worn on rear band. High arched breechblock. Long range adjustable rear sight. 3-groove rifling. Muzzle velocity 1315 fps. Effective range of 600 yards, and a maximum range of 3,500 yards. Weapon has an overall length of 52" and a barrel length of 32 5/8". Weapon weighs approximately 9.3 lbs. Cartridge .45-70, weighs 500 gr.

Markings:
Breechblock: MODEL 1873/Eaglehead/crossed arrows/U.S.
Lock: Eagle. U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1873 forward of hammer.
Receiver: 3687.
Stock: ESA in oval. Small proof mark on the stock below the trigger guard.

1909 Catalog #0356 - "Rifle. Sp'f'd Breech Loading Rifle. Cal..45 Mod. 1873. With Rice Trowel bayonet. No. 3687."

Web site photo showing Park Ranger Christopher Keenan inspecting an Indian War soldier preparing to fire his "Trapdoor."

Springfield Republican, 18 August 1873 - "THE SPRINGFIELD MUSKET. The Secretary of War Sustains Mr. Allin's Claim in Invention of its Breech-Loading Principle.
In a recent letter from the secretary of war to the House of Representatives, is the following full and comprehensive history of the present Springfield musket: - 'A number of Springfield muzzle-loading rifles were altered to breech-loaders at the Springfield Armory in the winter of 1865-66, upon a plan suggested by the master armorer of that post. They were issued to a battalion of the 12th United States infantry for trail in service, and elicited a highly favorable report. Pending this trial, however, a board of officers then in sitting, under special orders NO. 204, adjutant general's office, May 2, 1866, recommended the adoption of the plan of altering muzzle-loaders to breech-loaders, as submitted to them by H. Berdan. This board adjourned on June 4, 1866, and their report was submitted to the secretary of war by the chief of ordnance on June 26, 1866, recommending the preparation of 50 arms each of five different plans of alteration for trial in the hands of troops, before the exclusive adoption of any of them. Among these five varieties was the Allin plan of alteration, which has elicited a favorable report from the 12th infantry. This recommendation received the approval of the lieutenant general of the army and the secretary of war. Immediately following the approval, however, was an order form the secretary of war, dated July 26, 1866, directing immediate measures be taken 'for the conversion of 25,000 Springfield muskets into breech-loadings of the best pattern, and for the preparation of an adequate supply of ammunition for them.' Directions were at once given through the chief of ordnance to the commanding officer of the Springfield armory to carry the orders of the secretary of war into effect. The plan of alteration prescribed was that of Allin, which such modifications of the original plan as the recent trial had then suggested. A model arm was prepared at the armory, and the alteration of the muzzle-loading arms on Allin's plan was begun and continued to the exclusion of all other plans. This plan has remained essentially the same from the beginning, though slight modifications made in 1866, 1868 and 1870, have given rise to the specific 'models' of these years respectively. The records of the ordnance bureau of this department show the following number of arms altered since the work begin in the winter of 1865-66, viz: Allin's plan (so-called), 5005; model of 1866, 52,500; model of 1868, 52,156; model of 1870, 11,042; experimental, 12; cadet model, 1866, 24 cadet model; 1869, 3402; total, 124,341.'
In regard to the desire on the part of certain inventors for a settlement with the government for alleged use of early inventions, which was manifested at an early day after the work began, the secretary says that the chief of ordnance, in his annual report of October 19, 1867, adverts to thselves to have sustained, before presenting their claims. The claim of the most importance at the present time is that arising out of the suit begun and prosecuted by James B. Ely against the commanding officer of Springfield Armory, to restrain him from manufacturing the Springfield breech-loading rifle-musket at that establishment on account of alleged infringement of the letter-patent granted to him (Ely) as assignee of James W. Preston, February 5, 1867. A copy of the decision of the court, rendered in December last, is printed with the report of the chief of ordnance for the present year, wherein it appears the one of the features of the breech-loading system adopted at the armory is covered by the letter-patent of Mr. Ely. A settlement with the representatives of Mr. Ely (he being now dead) it is thought is required by the justice of the case, the courts having decided that the patent held by him is infringed in the manufacture of the Springfield gun. In closing, the secretary says the price of $1 per gun has been considered by this department a fair and equitable one for the distribution among the several claiminants of patents used in the gun, and it is thought that about 25 cents per gun should be paid for Ely's claim on the 124,341 guns made, that proportion of the one dollar being thought a fair and just remuneration for the use of the invention. In addition, it is thought the cost of suit to Mr. Ely should be paid by the government. It will be seen that this letter fully sustains Master Armorer Allin's claims to the essential improvements in what is known as the Springfield breech-loading rifle-musket."

Notes: An experienced rifleman could fire about 12 to 13 aimed shots a minute. The record was 23 shots a minute.

"Though experiments to reduce the caliber of the standard 50-70 service cartridge and find a better breech-loader continued throughout 1871, the Springfield-Allin was retained at the expense of Remington, Sharps, Ward-Burton and other designs.
In the autumn of 1872, however, a Board of Officers began trials with rifles chambering a new 45-70-405 centerfire cartridge. By January 1873, more than 100 submissions had been reduced to 21, though the Martini-Henry and the Werndl were retained simply as a guide to the performance expected of foreign service weapons. The trials resolved into a contest between Eliot No. 80, Freeman No. 76, Peabody No. 63, Remington No. 86, Springfield No. 69, Ward-Burton No. 97 and the U.S. government-sponsored Springfield No. 99.
Springfield No. 69 was similar to the standard Allin-type M1870 (tested as No. 48), but had a lightened lock plate, a screw instead of the original main-spring bolster, a modified hammer and a simpler stock. However, none of the trial guns could challenge the government entrant and so the 45-caliber Springfield No. 99 was adopted for service. The purchase of a few Ward-Burton magazine rifles was recommended for the cavalry, but subsequently rejected by the Chief of Ordnance.
Formally approved on 5th May 1873, the M1873 rifle was an improved form of the experimental Springfield No. 99. As the Allin breech had cost the U.S. Treasury more than $124,000 to settle patent-infringement claims, the government was reluctant to make wholesale changes. The new rifle was basically an M1870, therefore, but its lock plate was lightened - the edges being squarA stacking swivel was adopted in the Spring of 1874, and the first rifles were issued to premier line infantry regiments in the late autumn. A 'Model 1877' rear sight was adopted in January 1877, with differing graduations and an improved sighting notch, only to be altered again in May 1878 (without changing the designation) when a base with curved wing plates replaced the original stepped design." - Walter

"The performance details...shows the dramatic changes made in the case .45-70 Government cartridge, by substituting a flatnose bullet for a conventional roundnose pattern; the flatnose encounters such air resistance that velocity declines rapidly and long-range drift increases spectacularly. The same effect could be achieved firing a bullet which had been accidentally deformed in a pouch or bandolier.
Figures published by the British Army in the 1880s suggested that the .45-70-500 'Trapdoor Springfield' cartridge had a muzzle velocity of 1301 ft/sec; 875 ft/sec at 500 yards; 675 ft/sec at 1000 yards; 523 ft/sec at 1500 yards; and 404 ft/sec at 2000 yards. Extreme range was about 2750 yards." - John Walter

U.S. SPRINGFIELD "TRAPDOOR" PRODUCTION:
MODEL 1865 "TRAPDOOR" RIFLE
1866-5005 CONVERTED MUSKETS
MODEL 1866 "TRAPDOOR" RIFLE(none were serial numbered)
1867
49257 RIFLES
320 CADET RIFLES
1868
1796 RIFLES
104 CADET RIFLES
1869
1296 RIFLES
1871
1 RIFLE
MODEL 1868 "TRAPDOOR" RIFLES
1869
15482 RIFLES
3 CARBINES
1870
34651 RIFLES
1 CARBINE
1871
2016 RIFLES (4 SPORTING RIFLES)
MODEL 1869 "TRAPDOOR" CADET & SPORTING RIFLES
1869 2
1870 310
1871 3091 (1 SPORTING RIFLE)
1872 (3 SPORTING RIFLES)
1873 (2 SPORTING RIFLES)
1876 20
MODEL 1870 "TRAPDOOR" RIFLES
1870
550 RIFLES
1871
2372 RIFLES
341 CARBINES
20 UNDETERMINED
1872
8110 RIFLES
1 SPORTING RIFLE
1873
501 RIFLES (INCLUDING 100 METCALFE ALTERATIONS)
1 SPORTING RIFLE
1 CARBINE
PRODUCTION FIGURES: SERIAL NUMBER TO END QUARTER
1873
JULY-SEPT 4
OCT-DEC 1946
1874
JAN-MAR 10592
APR-JUNE 28032
JULY-SEPT 29718
OCT-DEC 35218
1875
JAN-MAR 45039
APR-JUNE 54779
JULY-SEPT 57407
OCT-DEC 60325
1876
JAN-MAR 64164
APR-JUNE 69815
JULY-SEPT 71673
OCT-DEC 74213
1877
JAN-MAR 74231
APR-JUNE 76725
1878
JAN-MAR 81226
APR-JUNE 89729
JULY-SEPT 94467
OCT-DEC-100395
1879
JAN-MAR 104919
APR-JUNE 109753
JULY-SEPT 113920
OCT-DEC 119273
1880
JAN-MAR 125953
APR-JUNE 130140
JULY-SEPT 136545
OCT-DEC 144519
1881
JAN-MAR 151222
APR-JUNE 156700
JULY-SEPT 160722
OCT-DEC 164896
1882
JAN-MAR 170487
APR-JUNE 179736
JULY-SEPT 185569
OCT-DEC 193815
1883
JAN-MAR 203087
APR-JUNE 212809
JULY-SEPT 219411
OCT-DEC 228571
1884
JAN-MAR 228571
APR-JUNE 237708
JULY-SEPT 247189
OCT-DEC 263876
1885
JAN-MAR 275266
APR-JUNE 287246
JULY-SEPT 296367
OCT-DEC 306054
1886
JAN-MAR 315857
APR-JUNE 326773
JULY-SEPT 335915
OCT-DEC 346775
1887
JAN-MAR 356677
APR-JUNE 367879
JULY-SEPT 376839
OCT-DEC 387645
1888
JAN-MAR 398207
APR-JUNE 408909
JULY-SEPT 417929
OCT-DEC 428769
1889
JAN-MAR 439436
APR-JUNE 450281
JULY-SEPT 459533
OCT-DEC 470294
1890
JAN-MAR 480259
APR-JUNE 490019
JULY-SEPT 495420
OCT-DEC 502540
1891
JAN-MAR 510181
APR-JUNE 519421
JULY-SEPT 525941
OCT-DEC 533681
1892
JAN-MAR 541221
APR-JUNE 547121
JULY-SEPT 552042
OCT-DEC 558122
1893
JAN-MAR 563562
APR-JUNE 567882

MODEL 1881 SHOTGUN
1880-(2 UNMARKED EXPERIMENTALS)
1881-1-251
1882-252-626
1883-627-876
1884-877-1376
M1868 RIFLE 1-52000
M1869 CADET 1-3500
M1873 RIFLE 1-96000
M1873 CARBINE 1-75000
M1877 CARBINE 175001-280000
M1873/79 RIFLE 96000-280000
LONG RANGE RIFLE 110000, 132000-136000, 1622000
M1880 ROD-BAYONET RIFLE 154000-158000
M1882 28" INFANTRY & CAVALRY RIFLE 197000-197500
M1884 RIFLE AND CARBINE 280001-503500
M18M1884 ROD-BAYONET RIFLE 305000-320000
M1886 24" CARBINE 330000-350000
M1888 "POSITIVE CAM" RIFLE - 415000
M1888 ROD-BAYONET RIFLE 503501-568000
M1881 SHOTGUN 1-1400

References:
Clark, David C. Ed. ARMS FOR THE NATION. Scott A. Duff. Export, Pa. 1992.
Frasca, Albert J. & Robert H. Hill. 1909 CATALOG OF THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MUSEUM ARMS & ACCOUTERMENTS. Revised. Springfield Publishing Co. Carson City, Nv. 1995.
Frasca, Albert J. & Robert Hill. THE .45-70 SPRINGFIELD. Springfield Publishing Co. Northridge, Ca. 1980.
Frasca, Albert J. THE .45-70 SPRINGFIELD BOOK II. 1865-1893. Frasca Publishing Co. Springfield, Oh. 1997.
UNITED STATES MARTIAL & COLLECTOR ARMS. Military Arms Research Service. San Jose, Ca. 1971.
Walter, John. RIFLES OF THE WORLD. 2nd Ed. Krause Publications. Iola, Wi. 1998.
Walter, John. THE GUNS THAT WON THE WEST: FIREARMS ON THE AMERICAN FRONTIER, 1848-1898. Stackpole Books. Mechanicsburg, Pa. 1999.

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