Breechloader Miscellany - Springfield Armory National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) (original) (raw)

Case 21

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Around the time of the Civil War many private gun makers were experimenting with breech-loading rifles. Some continued to use paper cartridges; others used metallic. The secret was to build a breech mechanism that could withstand and contain the explosion of the gun powder. For the safety of the soldier, and to get the most efficiency out of the cartridge, the breech had to be sealed tightly to prevent the escape of gases, yet the weapon had to be capable of being reloaded quickly and not jamming. After the War, Springfield undertook production of some of these weapons in addition to their Trapdoor models.

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This was Springfield Armory's first bolt-action rifle.

courtesy: private collection

M1871 Ward-Burton Rifle SPAR1613 .50 caliber, 1871, 1327 made. This weapon was the result of an effort to develop a bolt-action military rifle.

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Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Lee Rifle SPAR4103 .45 caliber, 1875, 143 made. Essentially an experimental rifle, this weapon was developed by James P. Lee.

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Last updated: February 26, 2015