The Springfield Model 1882 Short Rifle was a trapdoor rifle based on the design of the
Springfield Model 1873. It is usually referred to as a "short rifle" but is sometimes called a "carbine".
History and Design
The Model 1882 was an experiment by Springfield Armory. Its main goal was to combine the carbine and rifle into a single arm which they called the "short rifle" (a concept which the U.S. Army would not accept until the adoption of the
M1903 Springfield
The M1903 Springfield, officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903, is an American five-round magazine-fed, bolt-action service repeating rifle, used primarily during the first half of the 20th century.
The M1903 was first ...
). It was hoped that this one single arm could then supply the needs of the infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
The rifle was produced with a 28-inch barrel. Two versions were made, one with a full stock and a cleaning rod like the standard rifle, and another with a triangular ramrod bayonet similar to the one that had been used on the
Springfield Model 1880. Only 26 of each type were manufactured.
["Uniforms, arms, and equipment: the U.S. Army on the Western Frontier, 1880-1892" By Douglas C. McChristian]
The rifle was sent out for field trials in the spring of 1882. The rifle failed to impress military commanders, and was not seen as an improvement on existing arms. Development of a single rifle for infantry, cavalry, and artillery would continue in the
Springfield Model 1886 Carbine.
See also
*
Springfield rifle
The term Springfield rifle may refer to any one of several types of small arms produced by the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the United States armed forces.
In modern usage, the term "Springfield rifle" most commonly refer ...
References
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Early rifles
Rifles of the United States
Hinged breechblock rifles
Springfield firearms