The "Trapdoor Springfields", named due to their distinctive hinged breechblock that opened like a trap door, are the collective name for a series of weapons created by the Springfield Arsenal from 1865 to 1903. The Model 1873 pattern was the first breech-loading weapon adopted as standard-issue for the United States Military. Due to budget concerns and the overwhelming amount of muzzle-loading muskets filling government storage after the war, the Arsenal elected to base their new designs on the existing patterns, rather than creating a wholly new design.
Visually, the Trapdoor Springfields of all types still resemble their Civil War-era heritage with an obvious caplock hammer on the side, but the large Allin hinged breech-block is the distinguishing feature. Trapdoor Springfields saw use during the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and Philippine-American War.
See also
Krag Jorgensen A Norwegian-designed bolt-action rifle that would officially replace the Trapdoor Springfields in 1892
M1903 Springfield The weapon that would finally replace both the Trapdoors and the Krag
