The "Trapdoor" Springfield: From the Little Bighorn to San Juan Hill

Very nice detailed book. Great info and very nice pictures :)

good information on this weapon

great info.... great pics

The U.S. Army got a lot smaller and a whole lot poorer in terms of funding following the conclusion of the Civil War. In particular, the Army finished the war with thousands of perfectly serviceable but technologically obsolete muzzle-loading rifles. The solution: a breech-loading modification that extended the life of the Springfield rifle through the last of the Indian wars to the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th Century.The development of the "trapdoor" Springfield is carefully analyzed in the opening third of this Osprey Weapon Series entry, including initial and subsequent modifications. The remaining two-thirds of the book is devoted to the use of the trapdoor Springfield in combat. The narrative provides quick snapshots of the Springfield in action in various conflicts in the American West, Cuba, and the Philippines. There is a good selection of period photographs, diagrams, and modern illustrations. A concluding chapter provides some perspective. Well recommended as a concise introduction to a weapon of long and lethal service.

well written and researched