Trapdoor mechanism
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In firearms, a trapdoor is a form of breech-loading mechanism for rifles in which a hinged breechblock rotates up and forward, resembling the movement of a trapdoor. The Springfield models 1865 and 18
Springfield Model 1888, trapdoor mechanism open
Drawing from Erskine S. Allin's patent for the Springfield Model 1865's trapdoor mechanism.
Springfield Model 1866, trapdoor breech closed
Berdan rifle
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The Berdan rifle is a single-shot rifle created by American engineer and inventor Hiram Berdan in 1868. It was the service rifle of the Imperial Russian Army from 1870 when it replaced the Krnka to 18
Trapdoor mechanism
…1866. After his trapdoor design was rejected in the US Army trials, Hiram Berdan worked with Russian officers Alexander Gorlov and K. U. Gunius on the Berdan rifle for the Imperial Russian Army. The Model 1869 rifle (also known as the Berdan No .1) used Berdan's hinged breechblock while the sliding striker (which…
From top to bottom: infantry, dragoon, and cossack variants