Springfield Model 1873
| Springfield Model 1873 | |
|---|---|
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| general information | |
| Civil name: | Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle |
| Military designation: | Springfield Rifle, Caliber .45 |
| Country of operation: | United States |
| Developer / Manufacturer: | Springfield Armory (Massachusetts) |
| Manufacturer country: | United States |
| Production time: | since 1873 |
| Weapon Category: | gun |
| Furnishing | |
| Overall length: | 51 7/8 "/ 1318 mm |
| Barrel length : | 32 5/8 "/ 830 mm |
| Technical specifications | |
| Caliber : | .45-70 Government |
| Ammunition supply : | Single loader |
| Fire types: | Single fire |
| Number of trains : | 3 |
| Closure : | Hinge lock |
| Charging principle: | Breech loader |
| Lists on the subject | |
The rifle, officially designated as the Springfield Rifle, Caliber .45 , is a single-shot rifle developed on the basis of the Allin Conversion Model 1870 Rifle breech loader , which was used in various versions as an ordinance weapon by the US Army until the late 1890s . Because of its lock, which can be opened like a trapdoor, it was named Springfield Trapdoor early on.
history
The National Armory, Springfield , Massachusetts was the main state arms factory in the United States. It was built on the site of the Springfield Arsenal , which has been producing ammunition and other military equipment since 1777. Their location was chosen by George Washington for strategic reasons, far from the mouth of the Connecticut River above Springfield. From 1795 to 1968, most of the rifles used by the US Army, from flintlock rifles to semi-automatic rifles, were manufactured there.
For the conversion of the Springfield Model 1861 and Model 1863, both tried and tested muzzle loaders with rifled barrels from the American Civil War , Erskine S. Allin, master gunsmith in the Springfield Armory, developed a conversion kit for the Allin Conversion Model 1865 Rifle and later the Springfield Model 1866 .
Between 1865 and 1870, over 95,000 of these weapons were modified or manufactured under different model names in the calibers .58 Rimfire and .50-70 Government , a centerfire cartridge . They were the forerunners of the Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle and its successors in .45-70 Government .
In the early 1870s, General Alfred Terry , a former Civil War officer, was President of the Terry Board , a commission that had recommended the adoption of a .45-70 Government single-shot with the breech developed by Erskine S. Allin. On June 6, 1872, the United States Congress approved a loan of US $ 150,000 for the manufacture of this rifle in the National Armory, the Model 1873 , which, with its subsequent variants, was the last single shot in the US Army.
The Springfield Trapdoor was the standard rifle of the US troops as an infantry rifle, carbine, cadet rifle and shotgun; a total of just over 568,000 of these weapons were manufactured between 1873 and 1893. From 1892 the Springfield was replaced by a five-shot repeating rifle with cylinder lock, the Krag Model 1892 in .30-40 caliber .
The Springfield trapdoor was a single loader designed for the requirements of the time. The army command rejected the introduction of bolt-action rifles, as they feared that ammunition would be wasted. In terms of firing range, the weapon was superior to the Winchester and Spencer bolt action rifles . In the battle against the Indians, however, the American soldiers were at a disadvantage, which was catastrophic for General Custer and his troops in the Battle of Little Bighorn . Another problem was the unsuitable ammunition with a copper case, which was difficult to pull out when the gun was heated and which tore the case. The problem was solved with the introduction of brass sleeves.
During the Spanish-American War (1898–1899) secondary troops were equipped with Springfield trap doors, and later the still intact weapons and the numerous components available were sold to dealers on the private market.
variants
The Springfield trapdoor rifle was used in the US Army in various variants and barrel lengths.
- The infantry rifle with 32 5/8-inch (830 mm) barrel, bayonnet mount, full stock and shoulder strap. Cleaning rod under the barrel.
- The lighter cadet rifle with a 29½-inch barrel (735 mm).
- The carabiner with a free-standing 22-inch barrel (558 mm) and short fore-end. An elongated bracket with a ring is attached to the left of the weapon opposite the lock. From 1877 (from approx. Serial number 75,000) the carabiner had a three-part cleaning rod in the piston under a flap.
- The Springfield Model 1875 Officer's Model was a high quality weapon specially made for sale to officers. Most of these weapons have a custom engraving. The stock corresponds to that of the carbine, but usually has an attached pistol grip. Butt neck and fore-end are cut with checkering. On the piston neck a foldable in addition to the adjustable visor diopter attached. The cleaning rod pushed into the fore-end lies under the barrel exposed at the front, and a sleeve is attached to the barrel to guide it. In total, only 477 Officer's Rifles Model 1875 were made in three variants. Some weapons of the same quality were produced before 1870 in the previous series of 20 pieces in .50-70 caliber.
- The model 1881 Marksman Rifle with a freestanding 28-inch (711 mm) barrel, pistol grip and short fore-end.
- The 1881 model shotgun with a free-standing 26-inch (660 mm) shotgun barrel in 20 caliber.
- The infantry rifle model 1888 with a combined pointed bayonnet / cleaning rod.
technology
The Springfield trapdoor rifle is a single loader with an upward-opening block or flap lock with a front hinge. Like all of its predecessors, the rifle has a front sidelock and an external hammer. In all carbines up to serial number 20,000 and rifles up to serial number 78,000, the cock had two positions - the loading position and the fully cocked position for firing. A safety catch was also attached to weapons made later. The firing pin stored in the breech block is pushed backwards by a spring.
The breech block, ejector and barrel are linked to an axis attached above the barrel. A cam attached to the rear of the breech block prevents opening when firing. The cam is actuated by the loading lever lying on a common axis. If the lock is not locked, the high-lying loading lever prevents the tap from jumping forward.
The tap has three notches. On the safety catch, the tap is just above the firing pin and blocks the loading lever. To load the weapon, the cock must be cocked to the loading notch. The lock can then be released by pushing up the loading lever. When the breech is lifted, the fired case in the chamber is pulled out, it has to be removed from the loading recess and a cartridge is then pushed into the chamber. The breech is then closed and locked, the hammer is fully cocked and the weapon is ready to fire. To secure the weapon, the hammer must be lowered onto the safety catch.
All Springfield rifles and carbines shipped to the U.S. Army had three-barreled barrels. For weight reasons, the barrel was tapered towards the front. In all models the diameter of the barrel directly in front of the breech is 26.5 mm and at the muzzle 18.5 mm.
ammunition
Named the .45-70 Government ammunition by the Army , it was commercially known as the .45-70-405 cartridge.
- .45 is the nominal caliber of the bullet, effective 0.458 inches, which is 11.4 mm.
- 70 is the weight of the black powder charge in grains , equivalent to 4.5 g.
- 405 is the weight of the lead bullet in grains, equivalent to 26.2 g.
- For ballistic reasons, the US Army later used ammunition with a heavier bullet of 500 grains (32.3 g).
The muzzle velocity of .45-70-405 is 425 m / s, the muzzle energy 2370 J . The effective firing range on individual targets is 300 m, on group targets 900 m.
The cartridge used in the carbines had a charge reduced to 55 grains and was designated the .45-55.
The .45-70 was offered in various loads in the civilian market and was used for hunting.
literature
- Norm Flayderman: Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms . Krause Publications, Iola, WI 1971, ISBN 0-87349-313-3 .
- Marfe F. Delano, Barbara C. Mallen: Echoes of Glory, Arms and Equipment of the Union . Time Inc. Book Company, New York, NY 1991, ISBN 0-8094-8855-8 .
- WHB Smith, Joseph E. Smith: The Book of the Rifles . The Stackpole Company, Harrisburg, PA 1965, LCCN 63-012562 .
- Joe Poyer, Craig Riesch: The .45-70 Springfield . Nort Cape Publications, Tustin, CA 1996, ISBN 978-1-882391-15-8 .
- John Charles Davis: US Army Rifle and Carbine Adoption Between 1865 and 1900. BA Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, 1995.
