Post American Civil War Breach Loading Rifles

johan_steele

Regimental Armorer
Retired Moderator
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
Location
South of the North 40
The Trapdoor Springfield Rifle would replace the M1864 Rifle musket in 1866 staying in US military armories up through WW1 and last seeing action in the hands of Phillipino resistance fighters against the Japanese in WW2. There were multiple models and all had a reputation for excellent accuracy.

DSC00746.JPG
DSC00747.JPG
DSC00758.JPG
DSC00759.JPG
DSC00761.JPG
DSC00763.JPG
 
The Peabody was another arm with origins withing the ACW. It would most notably be adopted by the Turks who used it with devestating effect against the Russians at the battle of Plevna. It was simple, reliable and very accurate. The British would copy the action and field their own hammerless version as the Martini Henry.

Swiss Peabody.jpg
 
Last edited:
The Sharps Rifle Company predated the ACW by better than a decade and had a proven reputation for producing excellent arms. During the Civil War the M1859 rifle along with the far more common M1859 & M1863 carbines cemented their reputation as a strong, reliable and effective rifle. After the war with the clear ascendence of the metallic cartridge many ACW Sharps were easily converted to .50-70 and found great favor with the American public; but like the ballard they never managed to break into the International Arms market.

In 1874 they produced an excellent rifle that would gain fame as a "buffalo gun" in 1875 slight modifications improved the arm and in 1878 the last Sharps; the Sharps Borchardt which was perhaps the strongest and best single shot breach loader of the era.

Top: 1875 Sharps Middle: 1874 Sharps Bottom: Sharps Borchardt
aan-749_1.jpg
1874 Sharps.jpg
0919-1Sharps Borchardt.jpg
 
The Sharps Rifle Company predated the ACW by better than a decade and had a proven reputation for producing excellent arms. During the Civil War the M1859 rifle along with the far more common M1859 & M1863 carbines cemented their reputation as a strong, reliable and effective rifle. After the war with the clear ascendence of the metallic cartridge many ACW Sharps were easily converted to .50-70 and found great favor with the American public; but like the ballard they never managed to break into the International Arms market.

In 1874 they produced an excellent rifle that would gain fame as a "buffalo gun" in 1875 slight modifications improved the arm and in 1878 the last Sharps; the Sharps Borchardt which was perhaps the strongest and best single shot breach loader of the era.

Top: 1875 Sharps Middle: 1874 Sharps Bottom: Sharps Borchardt
View attachment 61614 View attachment 61615 View attachment 61616
The top one looks to me like a Sharps "Freund "
 
The Sharps Borchardt was designed by Hugo Borchardt(an American) and mfg by the ailing Sharps mfg. Co.
He later designed the toggle semi-auto pistol which became the German Luger.
 
The Trapdoor Springfield Rifle would replace the M1864 Rifle musket in 1866 staying in US military armories up through WW1 and last seeing action in the hands of Phillipino resistance fighters against the Japanese in WW2. There were multiple models and all had a reputation for excellent accuracy.

View attachment 61605 View attachment 61606 View attachment 61607 View attachment 61608 View attachment 61609 View attachment 61610
The "Trapdoor" Springfield's are the best buys for folks who are on a limited budget and are interested in US Antique guns. There are quite a number of models and one can find a good one beginning at $500.00
 
The Sharps Borchardt was designed by Hugo Borchardt(an American) and mfg by the ailing Sharps mfg. Co.
He later designed the toggle semi-auto pistol which became the German Luger.
He would also assist with the Lee Navy Rifle and his work would be copied and find its way into the Lee Enfield.
 
The "Trapdoor" Springfield's are the best buys for folks who are on a limited budget and are interested in US Antique guns. There are quite a number of models and one can find a good one beginning at $500.00
A friend is a fanatical collector of the Trapdoor Springfield. He bought his first at a pawn & gun shop in Ellsworth SD for around $100 dollars the best part of 30 years ago now he has at least one of each model in his collection.

The .45-70 cartridge has very similar ballistics to the Whitworth Rifle of ACW fame.
 
Back
Top