The 1873 Springfield Infantry Rifle!!!!!

[OJ]

Winchester_73
Senior Member
I like that 1895 myself, but talk about an out of place receiver sight? Plain black, against gold and silver with engraving?

Well, in this case, it's function over appearance for my nearly 85 year old eyes - which function much better with the aperture than the stock open sights. Good as it looks, that rifle is even better for me as a shooter -

 

[Bart Noir]

Bit of a history lesson follows:

The Hayfield fight was in 1867. There were no 1873 Springfields or .45-70 cartridges at that time, although the Army may have been starting to develop them by then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayfield_Fight

The soldiers had 1866 Springfield Trapdoors and those fired the .50-70 cartridge. They did a good job of introducing the hostiles to the new arms, which must truly have been a "bad hair day" for the Indians. The 1873 Trapdoor was a further development of the Trapdoor and may have been the very first ones built new, instead of being rebuilt Civil War rifles. I am not sure if any new-built rifles were made for the .50-70.

Bart Noir

 

[OJ]

However, it was of significance that the 1873 models were used in a couple of significant battles with indians just south of Sheridan, Wyoming. One was the "hayfield" battle where the indians charged after the US troops fired once and were surprised when the US troops reloaded instantly (previously - muzzlle loaders took longer) - indians lost that one. The other was similar - involving a small unit of soldiers was caught by indians - but the indians lost there also for the same reason - though the Lt commanding lost his life.

Bart Noir Bit of a history lesson follows:

The Hayfield fight was in 1867. There were no 1873 Springfields or .45-70 cartridges at that time, although the Army may have been starting to develop them by then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayfield_Fight

The soldiers had 1866 Springfield Trapdoors and those fired the .50-70 cartridge. They did a good job of introducing the hostiles to the new arms, which must truly have been a "bad hair day" for the Indians. The 1873 Trapdoor was a further development of the Trapdoor and may have been the very first ones built new, instead of being rebuilt Civil War rifles. I am not sure if any new-built rifles were made for the .50-70.

Bart Noir

Bart - I stand corrected and I thank you - I reviewed Poyer's account and, as you reported, the Hayfield (and Wagon Box) battles were fought with US troops using the 1866 ..50-70 Springfield rifles and were indeed mostly made from surplus rifle musket parts - Good eye.

While I've said my guns are all shooters with no safe queens - I really have no desire to shoot either of my uncle's old 45-70s - just keep'em as decoration and not for any resale value - I sold a gun in 1940 and have regretted it since and won't do that again. Any sale of my guns will be for my estate to deal with - I have a 12 G double barrel shotgun from my grandpa King with a Damascus twist barrel - obviously not a shooter - and a .30 caliber rimshot four barrel Sharps Pepperbox pistol - same thing -

.308 cartridge for size perspective

Thanks again.

 

[Bart Noir]

OJ, you are never going to get that cartridge into any one of those four barrels

I hope am able to continue living in good health and enjoying guns for as long as you have.

And, did you know that the .45-70 was the third cartridge used in the Springfield Trapdoor?

The very first Trapdoors were made to shoot a .58 rimfire. This let them use muzzle-loading Springfield rifled muskets as the starting point of the Trapdoor conversion, without putting a smaller sleeve into the barrel. I don't know how many were made but think a small number were issued in the WA D.C. area.

Bart Noir

 

[M1A Owner]

Gentlemen,

I apologize, but I don't know how to attach a picture. If you know, send me a message or reply and I will. Thanks for all the responses.