Springfield Trapdoor Model 1884
Rosella Brain
The Springfield model 1884 was one of the "Trapdoor Springfield" rifles. It was an improved replacement for the previous longarm of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Springfield model 1873 and its variants.
The model 1884 traces its roots back to the design of the Springfield 1873. The model 1884 incorporated a significant number of improvements that had been made between 1878 and 1879. It also featured a serrated trigger that had been incorporated into the Springfield rifle design in 1883.
The most dramatic change to the rifle design, which is often considered to be the identifying feature of the model 1884, was a new rear sight which had been designed by Lieutenant Colonel Adelbert R. Buffington of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department. This sight however was not perfected until 1885.
The principal feature of this new sight was a rack and pinion style windage adjustment. Unlike previous sights, the base was not used for any position other than point blank. The raised leaf had graduations from 200 to 1,400 yd (180 to 1,280 m). A new barrel band was also designed to accommodate this new sight so that it could lie flat in the point blank position.[1]
The model 1884 was also produced in a carbine version. It was found that the rear sight could be easily damaged when removing the rifle from the carbine boot. The rear barrel band was therefore modified in 1890 to include a rear sight protector.
A round-rod bayonet model was also produced, designated the Model 1888. This, like the Springfield model 1880, was an attempt to combine the cleaning rod and bayonet into a single unit. The Model 1888 included an improved retaining mechanism, as the Model 1880's retaining mechanism had proved to be problematic.
I have a US Springfield model 1884 serial number 400504 I need help with the original history of this rifle and who might have had it issued to them. It has additional markings on the barrel of VP an eagles talon?? And a P. It has another marking on the left side of the butt that looks factory made and then 1887 carved below it
The old Springfield Research Service used to have some limited information on a small percentage of the trapdoors produced. If you can find copies of the research guides there is a slim possibility your serial number might be listed.
The Springfield Model 1884 was one of the last members of the infamous "Trapdoor" Springfield rifles. Although other versions of the "Trapdoor" Springfields were produced after 1884, the Model 1884 was the last major redesign of the Springfield Rifles before the Springfield Armory focused on building thier own Krag Jorgensen Rifle.
The Springfield Model 1884 was based on the earlier Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield Rifle, taking many elements from that and the models that came in between. This meant that, in appearance at least, the Model 1884 had a very similar look to it to the Model 1873. However various tweaks were made to the percussion lock mechanism and the breechblock over the years to the Model 1884, all of which were included on the Model 1884. Among these improvements a new serrated trigger was introduced.
But the most significant difference between the Model 1873 and Model 1884 were the sights, with the Model 1884 being equipped with a brand new "Buffington" rear sight (designed by Lieutenant Colonel R.A. Buffington) although this sight would not be perfected until 1885. This new rear sight was incremented at 200yd intervals ranging from point-blank (barrel top) to 1400yds using a rack and pinion system.
The Model 1884 had a 32.625in (0.83m) long, iron barrel, which had a rifling twist of 1:20in (the optimal twist for the .45-70 Government cartridge). Several examples of the Model 1884 were fitted with a rounded bayonet, a concept which tried to incorporate the bayonet and ramrod into a single unit. There was also an improved retaining mechanism fitted to the Model 1884 and the barrel bands were redesigned to incorporated the new sight system.
The Springfield Model 1884 was chambered to accept the .45-70 Government cartridge, which had been in use since the Springfield Model 1873. Specifically the Model 1884 was issued with the .45-70-500 Cartridge, which had a 500gr bullet.
The Springfield Model 1884, as mentioned earlier, belonged to the string of Springfield "Trapdoor" Rifles. Therefore, like its predecessors, the Model 1884 was further developed with other variations of the design appearing. Although some of these modifications were relatively minor, there are several that are worthy of note (and indeed recognized by Springfield as entirely different models).
The Model 1886 was a modified version of the Model 1884, featuring a modified stock (which had a compartment to store a three-piece ramrod) and a modified extractor. The Model 1886 was shorter than the Model 1884, fitted with a significantly shorter 24in barrel, with 1,000 examples produced.
The major difference between the Model 1884 and Model 1888 was the bayonet. Although many Model 1884s were fitted with a rounded bayonet, all Model 1888s were fitted with a modified version of the ramrod/bayonet combo. This version was more rounded and did not have an effect on the ballistic capabilities of the Model 1888 (unlike previous attempts).
The Model 1884 can also be considered the last of the "Trapdoor" Springfields (despite the fact that a few models were released after it) as it was the final version of the "Trapdoors" to have a major set of modifications made to it. In 1892, after a run of 28 years (with a further loose connection that extended back to 1795 with the Model 1795 Musket being the first Springfield) the "Trapdoor" Springfield Rifle was replaced by the Krag-Jorgensen based Springfield Model 1892, which not only ended the historic line of Springfield's single-shot rifles and muskets but also ended the use of black powder, as smokeless powders came to the fore.
Then buy some FFg grade of real Black Powder or APP and load as Rafe stated. Do not use Tripple 7 or Blackhorn 209. They are a lot hotter than BP and could possible damage the gun. You can use Pyrodex but be ware that it is pretty corrosive and the gun needs to be cleaned well after shooting it.
If you don't reload (like me) just look for ammo that's listed as being safe for a springfield. It's not easy to find, but it is out there. I've read on other message boards that HSMs cowboy ammo is supposed to be safe, but they won't respond to my questions.
Do you want to load your own or are you looking for loaded ammo? The trouble with Trapdoors is the bore size can vary considerably, so using a hollow base bullet can sometimes help accuracy. I have an 1884 rifle myself, fun gun to shoot.
If you don't reload this ammo, Buffalo arms and Ten-X both have loaded 45-70 blackpowder ammo safe for trapdoors, kind of pricey but If you just want to try your Trapdoor out might be a way to go + you will then have brass.
I have 2 trapdoors. Both are original ones I bought at gun shows. One started life as a rifle (1873) that was cut down at the factory and is now a carbine. The other is a rifle (also 1873) that at some point was in a movie studio's inventory. It has "Western" cut into the stock. I guess they're making sure a newbie doesn't pull it for a WW2 movie.
After posting this I looked up the serial numbers of both. Both start with 32xxx. Now I'm wondering if 1873 rifles were even chambered in a metallic cartridge, rather than a paper cartridge and cap like the early Sharps were and later converted to metallic cartridges. No matter I guess since they're both fun to shoot.
Good advice above on loads/suppliers, and here's one on cleaning: Ballistol. It's a gun-cleaning oil that works better than anything else out there. I mix one part Ballistol to eight parts water, and use that to wet cleaning patches. Then, when the bore and action are nice and clean, soak a patch with 100% Ballistol and use it to lube the rifle until the next shoot. This method has brought back neglected weapons from the dead, and has always kept my BP shooters in good, working shape.
After posting this I looked up the serial numbers of both. Both start with 32xxx. Now I'm wondering if 1873 rifles were even chambered in a metallic cartridge, rather than a paper cartridge and cap like the early Sharps were and later converted to metallic cartridges.
If you're asking what I think you're asking, 1873 rifles should have been made new for metallic cartridges. The rifles with earlier dates were originally muzzle loaders that were converted. 1873 was the first model after they ran out of the old stock of weapons. But they might have originally fired copper cases instead of brass. There were lots of problems with the copper cases expanding too much and needing to be extracted manually.
IIRC Custer's troops had trapdoors that were firing copper cartridges. A lot of the copper cases were found over the years by people trying to nail down his troop movements (all of them) before and during the battle. The copper cases would get hot and swell up making the trooper have to use a knife or whatever he could find to pry the fired case out of the rifle. Thanks RG
After the war between the states, Springfield decided to take their inventory of .58 caliber muzzleloaders, and cut the breach and install what they referred to as an "Allin" trapdoor. They also sleeved the barrel to make it a .50 caliber, and it was chambered for the .50-70 cartridge. These were converted muzzleloading rifles. The rifle made in 1873, and beyond, was not a converted muzzleloader, but it was a trapdoor model built from the factory, to be a trapdoor, and it was chambered in the then new .45-70 government cartridge. The new trapdoors had a three position hammer, whereas the old converted muzzleloaders, in .50-70 caliber, had only two. Since we now have a solid head brass shell, instead of the old "balloon head" shell, you probably cannot get 70 grains (by volume) of black powder in the new solid head shells...at least, I can't. If you reload, and use black powder, and if you don't fill up the case with black powder, be sure to use a filler. You do not want any air space between the bottom of the bullet and the black powder. Also, black powder likes to be compressed a little bit. I use Cream of Wheat, as a filler, if I need to use a filler. Also, back in the 1800's, the trapdoor carbine cartridges were not loaded with 70 grains of powder. For the carbines, they used about 55 grains of powder, because the carbines did not weigh as much as the rifles, and would recoil more. I also would recommend the book, being sold by Pat Wolf, that she and her late husband wrote, concerning loading for the trapdoor in .45-70. This can be a pretty accurate rifle, if loaded correctly. It is super fun to shoot, and you get to experience the same shooting sensations as your great-great-great grandmother did, when she was defending the Studebaker Conestoga, or the homestead, while your great-great-great grandpappy was down at the local watering hole, quaffing down a lukewarm concoction they passed off as whiskey.
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