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1866 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR .50-70 CALIBER RIFLE
Guns International #: 102435838 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Springfield Rifles - Antique - Springfield Rifles - Trapdoor
Seller's Information
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Seller: goodmanguns
Company: William T. Goodman
Member Since: 10/16/15
First Name: William
Last Name: Goodman
State: Montana
Zip: 59715
Country: United States
Phone: (406) 587-3131
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 68
Total Number of Listings: 3780
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: checks, cashiers/bank check, money order
Description:
1866 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR .50-70 CALIBER RIFLE. Approximately 25,000 of these were made in 1866 and are considered one of the most historical of U.S. issued rifles. These started out as .58 caliber rifled muskets for the Civil War. After the war they were converted by Springfield by lining the barrel to .50 caliber and milling a "trapdoor" to the rear of the barrel to create a breech loading center fire rifle. They were then issued to troops in the West for the Indian Wars. Their first real test came in 1867 in Wyoming in what has come to be known as the "Wagon Box Fight." Taken from Wikipedia: The Wagon Box Fight was an engagement which occurred on August 2, 1867, in the vicinity of Fort Phil Kearny during Red Cloud's War. A party of twenty-six U.S. Army soldiers and six civilians were attacked by several hundred Lakota Sioux warriors. Although outnumbered, the soldiers were armed with newly supplied breech-loading Springfield Model 1866 rifles and lever-action Henry rifles, and had a defensive wall of wagon boxes to protect them. They held off the attackers for hours with few casualties, although they lost a large number of horses and mules driven off by the raiders. The Model 1866 was soon replaced with the improved models 1868 and 1870- both in .50-70, and finally with the Model 1873 Trapdoor rifles and carbines in .45-70. When the .50-70s became obsolete, many were sold as surplus and continued to be used by frontiersmen, homesteaders and buffalo hunters. So, this history in these is amazing! This is a fine example that is all orginal. The breech block/trapdoor is correctly eagle stamped with the date 1866. The Springfield lock plate is dated 1863 and the left slide of the stock retains a good inspection cartouche. These were finished in the "white" meaning the barrels were not blued. This one is still a nice slivery gray. The bore is excellent and the lock functions correctly. There is one sliver of wood missing on the left side of the upper tang which is fairly common and minor. There are also a few light dings in the tang at this area. The sights are the correct original ones and the cleaning rod is intact. The wood is solid and fine with the correct U.S. marked butt plate. Sling swivels are also intact. In all, a fine and handsome example that has "been there and done that!"
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .50-70 Government
Manufacturer: SPRINGFIELD
Model: 1866 TRAPDOOR
Barrel Length: 36 5/8
Condition: FINE
Bore Condition: EXCELLENT