Springfield Trapdoor, Berdan Conversion

[Coyote3855]

The museum were I volunteer has a nice collection of Trapdoor Springfields. A recent donation stymied me for days until I happened to run across a reference to a .58 Berdan rimfire cartridge. That led to a single expired listing on Guns International for a Berdan Conversion of an 1864 Springfield that was identical to our rifle. I can find no other information on this apparently rare variation. Any information from the experts here will be much appreciated.

I'm away from the museum, but will post pictures next week.

Here's a link to the GI listing.

Springfield Very Rare Cartridge Conversion Musket - One of a Kind?

Springfield Very Rare Cartridge Conversion Musket - One of a Kind? for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like a First Allin Conversion.
NRA article at.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Origins Of The 'Trapdoor' Springfield: The Allin Conversions

Though little known today, the “Allin Conversions” and the other early “Trapdoor Springfields” represent an important part of the evolution of U.S. military small arms.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[Coyote3855]

Sounds like a First Allin Conversion.
NRA article at.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Origins Of The 'Trapdoor' Springfield: The Allin Conversions

Though little known today, the “Allin Conversions” and the other early “Trapdoor Springfields” represent an important part of the evolution of U.S. military small arms.

www.americanrifleman.org

Thanks for the link, Jim, but it's not an Allin conversion. The Museum has examples of both the 1865 and 1866 Allins. Check the pictures in the link I provided against the pictures in yours. The only similarity is that both take a .58 caliber rimfire cartridge. Well, that and the fact that both were alterations of original 1864 Springfield rifled muskets.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, darn, it isn't a standard Allin, I looked too quick.
Likely just another conversion that didn't sell.

 

[Coyote3855]

The only ones I was familiar with were the Allins until I went down this rabbit hole. As you suggest, there were many that proved no competition to the Allins.
I don't have an empty .58 rimfire to check so I can't figure out how the ejector works if there is one.

 

[Coyote3855]

Thanks to John Spangler and Edward Hull of the American Society of Arms Collectors, we now know the rifle is a conversion of a .58 caliber Springfield rifle musket to a breechloader based on Isaac M. Milbank's patent 61082 of January 8, 1867. Apparently rare as Mr. Hull is a noted expert on trapdoor conversions. He was unfamiliar with this particular modification. It is chambered in .58 Berdan rimfire according to the collector who donated it to the museum. He also claimed to have had a .58 Berdan rimfire in his collection. However, the only Berdan .58 cartridges I can find online are centerfire. Some of the mystery remains.