Description
The Springfield Model 1884 was a breech-loading rifle designed by Springfield Armory and used by the United States Army. It was a refinement of the earlier Model 1873 “Trapdoor” Springfield rifle and was chambered for the .45-70 Government cartridge. The “trapdoor” nickname comes from the hinged breechblock at the rear of the weapon, which could be opened to load a single round.
The Model 1884 featured improvements over its predecessor, including a new rear sight, an improved retaining mechanism for the breechblock, and a modified extractor. It served as the standard-issue rifle for the U.S. military from the mid-1880s until it was gradually replaced by the bolt-action Krag-Jørgensen rifle starting in the late 1890s.
The .45-70 Government cartridge used in the Model 1884 was a powerful black powder cartridge, originally developed for use in the Springfield Model 1873. It remained in service for many years and is still used today by some shooters and hunters, albeit in modern firearms.
