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Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1888 TRAPDOOR .30
Maker/Manufacturer:	ALLIN, ERKSINE S.
Date of Manufacture:
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6030
Measurements:	OL:131.5CM 51 7/8" BL: 82.5CM 32 1/2"

Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1888 TRAPDOOR .30
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. - Modified. Experimental .30 caliber positive cam rifle, serial letter B on top of barrel in front of receiver. This rifle is dated 1891 on both the receiver and breechblock. The receiver date is in the same location normally occupied by a serial number? Swivel missing on lower band. Bands, rear sight, thumbpiece, tang screw, missing.

Markings:
Lock: Eagle. U.S./SPRINGFIELD.
Barrel: B.
Buttplate: US.
Bands: U.

Weapon transferred to the Museum from Frankford Arsenal on 13 March 1899.

1909 Catalog #0475 - "Rifle. Sp'f'd RIfle. Altered to Cal..30. Rec'd from Frankford Arsenal, March 13, 1899."

References: .30 CALIBER EXPERIMENTAL RIFLES - .30 caliber rifles were produced to test new cartridges, and to determine the best barrel steel for the Krag rifle. The Annual Reports of Chief of Ordnance specify the following production figures for the .30 caliber Springfield rifle:
FISCAL YEAR SPRINGFIELD CAL. .30
1890 1*
1891 6
1892 8
*Three additional rifles were produced for the Review Board. Note: 3/3/93. .30 caliber rifle sold to Lt. General Duff Grant for $60.00.
The following partial report, dated October 7, 1890, states that the first barrels were rifled using 3 equal lands and grooves with one turn in 9.5 inches. Evidently, from what was reported, the results were astounding.
The projectile requiring rapid rotation for stability, one turn in 9,5 inches, has been given the rifling of three equal lands and grooves 0.005 inches deep. This combination gives in the small caliber the excellence attained in the .45-70 and possesses marked advantages of manufacture. The chamber has had to conform to the cartridge case, constructed as set forth. The bore, rifling, and chamber established, the remainder of the arm, excepting a reduction of thickness of barrel for the Springfield rifle, is readily determined. With a barrel reduced to about what appears the required thickness and shape, a Springfield rifle has recently made the most perfect target of ten shots ever made at the armory at 1000 yards - every shot in the bull's eye but one, which was just outside it.
In basic design, the rifle mentioned above (serial number 1) has the appearance of a Model 1888 rod bayonet rifle, fitted with a positive cam breech block and a .32.5 inch .30 caliber barrel.
The second rifle was ordered on October 27, 1891, and completed early in 1892. It lacks a ramrod bayonet, but it is not clear if it ever had one. The rifle has a straight rather than tapered receiver, and has the date '1891' at the back of the receiver. The barrel is 32.5 inches long with a large step approximately 1.1 inches in front of the receiver. It is fitted with a thin wood hand guard, and we cataloged 'No. 52 Springfield No. 2' in the Army trials of 1892.
At least 10 of the .30 caliber Springfield rifles were used for ammunition testing for several years after the trials; as confirmed by Springfield and Frankford Arsenal correspondence.
Nine of the original fifteen rifles are known today, five in private collections and four in museums. Possibly the rest were so damaged during the testing program that they were discarded.
LETTERS, NOT SERIAL NUMBERS - The letter stamping on these guns is one of their more interesting characteristics. The letter is found on top of the barrel very close to the receiver. For years the code was a mystery. Now, the following letters imply it was a barrel steel identifier.
The first letter makes it clear the Springfield rebarreled these rifles when requested for testing purposes because the Chief of Ordnance was not willing to produce any more Springfield guns when the new model magazine guns were nearly ready.
'National Armory, Sept. 26, 1893
Respectfully return to the Chief of Ordnance
Sir: With report that there are some .30 caliber barrels of new steel now being made here. These can be finished internally for the maThis course would also be of advantage to the armory, awaiting the completion of some magazine rifles, Model 1892. A. Mordecai, Col. Ord., Comdg.'
'Frankford Arsenal, Pa., Sept. 30, 1893
Respectfully returned to the Chief of Ordnance
To take advantage of the armory (rebarreled old .30 caliber Springfields) in the second endorsement hereon, two Springfield rifles caliber .30 have been shipped to him, by express, today, viz:
'D' field 1,446 times, and 'L' fired 1,196 times.
They are not deemed serviceable, but new barrels are preferred.
With these arms for use here, it is thought the need for the new arms will not be urgent before January 1, 1894. - J.P. Farley, Lt. Col. Of Ord. Comdg.'
The report of the work done on the two rifles is given below. Note the barrels are still referred to by the same letter code, which implies the same barrel steel was used.
'Springfield Armory, Nov. 27, 1893
Respectfully returned to the Chief of Ordnance, U.S.A. Sir: With report that new barrels have been made and fitted to the two arms referred to in the 5th endorsement and they were on the 25th inst. returned by express, to the commanding officer of Frankford Arsenal.
These barrels are constructed as suggested in the 2nd endorsement. The one attached to rifle 'D' (4th Endorsement) is of nickel steel containing 25% nickel; it was offered the armory, for trial, by the Winchester Arms Co., of New Haven.
The barrel of rifle 'L' is one of those of Swedish steel referred to in O.O. File 3798 c.s. It is requested that this office may be advised of the working of these barrels.
Rifle 'D' was completed and returned to Frankford Arsenal on the 23rd ult., but was sent back to the Armory so that the chamber might be reamed up to the standard gauge now in use. - A. Mordecai, Col. Ord. Dept., Comdg.'
Rifles 'D' and 'L' appear in print again about six months later in a letter from Frankford Arsenal:
'Frankford Arsenal, Pa. April 13, 1894.
…Regarding the Springfield experimental rifles 'D' and 'L' referred to in the 6th endorsement, the former has been fired since November 29th, 1,949 rounds principally with Troisdorf and new Wetterein powders. This rifle 'D' has not been used of late to any extent for velocity tests, but principally in tests of cartridge metals and primers.
The fact that this arm gave a certain charge of Trosidorf powder a velocity on December 8th, of 1957.1 f.s. and again in March 1894, with the same charge, 1863.4 f.s. led to the inference that the bore had between these dates somewhat deteriorated.
The 'L' rifle was in January 18, 1894, loaned to the Leonard Smokeless Powder Co. in compliance with directions from the Ordnance Office (O.O. File No. 3 Jan. 10, 1894) - J.P. Farley, Lt. Col. Of Ord., Comdg.'
The fate of Rifle 'E' is described in the following memo from the master armorer to the commanding officer of the Armory. Possibly this arm and other arms with similar damage were disassembled and discarded since the damage was not repairable:
'Commanding Officer
Sir: I have the honor to report that I have carefully examined the .30 caliber Springfield rifle received from Frankford Arsenal the 17th inst. The chamber of the barrel is swelled or enlarged 9/1000 of an inch. The hole for tenon of barrel is swelled or enlarged 5/1000 of an inch, above standard plug. The receiver is cracked over the recess for ejector spring and the spread across the outside of ears for joint is 6/1000 of an inch. The barrel was marked letter 'E' August 2nd, 1892 or at the time the receiver was put on same. - Samuel W. Porter, Master Armorer.'
Thus the author has not obtained any further information about specific guns, but at least the mystery of the barrel lengths has been solved. Obviously the number of barrels produced will not1891 - 8 extra - 30 barrels produced
1892 - 35 extra - 30 barrels produced
1893 - 21 extra - 30 barrels produced
1 .30 barrel 1.25 inches in die
1 .30 barrel 2.25 inches in die
20 - .30 barrels 1st turned
20 - .30 barrels 1st drilled.
2 - .30 pressure barrels, complete
5 - .30 caliber firing pins.
Evidently somewhere around 100 barrels were made. It is difficult to judge how many were intended for .30 caliber Springfield ammunition testing and how many for the magazine gun." - Frasca



See, Waite & Ernst, TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD, Beinfield Publishing Co., 1980, pg. 151.

References:
Frasca, Albert J. THE .45-70 SPRINGFIELD BOOK II. 1865-1893. Frasca Publishing Co. Springfield, Oh. 1997.