Tags: Weapon.
The Springfield Model 1868 was one of several model trapdoor Springfields which used the trapdoor breechblock design developed by Erskine S. Allin. Originally the trapdoor Springfields were created to convert Model 1863 Springfield rifled muskets to breech loading rifles at a relatively low cost. This conversion consisted of replacing the percussion lock with the breech loading trapdoor mechanism and relining the barrels to convert them from .58 to .50 caliber.
