This is a mint condition, probably
unissued, scarce, and original Springfield Armory Model 1866 Trapdoor Rifle,
also known as the Second Allin Alteration Rifle, in .50-70 caliber.
While the American Civil War was
predominantly an Infantryman's war using muzzle loading, percussion cap
ignition rifles, the use of breech loading, cartridge-firing weapons
(principally carbines) left an indelible mark on both the US Army and weapons
designers in the United States. The Army's experience during the Civil War left
post-war Army leaders with two distinct impressions.
First, the accuracy and long-range
of modern infantry rifles made the linear, Napoleonic-style of infantry tactics
obsolete. And second, the need for faster firing weapons was a necessity for
modern infantry combat. The result was the formation of a special board by the
War Department to select a new breech-loading rifle. Once the board was formed,
it developed a list of requirements for a new breech-loading rifle and sent
requests for submissions to all known arms manufacturers and to the National
Armory at Springfield. The principal requirements of the new arm were
straightforward: a breech-loading firearm chambered for a self-primed, metallic
cartridge.
When Springfield Armory received
the request for the board, it assigned the responsibility for developing the
Springfield design to Springfield's Master Armorer, Erskine S. Allin. Allin's design was both simple and practical.
His design, oddly enough, involved the conversion of the earlier Model 1861
Pattern Rifle Musket that was used during the Civil War instead of the later
Model 1863 and 1864 Rifle Muskets. Many thousands of these muzzle-loading
rifles were on hand at Springfield
after having been returned
following the demobilization of the Union Army. Allin's design involved cutting
a section out of the breech end of the standard Model 1861 .58 caliber barrel
and fitting a hinged breechblock into the cutout space. This was the "trap
door" design that became the standard design for the US rifle for the next
25 plus years.
Several foreign and domestic US
designs were also submitted to the board in late 1865. The board ultimately
chose Allin's Springfield-submitted design. Although many have opined over the
years that one of the main reasons for the board's selection of Allin's design
was its familiarity to the board's members (it looked very similar to the
muzzle loading Model 1861), the real reason probably had more to do with the
Army's tiny budget after the end of the Civil War and the relatively low cost
of converting existing arms compared to procurement of an entirely new design.
The War Department approved the board's recommendation and Springfield was
directed to produce 5,000 Model 1865 breech loading rifles, which became known
as the "First Allin" Rifle.
The Model 1865 "First
Allin" Rifles were finished in 1866 and issued to soldiers in the field.
The Model 1865 fired a short, copper-cased, .58 caliber rimfire cartridge with
a powder charge of 60 grains and a 500-grain bullet. Reports from these units
identified several problems with the new rifles. First, the copper cartridge
case had a weak case head that was often torn off during extraction, leaving
the rest of the case inside the chamber. Ballistically, the .58 caliber round
was also considered underpowered. And the breech system itself was considered
too fragile with problematic extraction and ejection components. The problems
identified were severe enough that Springfield made the decision to completely
redesign the breech action and develop an entirely new round.
The new cartridge that was
designed was based around a .50 caliber bullet that had a more pointed tip than
the earlier .58 caliber round. The case was also significantly different with a
longer overall case length and centerfire ignition system instead of the
earlier rimfire design. The new case held 70 grains of black powder, giving the
new round a significantly higher muzzle velocity than its predecessor.
Springfield also designed a new breech that was stronger and had more robust
components.
The new design was, unlike the
earlier Model 1864 "First Allin" Rifle, based on the later Civil War
issued Model 1863 and 1864 Rifles. The concept was the same, however, in that
the rear portion of the original barrel was cut away and the new breechblock was
hinged in the "trap door" style. The smaller diameter of the bullet
necessitated a more radical change to the existing Model 1863 barrels. The .58
caliber rifled barrels were reamed out along the entire length to a diameter of
.640 inches and then fitted with a .50 caliber liner or barrel insert that was
brazed in place at the muzzle and breech.
This new rifle was designated the
US Model 1866 Rifle, also known as the "Second Allin" Rifle and it
performed much better than the Model 1865 First Allin Rifle. The Model 1866 saw
active combat service soon after it was issued and was considered instrumental
in the Army's defeat of Sioux Indians under Chief Red Cloud at the Wagon Box
Fight and Hayfield Fight, both occurring in August 1867 along the Bozeman Trail
in the Wyoming and Montana Territories.
The exact number of Springfield
Armory manufactured (modified) Model 1866 Rifles is not entirely clear. Norm
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms, the benchmark text on American
weapons, states that only about 25,000 were manufactured. Richard Hosmer's fine
work on .58 and .50 caliber Springfield Rifles lists approximately 52,300 Model
1866 Springfield Rifles manufactured with most produced in 1867, plus a few
hundred additional rifles in 1868 and 1869. Regardless of the total number
made, which is still a small number comparatively speaking even if Hosmer's
number is used, when the Model 1866 was eventually replaced a few years later
with the US Model 1868 Rifle, most of the existing Model 1866 Rifles were
purchased by the Remington Arms Company and were resold to the French for use
during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. While some of these rifles made it
back to the United States over the years, the majority did not, making the
Model 1866 a historically significant and very scarce example of American
military firearms design.
As noted, this particular
Springfield US Model 1866 "Second Allin" Trapdoor .50 caliber Rifle
is in mint, original condition and was probably never issued. The Lockplate is
the correct Civil War era Model 1863/64 Lockplate that is correctly marked
"1864" to the rear of the Hammer. Forward of the Hammer is the
federal spread eagle with the eagle looking towards the muzzle. The eagle bears
the large shield, and the detail is still exceptionally fine. Just forward of
the eagle is a crisp, serif "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" stamp.
The outer, flat surface of the
Lockplate still retains virtually all of the original color case-hardened
finish with even more present on the edges.
The original Hammer is present, and it also retains the vast majority of
its original case-hardened finish on both sides. The in-shield knurling on the
thumb piece of the Hammer is still crisp. The face of the Hammer, correctly,
comes together with the rear of the Breechblock comb to form a line that is not
perpendicular to the barrel, which makes the Model 1866 unique among all
Trapdoor models. The original single-slot, rounded face Hammer Screw is present
and is in fine condition and is unmarred.
The interior of the lock mechanism
is also in mint condition. The interior
wall of the lock plate retains all of its original color case-hardened
finish. The interior wall has numerous
inspection stamps, including a serif “X,” a serif “U,” a serif “L,” and a “5”
stamp. The Hammer Main Spring is still
very strong and retains all of its original heat tempered finish. The Bridle retains all of its original oil
quenched finish as does the original two-position Tumbler, which is marked with
a “8” stamp, the Sear, which is marked with a serif “D” stamp, and the Tumbler
Lever Arm, which is marked with a “2” stamp.
The Sear Spring retains all of its blue tempered finish and is marked
with a “U” stamp. All three internal
lock mechanism screws retain all of their dark oil finish, and all have
unmarred slots. Both lock plate screw
washers are present on the stock, and both remain correctly in the white and
retain their beautiful national armory bright finish. Both original lock screws also retain the majority
of their original national armory bright finish on the heads.
The original Thumb Latch retains
the majority of its original dark oil-quenched finish with virtually no wear.
The top of the Thumb Latch is correctly smooth and the single-slot, rounded
head Latch Screw is only slightly marred. The Thumb Latch is the second of two
types used on the Model 1866, with the integrated, machined cam. The Cam Cap
and single-slot Cam Latch Screw are in fine condition retaining most of their
original blackened oil quenched finish.
This second type of cam was introduced at around production number
7,000.
The Breech Block is the correct
type with the flat-top firing pin housing or comb. The top surface of the
Breech Block still retains virtually all of its original oil quenched blackened
finish that is only slightly thinning. The bottom of the Breech Block is the
straight, cylindrical type that retains 99% of its original, dark blackened oil
quenched finish. There is a serif “Q” inspection stamp on the bottom of the
Breech Block. The top, forward section of the Breech Block has a crisp
"1866/small eagle head" stamp. There is, correctly, no sighting notch
in the Breech Block Hinge, which is also unique among Springfield Trapdoor weapons.
The Breech Block opens the full
160 degrees, which is far more than any other Trapdoor Breech Block. The Firing
Pin, which is retracted by a Firing Pin Spring that is still strong, is secured
at the end of the comb by a Spanner Head Retaining Collar, which retains all of
its original dark finish. The single-slot Hinge Screw is in mint condition with
no marring and is secured on the left side of the hinge by the original
two-part Jam Nut, which also retains the vast majority of its original finish. The
Hinge Strap is in fine condition and retains the majority of its original, but
now thinning, oil blackened finish. Both single-slot Hinge Strap Screws are
present and are in excellent condition.
The breech face exhibits minimal signs of firing. The breech of the barrel is in very good plus
mint condition, which still retains all of its national armory bright finish
with areas of foxing and staining. The
original Ejector is present, and it is secured by the original Ejector Screw on
the bottom of the barrel, both of which retain 99% of their original dark oil
finish. The original Extractor and
Spring are also present, and both also retain virtually all of their original
dark oil finish.
The Stock on this rifle is the
original in mint, unissued condition with a only a very few minor storage dings,
but there are no cracks or chips noted. Model
1866 Rifles used one of two types of stocks. The first were existing, but unissued
US Model 1863/64 Civil War-era stocks that were subsequently modified to
accommodate Erskine Allin's mechanism. The second type of stock was a new,
black walnut stock that was milled from a stock blank especially for the Model
1866 Rifle and its unique mechanism.
This particular stock is the
earlier, Civil War Model 1863/64 Stock that was modified in 1866 for the
alteration and it still retains its original oiled finish. On the left stock flat is the oval-end, boxed
cartouche with script letters "MTH" inside the box. It is not currently known who the “MTH”
cartouche belongs to, be his known to have inspected some number of Springfield
Model 1861 Rifles. Below that is the
oval with script “ESA” stamp of Erskine S. Allin, Master Armorer at Springfield
and the designer of this alteration. The
bottom of the stock wrist, just to the rear of the Trigger Plate, is a serif “CD”
inspection stamp. In the tang mortise is
a crisp, serif “E” inspection stamp. The Nose Cap on the Stock is still in its
original National Armory Bright finish that is in fine condition. The original Nose Cap Screw is present, and
it retains the majority of its original dark oil finish with a slightly marred
slot. All of the inletting for the lock
and trapdoor mechanism are as crisp as the day they were made at Springfield
Armory.
The Butt Plate is the correct and
original curved profile, convex surface type with crisp "US" stamp on
the Tang. Both the Tang Screw and Butt Plate Screw are the correct single-slot,
rounded face type that are in mint condition with no marring of the slot. The
Butt Plate itself still retains virtually all of its original national armory
bright finish, that now exhibits a pewter and plum.
The Rear Sight on this Model 1866 Rifle
is the correct US Model 1863/64 Rear Sight from the Civil War. The Rear Sight
Base is attached to the top of the barrel in a dovetail and is held in place by
its original Spanner Head Screw, and this Screw and the "floor" of
the Rear Sight Base in which the Spanner Nut secures the sight are both in mint
condition and retain the majority of the original dark oil finish with the sides
retaining the majority of the correct national armory bright finish. The
Elevation Leaf is correctly marked for 100, 300 and 500 yards with a 700-yard
notch at the top of the Leaf. The Elevation Leaf retains the vast majority of
its original blued finish. The Leaf Screw secures from the left side and the
Leaf Screw's single-slot is unmarred.
The Barrel on this Model 1866
Rifle is the original modified .58 caliber Model 1863 muzzle-loading Barrel
that is 40" long. The Model 1863 Barrels used on the Model 1866 Rifles
were reamed out to a diameter of .640" the entire length of the Barrel and
were then fitted with a .50 caliber, rifled Barrel Liner that was brazed at the
end and the Barrel crowned. The braze line on this Barrel is barely noticeable
and the Liner is still secure. The bore has the 3-groove rifling, and the bore is
in very fine condition with a mirror finish and strong rifling and only very
minor frosting in the lands and grooves. The original Front Sight is present
and is still securely brazed to the top of the Barrel. The external surface of
the barrel remains in its original bright finish with only a very few, minor areas
of staining. The sides of the barrel
retains several of the original, Civil War-era inspection stamps. On the right, rear of the barrel is a serif “B”
inspection stamp. The barrel is in in
mint condition. On the left side of the
barrel, below the hinge is a serif “X” stamp.
On the far left, rear of the barrel is a serif “TL” inspection stamp,
and the full Civil War-era eagle head stamp is still visible.
The Barrel Tang is still in
National Armory Bright and is very clean and the single-slot, flat head Tang
Screw is in mint condition with an unmarred slot. The breech plug itself still retains the
majority of its original dark, oil quenched finish. The rear end of the barrel and the back
portion of the breech plug both retain numerous inspection stamps.
The Trigger Guard and Trigger
Plate assembly remain with all of their original National Armory Bright finish
that is in mint condition. The original Trigger is present, and it retains 99%
of its original oil blackened finish throughout. The Trigger operates smoothly
and still releases the Hammer crisply. The original Lower Sling Swivel Assembly
is present along with the Lower Sling Swivel Screw. Both Trigger Plate Screws, which are round
head, single-slot Screws, are present and both are unmarred.
The Lower Barrel Band has the
correct, serif "U" stamp on the right side and retains all of its
National Armory Bright finish with only some small foxing present and exhibits
minor pinprick pitting. The adjacent Band Spring is in fine condition. The Middle Barrel Band has the original Sling
Swivel present and attached with a correct Split Shank Swivel that is retained
by a flat head, single-slot Band Screw that is unmarred. The Middle Band has
the correct serif "U" stamp on the right side, and it retains all of
its original bright finish and is in fine condition. The Middle Band Retaining
Spring is present and is in fine condition.
The Upper Band also has the
correct serif “U” stamp on the right side, and it retains most of its original National
Armory Bright finish with some foxing and minor pinprick pitting. The Upper Band Spring is in fine
condition. The original slotted-head
Ramrod is present and is 38 3/4" long and it retains all of its National
Armory Bright finish. The Ramrod, when stowed, is correctly 1 1/8" short
of the muzzle.
This is rare, historically significant,
and mint condition example of the Springfield US Model 1866 "Second
Allin" Conversion, .50-70 caliber Trapdoor Rifle that is in its 100%
original configuration. This is a museum
quality example and would be impossible to upgrade. This Model 1866 Rifle is in firing condition.