Geronimo’s Rifle - The 1868 Springfield

The Model 1875 Officer's Pattern Trapdoor Springfield was a high-end sporting rifle produced by Springfield Armory, featuring extensive engraving and a pistol grip. It offered a standardized 'fancy' model for officers, streamlining custom orders. Key features include a single set trigger for precision, a Beach combination front sight, and a tang aperture sight.

This review celebrates the 150th anniversary of the iconic Trapdoor Springfield rifle, chambered in .45-70. It details the evolution from muzzleloaders to breech-loaders, comparing carbine and rifle variants and discussing historical ammunition issues like copper case expansion. The video highlights the rifle's significance in the American West and its mechanism, noting its service until the adoption of the Krag-Jørgensen.

The 1873 Springfield Trapdoor was the US military's first widely adopted metallic cartridge breech-loader, serving from 1873 to 1892. It fired the .45-70 Government cartridge, initially with a 405-grain bullet and 70 grains of black powder. Collectors must use 'Trapdoor Safe' ammunition, as modern high-pressure loads can damage these antique firearms. The rifle's design features a hinged breech block and an effective ejection mechanism, though early versions faced issues with copper casings.

This review details the First Pattern 1865 Allin Conversion, the initial Trapdoor Springfield variant. It highlights the post-Civil War need for breech-loading conversions of surplus .58 caliber muzzleloaders. The design by Erskine Allin involved cutting the barrel to insert a breech block, initially using a .58 rimfire cartridge before later models adopted .50 and .45 caliber rounds.

This review of the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield Carbine highlights its historical significance and practical use. Hickok45 details its military adoption, the transition to .45-70 caliber, and its role on the frontier. The video also provides practical advice on identifying original carbines and emphasizes using appropriate ammunition for preservation.

This video debunks Springfield Armory's 'Since 1794' claim, revealing the modern company was founded in 1971 after the original national armory closed. While the current company produces iconic firearms like the M1A and 1911, its only connection to the 1794 entity is the name. The historical Springfield Armory was a national facility involved in musket production and R&D until its closure in 1968.

This video demonstrates the critical failure of a Bulgarian Arsenal SLR104 AK-74 variant when subjected to a mud test. Despite its platform's reputation, the rifle experienced immediate failures to go into battery, eject, and feed due to mud ingress. Repeated attempts to clear the weapon revealed significant friction and a complete mechanical stoppage, highlighting potential reliability issues under extreme conditions.

This video details the anatomy and historical use of 1700s grenades, focusing on their components like the external fuse and internal charge. It demonstrates the ignition process using a slow match and highlights the safety precautions necessary when handling replicas. The content also briefly showcases the hand mortar as an alternative deployment method for these early explosive devices.

This video provides a detailed instructional guide on applying a Gaza-style tourniquet, emphasizing proper technique for effective hemorrhage control. It highlights the importance of initial strap tightening before using the windlass for occlusion and securing it properly. The content also touches upon patient comfort and potential challenges during application.

This video details the historical loading process for the 1836 Colt Paterson revolver. It covers the unique disassembly required, including removing the barrel wedge and the barrel itself. The process involves setting the cylinder to half-cock, charging each chamber with 20 grains of powder and a lead ball, and using a specialized arbor tool to seat the projectile before capping and reassembly.