Item:
ON5879

Original U.S. Civil War M-1863 Rifle Converted to M-1866 Trapdoor using 2nd ALLIN System - Possible Trials Rifle

Item Description

Original Item: One Only. This is really a Peach! This rifle started out as a Civil War Springfield Rifle Musket, dated 1864, made by SPRINGFIELD ARMORY, as indicated on the lock plate. This particular rifle is technically a Model 1863, Type II, sometimes called the model 1864 due to the date.  Around 700,000 of all Model 1863 types were produced from 1863 until the end of the Civil War in 1865.

The U.S. Civil war had confirmed the adage of NEED is the Mother of INVENTION. Muzzle Loading Muskets and Rifles were extensively used but new developments continually resulted in a "fresh" breech loading system being adopted on a trial basis. The Union had as many as NINETEEN different systems issued during the war ,and the ALLIN system was a version that was considered a determination was made to standardize.

The Trapdoor system seemed to be the one that satisfied most authorities so more trials were held, and the trapdoor was adopted. The government then looked for for cost effective ways to modernize their rifles, and one way was to convert muzzle loading Rifle muskets to a breech loaders, as seen throughout the world.

The 1866 Trapdoor was made using a Civil War percussion Rifle which was made into a breech loader using a .50 cal barrel. and each years the system was improved until the finish result was the Model of 1873 which was adopted and remained until the Krag Rifle was introduced in the 1890s.

There is an excellent work "TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD" by Waite and Ernst published in 1980 that covered this very subject from 1865 - 1893. The very first Chapter is entitled "The ALLIN Breech-Loading System" which covers the Model Trap door rifle we offer here. The conversion made inventive use of the existing parts of the barrel, such as the cap lock bolster being turned into part of the breech lock system.

In fine condition, the lock is marked 1864 and an EAGLE over U.S. over SPRINGFIELD and the Breech Block is DATED 1866 with an Eagle head cartouche. This indicates the year of conversion, and this date ensures that it is a Second Allin conversion. The first conversion, the model 1865, used a .58 caliber cartridge, and was far less successful. It also had extraction problems, which were corrected with the 1866. This is a rare U.S. Military Rifle that led to the the legendary Springfield Trapdoor Model of 1873. The stock is in excellent condition with the expected dents and dings from age. The Metal components are in excellent condition, and the barrel bands are  as is the bore, with a bright finish and clear lands and grooves.

What makes our rifle interesting is an unexplained 18 being stamped on the butt plate. There are also many interesting markings around the breech plug in the barrel, which we have not seen on our previous Allin Conversion offerins. In itself this means nothing, however the Rifle looks as new as can after 150 plus years, which may indicate that this particular Rifle was transformed by a Mr. JOHN BROUGHTON into a Springfield M1866, and then submitted to:- THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD FOR SELECTING A BREECH SYSTEM FOR RIFLES AND CARBINES.

This Board met on September 3rd 1872 for this very purpose and there were approximately 100 American Arms Manufacturers together with just NINE Foreign manufacturers all listed on the docket for the Board's consideration. As it happened one JOHN BROUGHTON is listed as the #18th vendor hoping to gain a Government Contract for conversion of further rifles. This rifles, in 50 cal. actually bears Inspection markings of ERSKINE S. ALLIN (ESA) who was the original designer of the trapdoor system

Clearly John Broughton with his 50 caliber Rifle was not adopted and with that he fades into history, however THIS weapon being clearly numbered "18" may well have been his TRIAL SAMPLE. All this information can be found in "THE .45/70 SPRINGFIELD" book on Page 4 by Albert Frasca and Robert Hill. Published 1980, which lists all the participants of the hearings.

An excellent example of the M-1866 Converted rifle, Fully Cleaned and Ready to display and research!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1864 - Converted 1866
Caliber: .50"
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 36 1/2 Inches

Overall Length: 52 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Trapdoor Breech Single Shot

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  • This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey

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