Springfield Armory Model 1870 Trapdoor Rifle, .50-70 Government, 28.5" Barrel, Antique U.S. Single-Shot
The Springfield Armory Model 1870 Trapdoor is the final .50-70 Government iteration before the adoption of the Model 1873 in .45-70. This antique, single-shot, centerfire trapdoor rifle features the correct "1870" breechblock marking with eagle and crossed-arrows over "U.S." and a right-side lockplate marked "U.S. SPRINGFIELD" with the federal eagle and an 1863 tail date. It has a measured 28.5-inch barrel, full-length fore-end with a single barrel band, iron sights, and a walnut stock with a steel buttplate.
Condition
Overall Condition: Poor condition.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The rifle shows widespread patina and pitting with areas of rust. Scratches and blemishes are present on the metal and the walnut stock. The bore is dark and blemished, though rifling is still visible. A critical action component is missing, and the rifle is not in working order.
What’s Included
- Springfield Armory Model 1870 Trapdoor Rifle
The Model 1870 represents Springfield Armory’s last .50-70 trapdoor configuration prior to the .45-70 series. It is a single-shot, trapdoor breech-loading design with an external hammer and centerfire ignition, aligning with the Allin conversion lineage.
Correct period markings are present: the breechblock top shows "1870" over the eagle and crossed-arrows with "U.S.," and the right lockplate is marked "U.S. SPRINGFIELD" with the federal eagle and 1863 tail date. The left receiver flat bears a factory-applied serial number in the correct location and style for Model 1870 production.
Configuration includes a measured 28.5-inch barrel, a full-length fore-end retained by a single barrel band, and a steel buttplate. Sighting equipment is iron, with a front blade and ladder/leaf rear.
The walnut stock provides a 13.5-inch length of pull. Capacity is 1 round. Manufactured in the United States in 1870, this rifle sits at a transitional point in U.S. service rifle development as the concluding .50-70 Government trapdoor pattern.