Springfield Model 1873
Encyclopedia
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loading
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
rifle
adopted by the United States Army
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
, also in .45-70 caliber.
The rifle cartridge
was designated as ".45-70-405"
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
and the Philippines
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Image:Springfield_Model_1873.jpg|Reenactor firing a Springfield Model 1873 breech-loading rifle at Fort Mackinac
in 2008
Image:Apache_chieff_Geronimo_(right)_and_his_warriors_in_1886.jpg|Geronimo
(right) holding a Springfield Model 1873 alongside his fellow Apache
warriors in 1886
Breech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
The Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield was the first standard-issued breech-loadingBreech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
adopted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in the Black Hills War and in subsequent battles against the American Indians.
The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock
Breechblock
A breechblock is the part of the firearm action that closes the breech of a weapon at the moment of firing....
, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 32⅝-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22 inches (55.9 cm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884
Springfield Model 1884
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles.The Model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield Model 1873. Oddly, most of the changes that identify the Model 1884 as a distinct model occurred either before or after 1884. The Model 1884 incorporated a...
, also in .45-70 caliber.
Ballistics
Rifle cartridge
A rifle cartridge is a type of cartridge fired by a longer ranged rifled weapons.- Intermediate :An intermediate cartridge is a military rifle cartridge that is less powerful than typical full power battle rifle cartridges such as the 7.92mm Mauser or US .30-06, but still significantly more...
was designated as ".45-70-405"
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
, indicating a .45 caliber, 405 gr bullet propelled by 70 gr of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1350 feet per second (411.5 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 gr of powder (.45-55-405) was manufactured for use in the carbine to lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1100 feet per second (335.3 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.
Use in Combat
The rifle was originally issued with a copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded excessively in the breech upon firing. This sometimes jammed the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club or bayonet.
After the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's battalion (armed with the carbine and .45-55 ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, investigations revealed that jamming of their carbines may have played a factor. The cartridge was subsequently redesigned with a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This proved to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform target practice twice a week; some became so proficient that they began winning the Army's newly created marksmanship awards. Although the Krag-Jørgensen
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
bolt-action rifle had by this time had largely superseded the 1873, the latter still saw widespread service by the U.S. Military during the Spanish–American War in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Extremely outclassed and at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with cutting-edge 8mm Mauser
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bolt-action rifles, the United States immediately responded to the crisis by replacing the also flawed Krag-Jørgensen and Trapdoor. Thus, the Springfield 1873 was finally left for dead after the conflict.
Gallery
Image:Springfield_Model_1873.jpg|Reenactor firing a Springfield Model 1873 breech-loading rifle at Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
in 2008
Image:Apache_chieff_Geronimo_(right)_and_his_warriors_in_1886.jpg|Geronimo
Geronimo
Geronimo was a prominent Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache who fought against Mexico and the United States for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars. Allegedly, "Geronimo" was the name given to him during a Mexican incident...
(right) holding a Springfield Model 1873 alongside his fellow Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
warriors in 1886