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Title:PISTOL -  U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1869 TRAPDOOR .50-45
Maker/Manufacturer:ALLIN, ERSKINE S.
Date of Manufacture:1869
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:SPAR 50
Measurements:OL: 46.9CM 18 1/2" BL: 22.8CM 9" 4 3/4 lbs.

Object Description:

U.S. PISTOL MODEL 1869 TRAPDOOR .50-45
Manufactured at Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. in December, 1869 - Experimental single-shot, breechloading pistol. Made from a cut-down M1868 "Trapdoor" rifle. Stock is made of three separate pieces of wood, with brass buttcap and backstrap. Barrel, barrel-band and triggerguard retain 90% of original bluing. Rear sight consists of a "V' notch in the receiver and breechblock hinge. Front sight raised 1/8" higher than rifle sight. Weapon weighs approximately 4 3/4 lbs. One of two specimens known to exist.

Markings:
Lock: 1863 behind hammer. U.S./SPRINGFIELD forward of hammer.
Top breechblock: 1869/Eagle head/U.S.
Top receiver: DEC/1869.
Stock: ESA on left side.

1909 Catalog #6014 - "Pistol. Sp'f'd Breech Loading Rifled Pistol. Experimental Mod. 1868. Cal..50, 1869. Showing Sp'f'd breech system. Brass butt plate, high front sight."

Exhibit label: "M1869 Springfield Trapdoor Pistol .50 caliber 1869 - limited. The experimental trapdoor pistol used the parts from the .50 caliber trapdoor rifle. Its weight, almost five pounds, powerful recoil, and the fact that cartridge revolvers were being issued to the military precluded its adoption."

Notes: It is believed this pistol was manufactured as a means of affording the Cavalry trooper with a weapon delivering more fire power than his revolver. This pistol, with .50-45-350 Cadet cartridge loaded with three or four pellets, gave the trooper a better chance of hitting an Indian than the conventional revolver.
In the early days of motion pictures, "pirates" were often armed with pistols built from surplus "Trapdoor" rifle and carbine parts. This accounts for the rather large number of Springfield "Trapdoor" pistols still found today.

"...I wish you also cause to be prepared as soon as convenient prior to March 1, 1870, a carbine and single barreled pistol with the same of similar breech block as is now used in the Springfield musket, and capable of using the same identical cartridge. I do not suppose one can literally use a musket cartridge in the carbine and pistol, but each could could use the same caliber, the same copper case, the powder alone varying in quantity, but the strength of parts should be adjusted so that in emergencies the carbine and pistol could use the musket cartridge." - General W. Sherman, December 1, 1869

- "The design was suggested by General William Sherman. Two pistols were produced for testing. This pistol has its receiver reduced in thickness, an elevated front sight and its lock plate dated 1853. A short 1 3/8" band spring on the bottom of the stock retains the barrel band. The trigger guard is very narrow….
The receiver is stamped 'DEC/1869.' The breech block is stamped '1869/Eagle/Arrows/U.S. The rear sight consists of a 'V' notch in the receiver and breech block hinge….The pistol has an ESA cartouche and another very faint rectangular cartouche. From the hole locations in the cartouched area, there was a metal tag nailed in the stock at one time. It is assumed the stock, less the pistol grip, was made from a Civil War musket. The front sight is rather large in size and was extended in height during testing." - Frasca

"The .50 caliber Allin style pistol has been a topic of conjecture for many years. Collectors have found a number of pistols made from Allin rifle parts, and most show extremely poor workmanship, obviously not an Armory product. One logical reason for their existence is the Hollywood movie industry. With availability of parts in the 1950s, the studios made or had made a number of 'pirate' pistols. From a distance, the trap-door pistol was an ideal choice....
This accounts for most of the trap-door pistols seen on tables at various collector meetings. However, there are only two Springfield made .50 caliber pistols using the Model 1868 breech system and possibly two in .36 caliber. One of the .50 caliber pistols is in the Smithsonian collection and one is in the Springfield Armory collection." - Albert J. Frasca

"In the breech loading pistol, the forward
Benton's Book of Experiments - "Col Benton fired new BL pistol at 50 & 100 yards for accuracy. The front sight having been raised 1/8 inch. 45 gr powder in musket shell. 450 grm bullet with wad between ball and powder. Shots all struck at point aimed at 50 yds - and about 10 inches below point aimed at for the 100 yds. target."

"One of the rarest experimental pieces in the collection, and perhaps one the best known, is the Springfield 'trap door' pistol. The huge and ungainly piece has long been a subject of interest to arms historians, and much has been written about it - not all of which is correct. As a result the weapon is still shrouded in mystery." - William E. Meuse, NPS Curator, 1985

LOAN HISTORY:
ARMY #1868 - WEAPON LOANED TO MR. E.A. REED, CARLISLE HARDWARE STORE, MAIN ST., SPRINGFIELD, MA. 5/13 TO 5/20.

See, Frasca, THE .45-70 SPRINGFIELD. BOOK II. 1865-1893. pp. 80, 82; Waite & Ernst, TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD, Beinfeld Publishing Co., 1980, pg. 13.

References:
Ball, Robert W.D. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY: SHOULDER WEAPONS 1795-1968. Antique Trader Book. Norfolk, Va. 1997.
Clark, David C. Ed.. ARMS FOR THE NATION. Scott A. Duff. Export, Pa. 1992.
Frasca, Albert J. & Robert H. Hill. 1909 CATALOG OF THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MUSEUM ARMS & ACCOUTERMENTS. Revised. Springfield Publishing Co. Carson City, Nv. 1995.
Frasca, Albert J. THE .45-70 SPRINGFIELD. BOOK II. 1865-1893. Frasca Publishing Co. Springfield, Oh. 1997.
Waite, M.D. & B.D. Ernst. TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD. Beinfeld Publishing Co. North Hollywood, Ca. 1980.

The Model 1869 Trapdoor pistol transferred to the Smithsonian is illustrated in THE PITMAN NOTES...Vol. Five. 1909 Catalog #6013 and Army #1867.

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