No historical US military firearm has stirred as much controversy as to how many, if any, were produced and if any extant examples are actually real, than the US Model 1868 Trapdoor Pistol. The origins of the pistol can be traced to correspondence from General of the Army William Tecumseh Sherman to the Ordnance Department dated 1 December 1869 that read in part: "...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 or 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 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." As a result of that communication, it is generally believed that a small number of trials “trapdoor” pistols were constructed in .50CF using modified US Model 1869 Cadet Rifle breechblocks, shortened barrels, some specialized furniture and newly made stocks. 

Some references suggest that as many as 50 of these “Trapdoor Pistols” were manufactured, while others posit that only a handful (or less) were made, and some authors feel none were ever produced. The debate about surviving legitimate examples rages as well, with most sources suggesting that only two "real" examples exist, one in the Springfield Armory collection (SPAR 50) and one at the Smithsonian. Noted Trapdoor researcher, scholar, collector and author Al Frasca writes in his book The .45-70 Springfield Book II 1865-1893 that only two such pistols were produced at Springfield Arsenal in 1869 and shows detailed photos of the gun in the Springfield Arsenal collection as well as providing exacting detailed dimensions and notes from his inspection of that example. He refers to these guns as Model 1868 Pistols, despite the fact that the suggestion they be made and the year that they were made was 1869.

From Al Frasca’s examination we know that the modified 1869 Cadet Rifle receivers were marked D E C over 1869 on the top of the breech, referring to the December of 1869 production of these guns and the breech block has the same {Eagle Head} over {Crossed Arrows} over U.S. as found on other M1869 breech blocks. The locks were the same repurposed musket locks used in the production of many of the early Trapdoor alteration arms, and the example he examined had an 1863 dated Springfield lock. He noted that the barrel was a cut down rifle barrel that utilized the muzzle end, thus no proofs were present at the breech as it was cut off. The barrel measured 9” in length and was .786” in diameter at the muzzle. The was secured by a single barrel band which was retained by a 1 3/8” band spring under the forend. He noted that a tall front sight was attached to the top of the barrel .3125” from the muzzle and sat upon a 1” base, although those measurements may be in error based upon their appearance in the photos. It is worth noting, when discussing the front sight, that apparently the gun that was tested during the Schofield Board trials in 1870 shot quite high during the initial trials and the front sight blade was increased in height by at least 1/8” to try to bring the point of aim and point of impact into a reasonable relationship at the 50-yard distance. Al further noted that the rear sight was a simple notch in the receiver and hinge. He also noted that the stock was a two-piece affair, believing that the grip was added to an otherwise cut down musket stock. He noted that the example examined had two faint cartouches, one not fully legible and the other the script ESA of Erskine S Allin. As the gun was made from a number of modified Civil War era musket parts, it is quite possible that these cartouches date to the original production of the musket in 1863-1864 rather than being inspection marks applied to the test pistol when it was assembled. He noted that the triggerguard bow was thinned down in width, to about 7/8” at its widest point. Flayderman notes much of the same information and further suggests that a number of the receivers were made up, but that only a very small number of guns were assembled, so there were likely some original receivers available to produce high quality copies of the experimental pistol nearly 100 years after the first two were mad. This makes sense as a handful of exceptionally high-quality examples are known that were produced from what appear to be original Model 1868 pistol receivers, that were probably obtained from Springfield Arsenal in the 1950s or 1960s when the arsenal was regularly disposing of old items and parts from the Indian War era through the World War I era in their dumpsters. It is well known that several old-time collectors went “dumpster diving” at Springfield during this time to rescue these pieces and parts that might be of use to collectors in the restoration or repair of Springfield firearms.

The Model 1868 Trapdoor Pistol offered here is almost certainly one of the exceptionally detailed copies made from mostly original parts in the 1950s or 1960s. It is worth noting that an essentially identical example to this gun was sold at auction a few years ago and was previously in the famous Willima Locke Collection. That gun is pictured in Frank Sellers' book The William Locke Collection on page 257. The receiver of the pistol offered here appears to be one of the original ones that Flayderman references, with the gun built around it to rather exacting specifications. However, the use of the one-piece stock and some minute differences in measurements when compared to the Springfield Armory collection example and some very slight differences in the machining of the rear sight groove suggest that this is simply an exceptional replica, and not a third surviving example. However, the gun is so well constructed, using almost exclusively period parts, and displays so well, that it is certainly extremely convincing and likely as close as any collector will ever get to owning a real experiential Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor Pistol.

As noted, the pistol is constructed from one of the original pistol receivers and as such is correctly marked DEC over 1869 on the top of the chamber and 1869/{Eagle Head}/{Crossed Arrows}/US on the breechblock. The hinge and block have a rear sight notch machined in them and the breech block is the correct short arch block with a spring-loaded firing pin. The lock is a modified US Model 1864 Rifle Musket lock with the usual {Spread-Winged Eagle} and U.S./SPRINGFIELD markings forward of the hammer. The lock is dated 1864 at the tail. The hammer has the correct well executed shield shaped checkering on the spur and has been correctly modified from its percussion profile to cartridge. The tumbler is of the correct 2-click pattern, the trigger has the correct smooth face and the triggerguard bow has been correctly thinned to a nominal maximum width of 7/8”. The shortened rifle barrel is 9” and is chambered for the .50-70 cartridge, although the intended loading was actually the .50-45-450 carbine loading rather than .50-70-450 loading used in the military rifle. The barrel is correctly secured with a single barrel band which has a correct, short band spring that measures 1 3/8” as it should. The lock is finished bright with the barrel, barrel band and band spring blued, the receiver is blackened and the breech block case hardened. The backstrap and butt cap are of brass, as is correct. The most obvious feature that is not correct is that the stock is expertly made from a single piece of wood and is not pieced. A couple of far less obvious features that do not conform to Al Frasca’s measurements are that the front sight base is slightly shorter than the example that he examined, and it located slightly farther back from the muzzle. However, visually neither of these features is apparent when compared to the photos in his book. The muzzle diameter of this example is also very slightly larger than the Springfield sample. He notes the muzzle diameter of the Springfield example was .786”, while this example is .816”, again a difference that is so tiny it is not visible when compared to the photos of the Springfield gun.

The pistol remains in FINE condition and retains about 50% of the original thinning blue on the barrel, which has blended with a moderately oxidized plum brown patina. The metal is mostly smooth with some lightly scattered minor surface roughens and freckling. The lock has a medium pewter gray patina with scattered oxidized surface freckling and discoloration. The brass backstrap and butt cap have a rich, uncleaned butterscotch patina. The markings on the lock and breech still remain fully legible and clear. No inspection marks are present in the wood. The pistol remains fully functional mechanically with both the lock and breech system working exactly as they should. The bore of the pistol is in about good to very good condition. It shows evenly distributed light pitting with shallow three groove rifling and some scattered oxidation and frosting. The stock is in fine condition and is quite crisp with fine lines and edges and fine wood to metal fit. The wood shows some lightly scattered handling marks and minor mars, but remains very crisp and has a rich, uncleaned patina that suggests the wood is much older than the pistol probably is.

With only two authentic examples of the US Model 1868 Trapdoor Pistol known to exist, and both in institutional collections, there is simply no chance for any collector to ever own one of those guns. As such, for the advanced collector of US military handguns, Trapdoor firearms or Springfield Armory weapons, an exacting replica like this that is made primarily from original parts is as close as they can ever hope to come. This is such a finely made example that it took intense examination and meticulous measurements to confirm it was not actually real. It is generally believed that only about a half dozen of these amazing copies were produced from original Springfield parts in the 1950s or 1960s. As noted, this example is exactly like the one in the Locke Collection, which was arguably one of the most famous firearms collections ever assembled. I am quite confident that you will be extremely pleased to add this gun to your collection of Indian War era arms. It is almost impossible to find one of these exacting copies and of course an authentic example is unobtainable, so this wonderful gun will be a fantastic stand in to fill that hole in your collection.

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