Springfield Model 1888 .45-70 Trapdoor Ramrod Bayonet Rifle c. 1891

This is a very good condition and all original Springfield Armory Model 1888 Trapdoor Rifle with the scarce integrated ramrod bayonet.

The serial number on this rifle is 511922, which places its date of manufacture to 1891. Springfield Armory produced only 30,461 Model 1888 Ramrod Bayonet Rifles in 1891 out of a total of only 66,713 Model 1888 Rifles produced, all between 1890 and 1893. The Model 1888 Rifle was the last of the trapdoor rifles manufactured.

The Rod Bayonet is an interesting, and intermittent, design that appears on American military firearms for approximately 70 years in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first rod bayonet arm issued to the U.S. military was the U.S. Model 1833 Hall Carbine, a flintlock ignition weapon, and used a relatively thin triangular blade design. The design did not take hold and the triangular socket bayonet became standard for much of the 19th century to include use in the Mexican War and the Civil War.

The Ordnance Department and Springfield Armory resurrected the design briefly in 1880 with the U.S. Experimental Model 1880 Rifle, a trapdoor, in .45-70 caliber. The Model 1880, like the Model 1883 Hall Carbine, also used a relatively thin triangular rod bayonet. The design was not a success and was discontinued after very limited production. In the late 1880s, two things happened that led to the design being resurrected yet again. The first was that the stockpile of existing socket bayonets from the Civil War had become critically low and it was determined that retooling to produce them was impractical. The second event was the widespread experimentation in Europe of rod bayonets on infantry long arms, which had a profound affect on infantry weapons design in the last two decades of the 19th century.

The first round rod bayonet rifle was designed and installed on the U.S. Model 1884 Rifle, manufactured by Springfield Armory. 1,000 Model 1884 Rod Bayonet Rifles were manufactured at Springfield in 1885 and 1886 for trials. The trials highlighted problems with the bayonet locking system, the rod bayonet itself and with the adjustable rear sight. The proposed modifications and improvements led to the U.S. Model 1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle in .45-70.

In 1888, Springfield Armory manufactured three round rod bayonet trapdoor rifles, which were submitted to the Ordnance Board for review. The Ordnance Board subjected two of these rifles to testing that determined the earlier modifications had been successful. Despite the successful testing of the Model 1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle, the Ordnance Board was reluctant to recommend full production as it was then looking for a completely new rifle design firing a smaller caliber round with an integrated magazine.

The lack of socket bayonets, previously noted, forced the Ordnance Department to order production of the rod bayonet trapdoor rifle in .45-70 while the search for its replacement continued. The Ordnance Board formally adopted the rod bayonet rifle in February 1890 as the U.S. Model 1888 .45-70 Springfield Rod Bayonet Rifle. As a cost saving measure, however, the Ordnance Board stipulated that Model 1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle could not go into full production until all existing stocks of socket bayonets for the standard Model 1884 Rifle were exhausted. These stocks of socket bayonets ran out late in 1890 and the Model 1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle went until full production in mid-1890. The Model 1884, the last of the trapdoor .45-70 rifles, continued in production at Springfield until 1893 when it was replaced by the U.S. Model 1892 Krag Rifle in .30-40 caliber.

The original Barrel on this Rifle is in very good condition. The barrel is 32.60” long with a 0.730” barrel diameter at the muzzle. The barrel retains most of its original blued finish on its external surfaces, which now exhibits a dark brown patina. There are several mixed areas of old corrosion and pinprick pitting on the outer surface of the barrel. The original muzzle crown is present and is unmarred. The left, rear side of the barrel has the crisp serif “V” view proof stamp over the serif “P” firing proof stamp over the eagle head over the second serif “P” firing proof stamp, indicating proof firing with a special 80 grain cartridge of the assembled barrel, receiver and breech block. The top of the barrel has a serif “I” barrel inspector’s stamp and an additional serif “R” barrel inspector’s stamp on the lower left side just forward of the receiver. The bore of the rifle is in very good condition with a shiny finish and strong rifling with patches of frosting present in spots throughout the lands and grooves. The Breech Plug and Tang both retain the considerable original color case-hardened finish. The Tang Screw is the correct single-slot type.

The Front Sight Stud remains tightly brazed to the barrel and it retains the majority of its original finish. The Front Sight Blade is the correct Fourth Type with rounded top rear that was used from August 1887 until the end of production. The Front Sight Blade is still tightly pinned into the stud and it also retains 98% of its original dark finish. This rifle also has the First Type Front Sight Cover that retains 98% of its original blued finish.

The Rear Sight is a very good condition and correct Model 1884 Rifle Sight, also known as the Buffington Rear Sight. This particular sight is the correct third type with the binding screw collar on the binding knob to secure the elevation leaf. The sight is graduated to 2,000 yards with the leaf marked in 25-yard increments from 200 to 1,400 yards on the right and in 50-yard increments from 15,00 to 2,000 yards on the left. The right side top of the leaf has the correct serif “R” for rifle stamp. The open “buckhorn” sight is on the slide, which was used for rolling fire set at 266 yards. The top of the slide has the second open sight, which is a “u” shaped aperture. The bottom of the arrow shaped opening at the bottom of the slide is the third “u” shaped open aperture. There are two closed apertures, one at the top and one at the bottom. Both arrow lines, (on the right for the right-side range markings; and the angled line on the left for the left-side range markings) are still visible. Both the Windage Knob and Binding Knob retain the majority of the original blued finish as does the leaf, slide and rear sight base, with areas of original case-hardened finish. The single-slot base screw is unmarred. The binding knob works correctly with the slide at any elevation and the windage knob still crisply adjusts for left and right corrections. Overall, most of the original blued finish, while muted, remains with evidence of old corrosion staining present in areas.

The Lower Band is the correct Model 1885 Lower Band with the dish at the top to accommodate the Model 1884 Rear Sight. The Band is correctly marked with the serif “U” stamp, and it retains 90% of its original, faded blue finish with minor dings and scratches present. The Lower Band Spring retains 98% of its original blue finish. The Upper Band is the correct Model 1874 Rifle Upper Barrel Band with the larger “U” stamp, which was incorporated in 1879. The Band also retains most of its original blued finish, to include the sling swivel and stacking swivel, which now exhibits a dark finish. The lug pin remains solidly in place. The Front Band Spring retains about 99% of its original blued finish and both bands remain solidly on the stock.

The Breech Block is the correct Seventh Type that is crisply marked “U.S./MODEL/1884,” adjacent to the hinge point. The top of the Breech Block retains most of its now faded case-hardened finish with evidence of old pinprick pitting near the firing pin channel boss. The bottom and sides of the Breech Block also retain the majority of its faded color case-hardened finish. The breech face is very clean.

The Cam Latch is the correct Third Type with the unground rivet properly exposed leaving the square-shanked rivet visible. The Cam Latch exhibits a pewter and plum patina with surface pitting. The Cam Latch works perfectly, and the breech block is very tight when in battery with no movement noticed. The original firing pin is present with a still sharp, pronounced striker end.

The Receiver is the correct .45-70 type with gas ports milled into both the left and right sides. The rear of the Receiver has the full serial number “511922.” The inside portions of the receiver are in very good condition and retain traces of their original oil quenched finish.

The Lock Plate is the correct Third Type with the large shield on the eagle. Both the eagle and the serif “U.S./SPRINGFIELD” stampings remain very crisp and clear. The lock plate exhibits a largely pewter patina on its surface. The Hammer is the correct Third Type with beveled lip. The Hammer also exhibits a largely pewter patina except on the inside surfaces, which still retains the majority of the original blued finish. The Hammer, and Tumbler, works correctly in all three positions and the Main Spring remains strong.

The Trigger Guard is the correct one-piece type with integrated rear sling swivel slot that originated with the adoption of the Model 1888 Rifle. The Trigger Guard retains generous traces of the original blue finish, which now exhibits a dull blue finish with evidence of old corrosion staining. The original lower sling swivel is present and retains traces of its original blued finish. Both single-slot wood screws are present, and both retain the majority of their original finish. The Trigger is the correct Second Type with longitudinal grooves and an angled tip that points to the bottom of the guard with cross-hatched grooves. The Trigger retains generous traces of its original oil case-hardened finish. The trigger release is still crisp.

The Stock is the original and very fine condition Model 1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle Stock. The Model 1888 Rifle Stock were inletted at the muzzle end to the rear barrel band step and then drilled along its length to accept the ramrod. A .47” diameter clean-out hole was also drilled inside the trigger plate inletting to intersect the ramrod channel to facilitate cleaning of the channel itself. Additionally, Model 1888 Rifle Stocks had a unique receptacle in the butt stock to store the Headless Shell Extractor, the Model 1879 Combination Tool and the Wiping Head. Included with this rifle in the butt is an original Headless Shell Extractor that retains the majority of its original blued finish, and an original Model 1879 Combination Tool that retains traces of its original finish.

The left side of the stock, just below the receiver, has the correct, clipped corner, boxed, script “SWP/1891,” cartouche of Springfield Master Armorer Samuel W. Porter, who held this position at Springfield from 1879-1894. The cartouche is still very crisp and is in mint condition. The bottom of the stock wrist also has the correct circle, script “P” firing proof stamp just to the rear of the serif “W” inspection stamp. The stock exhibits very minor dings and scratches and a few drying cracks, but otherwise the stock is solid. The stock retains its original oil finish.

The original ramrod bayonet and assembly are present and is in very good condition and full working order. The Rod Bayonet itself is 35.60” long and it retains the majority of its original dark oil finish. The locking shoulders are squared and crisp. The mounting stud is still securely affixed to the barrel. Both spring-loaded buttons are present and work correctly and both exhibit a plum patina. The rod bayonet itself still extracts to its fully open and locked position and secures correctly. The fluted points on the end are in fine condition as is the checkering from the flutes to the first locking shoulder.

The Butt Plate is the correct Model 1888 Rod Bayonet Rifle Butt Plate, which used the 2nd Type carbine butt plate and its oblong trap, which permitted storage of the shell extractor, combination tool and wiping head. The swivel trap door works perfectly. The butt plate now exhibits a salt and pepper patina with areas exhibiting old pinprick pitting. The tang is stamped with the serif “U.S.” stamp. Both the butt plate and tang screw are the correct, convex, single slot screws that are unmarred.

This rifle comes with its original and excellent condition Third Type Rifle Sling. The original Brass Claw Hook with long, thin hooks, remains tightly riveted to the leather. The original brass stud is present as are both original leather keepers, both of which retain all of their original stitching. The lather still remains supple.

Although replaced by the Model 1892 Krag Rifle in the early 1890s, the Model 1888 Rifle continued to be issued and served extensively both during the Spanish American War and in the Philippines in the early 1900s.

This Model 1888 Springfield Trapdoor Ramrod Bayonet Rifle functions perfectly and would still make a great shooting rifle.