Make: Springfield Armory

Model: 1868, "Trapdoor" Rifle

Serial Number: 30152

Year of Manufacture: 1869, 1864 Lockplate

Caliber: .50-70 Government

Action Type: Single Shot Trapdoor

Barrel Length: The barrel has been cut to 30 3/8"

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a short post atop a small raised base. The front sigh was relocated when the barrel was shortened. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight presenting a "V"-notch when down and with a "V"-notched slider on the ladder graduated from 200-900 yards. There is a fixed "U"-notch at the top of the ladder.

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with nosecap, two barrel bands, straight grip, straight comb and steel buttplate. There is a sling swivel mounted in the front barrel band and another on the front of the trigger guard. The forend is slotted for the included clearing rod (not original to the gun). The forend was shortened with the nosecap, front spring-clip and band relocated. The stock has moderate-heavy wear with scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are scattered small losses around edges. There is a notable gouge on the right in front of the lock. The LOP measures 13 3/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a fairly even moderate patina. Overall, the stock is in Good condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Bright and Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined 3-groove rifling. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its metal finish. There is a little finish remaining on portions of the receiver and breechblock concealed when the action is closed. Otherwise, most surfaces have gone to a fairly uniform patina with a little bright-finish still showing on the barrel. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition as custom Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None

Our Assessment: Erskine S. Allin was the Master Armorer at Springfield Armory at the end of the Civil War and was tasked with converting surplus muzzleloaders into more modern breech loaded rifles. Working around the same time as Jacob Snider (an American salesman who patented a breech-loading system which he sold to the British), Franz Wänzl (a Viennese gunsmith who patented a breech-loading system with the Austrian Empire) and several other innovators, the Allin system was born in 1865. All of these systems were quite similar with only minor variations. The Model 1865 was patented in September of that year (several months after the Civil War) and was soon dubbed the "Trapdoor" rifle. The next evolution in the Allin system came a year later and is remembered as the Model 1866 "Second Allin Conversion", built on M1863 muzzleloaders the gun had improved ballistics over his prior action. The gun was chambered for the then modern .50-70 centerfire cartridge and proved a formidable weapon for its time. The next variant was the Model 1868 which, unlike its two predecessors, was fabricated as a breechloader from scratch and they were serialized (this was the only variant chambered for .50-70 Government that had serialization), although surplus parts from obsolete muskets were still used in its construction. The Model 1868 was very well constructed and continued to see service with the Navy and Marine Corps into the 1880s (the .45-70 trapdoors were introduced in 1873).

This particular specimen is a Model 1868, one of 52,145 made of the specific variant. The gun has been customized with the barrel and stock cut back about 2" and the clearing rod replaced. The gun shows its age, but it remains aesthetically pleasing and mechanically sound. This is a great option for fans of US martial arms and historical firearms more broadly. Good luck on your bid!