Springfield Armory · Rifle
Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor
Trapdoor · .50-70 Government · introduced 1868
Also known as Model 1868 Springfield, Allin Conversion Model 1868, Trapdoor Springfield Model 1868
About the Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor
The Springfield Model 1868 is a single-shot, breech-loading trapdoor rifle developed at Springfield Armory by master armorer Erskine S. Allin. Chambered for the .50-70 Government cartridge, it opened via a hinged breechblock lifted by a lever on the right of a newly introduced long, separate receiver. Refining the earlier Model 1866, it used a shorter 32.6-inch barrel secured by only two barrel bands and served as the direct forerunner of the definitive .45-70 Model 1873.
The trapdoor action was Erskine Allin's low-cost method of converting muzzle-loading Springfields to breechloaders, and the Model 1868's separate receiver bridged those conversions and the purpose-built Model 1873 that armed the U.S. Army for two decades.
Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor specifications
General
- Type
- Rifle
- Action
- Trapdoor
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Calibres
- .50-70 Government
- Magazine capacity
- 1 rounds
- Magazine
- None
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 828 mm (32.6 in)
- Overall length
- 1317 mm (51.9 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.17 kg (9.19 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling twist
- 1:42 in (1067 mm)
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 3
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 381 m/s (1250 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 2120 J (1564 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 300 m
History
- Introduced
- 1868
- Discontinued
- 1870
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- US
- Designer
- Erskine S. Allin
Features
- Hinged breechblock
- Two barrel bands
- Folding leaf rear sight
- Long receiver
- Cleaning rod
Safety
- Half cock notch
Roughly 52,000 were produced, with peak manufacture from October 1869 through June 1870. The breechblock is dated by year (1868 examples are extremely rare); the rear sight is graduated to 900 yards.
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