Trapdoors - Down Range

The term “trapdoor” is a generic name for several models of U.S. Army rifles, starting with the little-known Model 1865 .58 Rimfire, then the Model 1866, and eventually the Models 1868 and 1870.

- Mike Venturino

Those last three were all chambered for .50 Government (1.75-inch case), commonly called .50-70 today. By 1873 the essential trapdoor idea was remodeled for use on the Models 1873 and 1884. These were chambered for .45 Government (2.10-inch case), known today as .45-70.

A fact about trapdoors that has led to considerable confusion over the past 150 years is their model stampings combined with their many subvariations. For instance, there are several subvariations of trapdoor .45 carbines. There are references to Models 1873, 1877, 1879 and 1884. They all differ, but the only markings put on them were “Model 1873” and “Model 1884,” as found on the top front of the breech block. The same is true with rifles, despite oddities such as an 1888 version with ramrod bayonets being made to the tune of 65,000.