Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Muskets converted to breechloading, Trapdoor conversion.Conversion of Model 1863 muskets, to breechloading trapdoor. . Manufactured by Springfield Armory,Springfield Mass. Research Center: Weapon2900-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door . Details click: http://relicman.com/Weapon2900-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door.html

Model 1863, Springfield 1864, Allin Conversion 1866, Second model trap door, .50cal. . After the Civil War the government converted many of the then obsoleteModel 1863 muskets into breechloaders. The barrels were completelyreworked to accommodate the new .50 cal center fire cartridges by brazing a sleeve inside the barrel and installing the Allin trap door loading mechanism on the breech. The lock, stock, and bands were mostly unaltered. Manufactured by Springfield Armory,Springfield Mass. Marks: Lock is marked 1864 behind the hammer, with eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front, manufactured by Springfield Armory,Springfield Mass. Trap door is marked 1866 over eagle head. Buttplate is marked US. Three bands each marked U, strap hook on middle band and trigger guard. Model features: Center fire breech loader, .50 cal., three bands, two strap hooks, two leaf sight,tulip head on ramrod was replaced with a cylinder head and wiper slot,threads on the end actually screw into a socket inside the stock to secure it. Research Center: Weapon2901-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1866 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-356. Details click: http://relicman.com/Weapon2901-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1866.html

Model 1870, Trapdoor rifle, Springfield 1870 to 1873, .50cal. . The trapdoor featured a breech loading door to load .50 cal center-fire cartridges and the Model 1870 was the last to use this size cartridge. Manufactured by Springfield Armory,Springfield Mass. Marks: Lock is from the earlier Springfield muskets, and is marked 1863 behind the hammer with an eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front. Breechblock is marked Model / 1870 / and eagle head over crossed arrows, / US. Serial number appears on the left side of the breech and the barrel. Buttplate is marked US. Model features: Center fire breech loader, .50 cal., two bands, two strap hooks, single leaf long range site, ramrod is fitted with a slot, and fastens to the stock. Research Center: Weapon2902-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1870 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-361. Details click: http://relicman.com/Weapon2902-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1870.html

Model 1884, Trapdoor rifle, Springfield 1884, .45 cal. . The trapdoor featured a breech loading door to load 45 / 70 center-fire cartridges. The Model 1884 introduced improved mechanics from the Model 1879 and applied them to refurbished supplies of the Model 1873. Improvements included a bronze firing pin, corrugated trigger, and an improved site. Barrels of both models were chambered for the 45 / 70 cartridge. Manufactured by Springfield Armory,Springfield Mass. Marks: Lock is marked with an eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front of the hammer, manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield Massachusetts. Breechblock is marked US / Model / 1884 with VP over eagle head, Serial number is marked on the barrel. Buttplate is marked US. Two bands are both marked U, Model features: Center fire breech loader, .45 cal., two bands, two strap hooks, Buffington sight, ramrod is fitted with a slot, and fastens to the stock. Research Center: Weapon2903-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1884 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-381. Details click: http://relicman.com/Weapon2903-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1884.html

Model 1888, Trapdoor rifle, Springfield 1891, .45 cal. . The trapdoor featured a breech loading door to load 45 / 70 center-fire cartridges. The Model 1888 introduced improved mechanics from the Model 1884 and applied them to refurbished supplies of the Model 1884. Improvements included a sliding ramrod bayonet. Barrels was chambered for the 45 / 70 cartridge. Manufactured by Springfield Armory,Springfield Mass. Marks: Lock is marked with an eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front of the hammer, manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield Massachusetts, cartouche in the wood on the right side indicates 1891 manufacture. Breechblock is marked US / Model / 1884. Barrel is marked with VP over eagle head, Serial number is marked on the barrel. Buttplate is marked US. Two bands are both marked U. Model features: Center fire breech loader, .45 cal., two bands, two strap hooks, Buffington sight, sliding ramrod bayonet. Research Center: Weapon2904-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1888 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-387. Details click: http://relicman.com/Weapon2904-Musket-Breechloader-Trap-Door-1888.html

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

and now a word from our sponsor.....

Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War weapons, Relicman sales catalog. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html.