Rare Springfield Model 1865 First Allin Trapdoor Rifle

This is a very rare, antique fine condition, and all original Springfield Armory Model 1865 Trapdoor Rifle, also known as the First Allin Alteration Rifle, in .58-60 rimfire caliber. This particular rifle is the three-band version of the Second Allin Rifle. Only about 5,000 Model 1865 First Allin Rifles were manufactured, all in 1866.

While the American Civil War was predominantly an Infantryman's war using muzzle loading, percussion cap ignition rifles, the use of breech loading, cartridge-firing weapons (principally carbines) left an indelible mark on both the US Army and weapons designers in the United States. The Army's experience during the Civil War left post-war Army leaders with two distinct impressions. First, the accuracy and long-range of modern infantry rifles made the linear, Napoleonic-style of infantry tactics obsolete. And second, the need for faster firing weapons was a necessity for modern infantry combat. The result was the formation of a special board by the War Department to select a new breech-loading rifle. Once the board was formed, it developed a list of requirements for a new breech-loading rifle and sent requests for submissions to all known arms manufacturers and to the National Armory at Springfield. The principal requirements of the new arm were straightforward: a breech-loading firearm chambered for a self-primed, metallic cartridge.

When Springfield Armory received the request from the board, it assigned the responsibility for developing the Springfield design to Springfield's Master Armorer, Erskine S. Allin. Allin's design was both simple and practical. His design, oddly enough, involved the conversion of the earlier Model 1861 Pattern Rifle Musket that was used during the Civil War instead of the later Model 1863 and 1864 Rifle Muskets, although the barrels were typically dated from 1861 to 1864 with only the last year visible after the breech was cut open, and the lock plates were typically new manufacture with the majority dated 1865. Many thousands of these muzzle-loading rifles were on hand at Springfield after having been returned following the demobilization of the Union Army. Allin's design involved cutting a section out of the breech end of the standard Model 1861 .58 caliber barrel and fitting a hinged breechblock into the cutout space. This was the "trap door" design that became the standard design for the US rifle for the next 25 plus years.

Several foreign and domestic US designs were also submitted to the board in late 1865. The board ultimately chose Allin's Springfield-submitted design. Although many have opined over the years that one of the main reasons for the board's selection of Allin's design was its familiarity to the board's members (it looked very similar to the muzzle loading Model 1861), the real reason probably had more to do with the Army's tiny budget after the end of the Civil War and the relatively low cost of converting existing arms compared to procurement of an entirely new design. The War Department approved the board's recommendation and Springfield was directed to produce 5,000 Model 1865 breech loading rifles, which became known as the "First Allin" Rifle.

The Model 1865 "First Allin" Rifles were finished in 1866 and issued to soldiers in the field. It fires a short, copper-cased, .58 caliber rimfire cartridge with a powder charge of 60 grains and a 500-grain bullet. Reports from these units identified several problems with the new rifles. First, the copper cartridge case had a weak case head that was often torn off during extraction, leaving the rest of the case inside the chamber (this was also a problem that would plague the final version of the Allin design, the .45-70 round fired from the Model 1873 Rifles and Carbines). Ballistically, the .58 caliber round was also considered underpowered. And the breech system itself was considered too fragile with problematic extraction and ejection components. The problems identified were severe enough that Springfield made the decision to completely redesign the breech action and develop an entirely new round, which would become the .50-70 round designed for an improved rifle that became the Model 1866 Second Allin Rifle.

The exact number of Springfield Armory manufactured (modified) Model 1865 First Allin Rifles is estimated at 5,000 rifles manufactured in 1866. This particular rifle is the Model 1865, Three-Band Variation Second Allin Rifle. These rifles are distinguished from the Model 1865 Two-Band Rifles, which were probably altered at Springfield Armory in 1866 from three-band rifles. It is estimated that between 270 and 300 two-band Second Allin rifles were manufactured, so the number of three-band rifles manufactured is probably around 4,700.

The Lockplate is the correct Civil War era Model 1863/64 Lockplate that is correctly marked "1865" to the rear of the Hammer. Forward of the Hammer is the federal spread eagle with the eagle looking towards the muzzle. The eagle bears the large shield, and the detail is still exceptionally fine. Just forward of the eagle is a crisp, serif "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" stamp. The outer, flat surface of the Lockplate still retains strong traces of its original color case-hardened finish, that now exhibits a plum and pewter patina. The hammer was modified by removing the percussion cap cavity and re-shaping the neck to create the offset to strike the angled firing pin in the new breech block. The interior of the lock is in fine condition.

The interior lock plate surface and all of the lock components still retain the vast majority of the original oil-quenched finish. The inside of the lock plate has several inspection stamps including a serif “U” and “1” stamp. The two-position Tumbler has an “3” stamp and the Sear has a “O” stamp. The Sear Spring has a “U” stamp. All of the lock screws have unmarred single slots. Both lock plate screws retain almost all of their original oil-quenched finish on the barrels with polished single-slot heads. The lock functions perfectly.

The original and very large Thumb Latch retains the majority of its original dark oil quenched finish. The interior surfaces still retain considerable oil-quenched finish. The outer surface on the First Allin Rifles have deep checkering and the checkering remains crisp. The thumb piece attaches to and rotates the cam shaft which runs horizontally through the breech block. The First Allin thumb piece was attached using existing Hammer Screws and the hammer screw on this rifle still retains the vast majority of its original blued finish. The extracting and ejecting mechanism, which was very complicated in its design, is all present and still works correctly. The Extractor Slide retains considerable original blued finish, and it still retains the Extractor Slide Pin. Also present are the original Ejector Pin, and the Cam Lever Arm. The Spring Arm is present, and it still extracts correctly.

The Breech Block is the correct, second type with rounded cutout leading to the sighting notch, which was milled just to the rear of the hinge knuckle. The block retains the vast majority of its original blued finish. The block screw retains the majority of its original blued finish. The original firing pin and spring are present. The bottom of the Breech Block is the straight, cylindrical type, and it has a serif “4” stamp. The original Cam Shaft Retaining Cap is present and both retaining cap screws have unmarred slots.

The Stock on this rifle is the original in very good condition three-band rifle configuration with normal dings and scratches from storage. The Model 1865 First Allin stocks required considerable additional inletting from the Civil War Model 1863 configuration to accommodate the new breech mechanism. The original 3 ¾” long tubular metal spring housing for the extractor mechanism is present in its inletted portion of the stock, and the spring end loop is present and still engages the slide pin on the breech block mechanism. This mechanism is often absent on surviving examples of First Allin Rifles because of the fragility of the mechanism and the thinness of the stock where additional milling was performed to fit the mechanism. The left side of the stock flat has the correct oval cartouche with script “ESA,” which is Erskine Allin’s cartouche, and the script “SWP” stamp of inspector Samuel W. Porter. The Nose Cap on the Stock is still in its original National Armory Bright finish that is slightly dulled. The original nose cap screw is present, and it retains the majority of its original blued finish with an unmarred slot.

The Butt Plate is the correct and original curved profile, convex surface type with crisp "US" stamp on the Tang. Both the Tang Screw and Butt Plate Screw are the correct single-slot, rounded face type that are in good condition with unmarred slots. The Butt Plate itself now exhibits a dark patina with small areas of old corrosion pitting on the tang and back surface.

The Rear Sight on this Model 1865 is the correct US Model 1861 Rear Sight. The location of the rear sight was changed from the original Model 1861 design to accommodate the breech straps. It is flush with the front of the breech block support and was fastened to the barrel with only soft solder, which remains in place. The top portion of the base has a “4” stamp. The Rear Sight has the correct single leaf with aperture for 300 yards and corresponding “3” stamp, and a notch in the top for 500 yards with a “5” stamp in the upper, right corner of the longer leaf. The shorter portion of the leaf has the correct “1” stamp to the right of the 100-yard notch. The sight retains considerable original finish on the sides and top.

The Barrel on this Model 1865 Rifle is the original modified .58 caliber Model 1863 muzzle-loading Barrel that is 37 5/8" long. The bore on this barrel is in very fine condition, with a shiny bore, crisp rifling, and very minor frosting noted in the grooves. The original Front Sight is present and is still securely brazed to the top of the Barrel. The external surface of the barrel remains in its original bright finish. This rifle was rarely fired in service. The left, rear barrel flat retains its original Civil War eagle stamp.

The original Nipple Recess Filler, which was done on all modified Barrels to fill in the area of the Barrel that held the nipple and bolster, is present and the weld seams are still tight. The Barrel Tang retains the vast majority of its original oil-quenched finish and is very clean and the single-slot, flat head Tang Screw is in fine condition. The Breech Plug remains in fine condition retaining the majority of its oil darkened finish. On the back side of the plug are numerous inspection stamps. On the breech is the original inspection stamp letter from the original Civil War manufacture. The bottom of the barrel also retains numerous original inspection stamps.

The Trigger Guard and Trigger Plate assembly is the original Model 1861 type and is in very good condition, retaining much of the original armory bright finish. The original Trigger is present, and it retains 75% of its original oil blackened finish in the protected areas. The Trigger operates smoothly and still releases the Hammer crisply. The original Lower Sling Swivel Assembly is present and rotates smoothly. Both Trigger Plate Screws, which are round head, single-slot Screws, are present and both have unmarred slots.

As noted, the First Allin was based on the earlier Model 1861 Rifle and the barrel bands from the Model 1861 were flat. The Lower Barrel Band has the correct, serif "U" stamp on the right side, and it exhibits a mixed plum and pewter patina. The adjacent Band Spring is in very good condition. The Middle Barrel Band is present and has the correct, serif “U” stamp on the right side, and it exhibits a mixed plum and pewter patina. The middle band has the sling swivel that is riveted to the integral post below the band. The swivel rotates freely. The middle band spring retains considerable original oil-quenched finish. The Upper Band also has the serif “U” stamp, and it also exhibits a mixed plum and pewter patina. The corresponding band spring is also in very good condition.

The Ramrod is the correct Model 1861 type with the tulip-shaped head and the swell that measures .328” long. The ramrod is 39 7/16” long and still exhibits the majority of its original National Armory Bright finish with large areas of old pinprick pitting. The end of the ramrod is correctly threaded. The Ramrod, when stowed, is correctly flush with the muzzle.

This is a very rare, historically significant, and excellent, original condition example of the Springfield US Model 1865 "First Allin" Alteration, Three-Band Rifle Variation, .58-60 rimfire caliber Trapdoor Rifle that is in its 100% original configuration. This Model 1865 Rifle functions perfectly.