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v2.05b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)

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{{Infobox Weapon
| name = Springfield Model 1870
| image = Springfield_Model_1863-1870_Trapdoor_Rifle-NMAH-AHB2015q027348.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption =
| origin = [[United States]]
| type = [[Breech-loading rifle]]
| is_ranged = yes
| is_bladed =
| is_explosive =
| is_artillery =
| is_vehicle =
| is_missile =
| is_UK = 
| service = 1870–1873
| used_by = United States
| wars = [[American Indian Wars]]
| designer = Erskine S. Allin
| design_date = 1870
| manufacturer = [[Springfield Armory]]
| unit_cost =
| production_date = 1870–1872
| number = c. 11,350
| variants = Carbine
| spec_label =
| weight =
| length = {{convert|52|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| part_length = {{convert|32.6|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| width =
| height =
| diameter =
| crew = 
| cartridge = [[.50-70 Government|.50-70-450]]
| cartridge_weight =
| caliber =
| barrels =
| action = [[Trapdoor mechanism|Trapdoor]]
| rate = User dependent; usually 8 to 10 rounds per minute
| velocity =
| range =
| max_range =
| feed = Breech-loading
| sights = Iron sights
}}
[[Image:Report of the Board of officers appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress approved June 6, 1872, for the purpose of selecting a breech-system for the muskets and carbines of the military service, (14596674959).jpg|thumb|Springfield Model 1870 (center)]]

The '''Springfield Model 1870''' was a [[trapdoor mechanism|trapdoor]] [[breechblock]] service rifle produced by the [[Springfield Armory]] for the United States military. Introduced in 1870, the Model 1870 was a minor improvement to the [[Springfield Model 1868]], and retained most of the Model 1868 rifle features.<ref name=":02">"The .58 and .50 Caliber Rifles and Carbines of the Springfield Armory" by Richard A. Hosmer, Published by North Cape Publications, May 2006</ref> It was produced in two variance, with the second following in 1871, both chambered for the [[.50-70 Government|.50-70-450]] cartridge.

it was the final design in a long line of such weapons using a design developed by [[Erskine S. Allin]]

Note: '''Springfield Model 1870''' may also refer to the [[Springfield model 1870 Remington—Navy|Springfield rolling-block U.S. Navy rifle]], employing the [[E. Remington and Sons|Remington Arms Company]] [[rolling-block]] design, and manufactured under a royalty agreement with Remington, for use by the [[United States Navy]] as a shipboard small arm.<ref name=":02" />

==Variants==
The trapdoor Springfields had originally been designed as an inexpensive method of converting [[Springfield Model 1861]] and [[Springfield Model 1863]] [[Rifled musket|rifled muskets]] into [[Breech-Loading|breech-loading]] rifles, which dramatically improved their rate of fire from about 2 to 3 shots per minute to about 8 to 10 shots per minute.<ref name=":02" />

Designed by armorer Erskine S, Allin, the original trapdoor Springfields had replaced only the firing mechanism, and had used a barrel liner to reduce the caliber from .58 to .50. This barrel liner proved to be unreliable in the field, and later trapdoor Springfields, like the Model 1870, abandoned the barrel liner method and used newly manufactured barrels instead.<ref name=":02" />

There were two versions of the Model 1870, which differed slightly from each other. The first version was produced in 1870 and 1871. The rear sight was improved, and the receiver was shortened to create the Model 1870 receiver. The rear sight on the first Model 1870 was almost against the receiver. 1,000 of these rifles were manufactured.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Model 1870 Rifles and Carbines|url=https://www.trapdoorcollector.com//m70.html|access-date=2021-08-21|website=The U.S. Springfield Trapdoor Information Center}}</ref>

The second version was produced in 1872 and 1873. In this version the rear sight was moved up so that it was about half an inch away from the receiver. This version also featured a double shouldered cleaning rod, which differed from the first Model 1870 that had used the Model 1868 rifle's cleaning rod. The second version Model 1870 also had a long high arch on the underside of the breechblock, which differed from the first version which had a shorter arch identical to the Model 1868. 10,000 of the second version were manufactured.<ref name=":0" />

A shorter carbine version was also produced in 1871. Approximately 350 of these were manufactured.<ref name=":0" />

The Model 1870, the carbine version as well as both versions of the rifle, used the [[.50-70 Government|.50-70-450]] cartridge.<ref name=":02" />

==Notable uses==

[[Wild Bill Hickok]], the famous gunfighter, used a variant of the Model 1870. The "Hickok rifle" has a {{convert|29.625|in|cm|adj=on}} barrel, which is longer than the carbine version's barrel and shorter than the rifle version's barrel, and also has a [[Kentucky rifle]] style sloped butt. The trapdoor mechanism is stamped with the year 1870, and the lockplate is stamped with the year 1863, indicating that this rifle was originally produced as a Model 1863 rifled musket and was later converted as part of the Model 1870 manufacturing. The name "J. B. Hickok" was carved into the stock using a sharp knife. Hickok was buried with this rifle in 1876. However, when he was reburied in Mount Moriah in 1879, someone removed the rifle from his coffin.<ref>"Wild Bill Hickok, gunfighter: an account of Hickok's gunfights" By Joseph G. Rosa</ref>

==See also==
* [[Springfield rifle]]{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = United States Army rifle
| years = 1870-1873
| before = [[Springfield Model 1868]]
| after = [[Springfield Model 1873]]
}}
{{s-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Springfield Model 1870}}

[[Category:Springfield firearms]]
[[Category:Hinged breechblock rifles]]
[[Category:Rifles of the United States]]
[[Category:Guns of the American West]]

Springfield model 1870 - Revision history

imported>WikiCleanerBot: v2.05b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)