Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this historic single-shot rifle today for a penny start auction, this is the Springfield Model 1866 “Second Allin Conversion”!
Following the Civil War, Army Ordnance sought a cost effective way of altering the large inventory of serviceable .58 caliber muzzle-loading rifle-muskets into breech-loading rifles chambered for a self-primed metallic cartridge. Springfield Armory Master Armorer, Erskine S. Allin was assigned that task. He developed a design to cut open the breech of old rifle-musket barrels and attach a “trapdoor” hinged breech mechanism for loading, firing and ejecting the cartridge.
Following the Civil War, Army Ordnance sought a cost effective way of altering the large inventory of serviceable .58 caliber muzzle-loading rifle-muskets into breech-loading rifles chambered for a self-primed metallic cartridge. Springfield Armory Master Armorer, Erskine S. Allin was assigned that task. He developed a design to cut open the breech of old rifle-musket barrels and attach a “trapdoor” hinged breech mechanism for loading, firing and ejecting the cartridge.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Springfield
Model: 1866 “Second Allin Conversion”
Serial: No Serial
Date of Manufacture: 1864
Caliber: .50-70 Government
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 32 1/2"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Adjustable Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Straight Grip Walnut Stock
Action: Single Shot Trapdoor
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Ordnance Department evaluated the M1865 and developed an improved variant that was easier to make and more reliable than Allin’s initial design. It was built from converted M1863 muzzleloading rifle-muskets and featured a center-fire cartridge with markedly improved ballistics over the earlier, ponderous .58-cal. rimfire round.
Adopted as the “Model of 1866,” the rifle was modified from its original muzzleloading configuration by milling out the rear portion of the barrel and fastening a hinged “Trapdoor”-type breechblock. But the M1866’s breechblock was much less complicated and more reliable in operation than the M1865’s. The original .58-cal. barrel was retained, but was reamed out to approximately .64-cal. and an iron sleeve was brazed in place.
It was then rifled to .50 cal. for use with the new, center-fire .50-70 Gov’t cartridge. The breech block was dated “1866” (above an eagle head marking). The original Civil War vintage lockplates were retained, and examples dated “1863,” “1864” or “1865” may be noted. The original ramrod and leather sling were retained, and the M1855 bayonet remained in use. Except for milling out the rear of the barrel, adding the hinged breechblock and sleeving the barrel, the M1866 rifle was virtually identical to the former M1863.
Some 52,000 M1866 rifles were manufactured (a more accurate term would be “converted”) at Springfield between 1867 and 1869. Approximately half this number were sent to Europe for use in the Franco-Prussian War. The remaining 26,000 (approximately) M1866 .50-70 Gov’t rifles were issued to units of the U.S. military, and many were utilized in the American West.
The new breechloading rifle soon proved its mettle on July 31, 1867, when 28 U.S. Army soldiers armed with M1866s held off a vastly numerically superior force of Sioux Indians. The troops were on a woodcutting detail close to Fort Phil Kearny, Wyo. The soldiers turned over their wagons for cover, and the engagement was soon known as the “Wagon Box Fight.”
The small group of soldiers, armed with the new M1866 rifle, inflicted a number of causalities on the Indians. It is widely assumed that the outcome would have been much different if the troops had been armed with obsolete muzzleloaders. This and other engagements conclusively proved the worth of the breechloader to any but the most myopic observer.
In 1867 and 1868, 1,500 refurbished M1866 rifles with barrels damaged near the muzzle were salvaged by cutting about 4” from the ends of the barrels and fitting them to shortened M1863 rifle stocks. The modified arms, typically known today as “Model of 1866 Short Rifles” were then sold in Europe, but were not issued to American troops.
Likewise, 424 short M1866 “Cadet” Rifles were also fabricated at Springfield for use by military schools, including West Point. The “Short Rifles” and “Cadet Rifles” can usually be identified by the armory-quality workmanship of the shortened stocks and the proper spacing of the barrel bands. Thousands of other surplus M1866s were cut-down by Bannerman’s and others. Such commercially altered rifles are much more common (and much less valuable) than the products of the Springfield Armory.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: 1866 “Second Allin Conversion”
Serial: No Serial
Date of Manufacture: 1864
Caliber: .50-70 Government
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 32 1/2"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Adjustable Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Straight Grip Walnut Stock
Action: Single Shot Trapdoor
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Ordnance Department evaluated the M1865 and developed an improved variant that was easier to make and more reliable than Allin’s initial design. It was built from converted M1863 muzzleloading rifle-muskets and featured a center-fire cartridge with markedly improved ballistics over the earlier, ponderous .58-cal. rimfire round.
Adopted as the “Model of 1866,” the rifle was modified from its original muzzleloading configuration by milling out the rear portion of the barrel and fastening a hinged “Trapdoor”-type breechblock. But the M1866’s breechblock was much less complicated and more reliable in operation than the M1865’s. The original .58-cal. barrel was retained, but was reamed out to approximately .64-cal. and an iron sleeve was brazed in place.
It was then rifled to .50 cal. for use with the new, center-fire .50-70 Gov’t cartridge. The breech block was dated “1866” (above an eagle head marking). The original Civil War vintage lockplates were retained, and examples dated “1863,” “1864” or “1865” may be noted. The original ramrod and leather sling were retained, and the M1855 bayonet remained in use. Except for milling out the rear of the barrel, adding the hinged breechblock and sleeving the barrel, the M1866 rifle was virtually identical to the former M1863.
Some 52,000 M1866 rifles were manufactured (a more accurate term would be “converted”) at Springfield between 1867 and 1869. Approximately half this number were sent to Europe for use in the Franco-Prussian War. The remaining 26,000 (approximately) M1866 .50-70 Gov’t rifles were issued to units of the U.S. military, and many were utilized in the American West.
The new breechloading rifle soon proved its mettle on July 31, 1867, when 28 U.S. Army soldiers armed with M1866s held off a vastly numerically superior force of Sioux Indians. The troops were on a woodcutting detail close to Fort Phil Kearny, Wyo. The soldiers turned over their wagons for cover, and the engagement was soon known as the “Wagon Box Fight.”
The small group of soldiers, armed with the new M1866 rifle, inflicted a number of causalities on the Indians. It is widely assumed that the outcome would have been much different if the troops had been armed with obsolete muzzleloaders. This and other engagements conclusively proved the worth of the breechloader to any but the most myopic observer.
In 1867 and 1868, 1,500 refurbished M1866 rifles with barrels damaged near the muzzle were salvaged by cutting about 4” from the ends of the barrels and fitting them to shortened M1863 rifle stocks. The modified arms, typically known today as “Model of 1866 Short Rifles” were then sold in Europe, but were not issued to American troops.
Likewise, 424 short M1866 “Cadet” Rifles were also fabricated at Springfield for use by military schools, including West Point. The “Short Rifles” and “Cadet Rifles” can usually be identified by the armory-quality workmanship of the shortened stocks and the proper spacing of the barrel bands. Thousands of other surplus M1866s were cut-down by Bannerman’s and others. Such commercially altered rifles are much more common (and much less valuable) than the products of the Springfield Armory.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
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Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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