Make: Springfield Armory
Model: 1866, 2nd Model Allin Conversion "Trapdoor" Rifle
Serial Number: None
Year of Manufacture: 1866-1868, 1864 Lockplate
Caliber: .50-70 Government
Action Type: Single Shot Trapdoor
Barrel Length: 36 1/2" (40" including breechblock recess)
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a short post atop a small raised base. The rear sight is a "U" notch with a flip up sight that has two aperture sights with "U" notches.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stock is one-piece wood featuring a metal forend cap, a slot in the forend for the included clearing rod, a total of three barrel bands secured by spring clips, a lock-plate secured by two screws, a straight wrist, a straight comb and metal butt-plate. There is a sling swivel fixed to the bottom of the middle barrel band and a sling swivel fixed to the front of the trigger guard. The stock has some scattered light marks with more notable dings behind the wrist on each side and bruises on the right of the forend in front of the middle band. There are a couple of small losses and short cracks at the edges of the clearing rod slot. The inspection cartouches are clear and crisp. The LOP is 13 3/8” from the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The buttplate has some scattered minor oxidation with nicks and scratches, mostly at the heel and toe. Overall, the stock is in about Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Bright, Case Color, Oil-Dip Hardened
Finish Originality: Original, the bright parts have likely seen some cleaning.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The case color is muted on the lockplate and hammer. The breech-block assembly has generally strong finish with some light erosion on the block. There is infrequent other minor surface erosion and scattered light oxidation. There are a few light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screws range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine-plus condition as 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: The Springfield Model 1866, remembered as the Second Allin Conversion, was the brainchild of Springfield Armory Master Armory Erskine S. Allin. It was the second conversion of a breechloader to be attempted by Allin. The first was the Model 1865 which was chambered for the ineffective .58 rimfire round, but the second time he rechambered old muzzleloaders for the far superior .50-70 Gov't centerfire cartridge. The gun was constructed by milling out the chamber of a muzzleloader and fastening a hinged "trapdoor" breechblock to the rifle. Aside from the breechblock, the gun's parts were all taken from surplus Civil War stockpiles which is why the lock-plate's date does not correspond with when the gun was converted. Over 52,000 of these guns were fabricated under Allin's supervision between 1867-1869, half were sold to France which was desperate for war material during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 with the rest issued to U.S. military units fighting to tame the "Wild West".
This particular specimen is nicely preserved and, despite some wear typical of a gun made in the 1860s, the gun remains aesthetically pleasing and mechanically sound. This is a great option for fans of Erskine Allin’s ingenuitive design and historical firearms more broadly. The design saw service in the U.S. military during the post-Civil War Westward Expansion and in the French Army during the Franco Prussian War. Good luck on your bid!
