Description
In 1873 the Army’s Allin Trapdoor rifle was redesigned for the new more powerful .45-70 military cartridge and both full-stocked 32” barreled rifles and half-stocked short-barreled carbines were produced for the military. It was with their new 1873 Trapdoor Carbines that Custer and the 7th Cavalry rode off to the Little Big Horn and into the pages of history. The Trapdoor was also very popular with many famous Indian warriors. Sitting Bull was carrying a Trapdoor carbine that was probably picked up at the Little Big Horn when he surrendered to American troops. Geronimo was also carrying his faithful Trapdoor carbine when he turned over his arms to General Miles in 1886. Along with seeing service on both sides during the Indian Wars in the American West, the Trapdoor was used widely by American Troops during the Spanish American War, both in Cuba and the Philippines.