The 58 and 50 Calibre Rifles and Carbines of the Springfield Armoury, 1865 - 1872. Hosmer.
The .58- and .50-Caliber Rifles and Carbines of the Springfield Armory, 1865-1872
To date, there has been no single research source for information about the post-Civil War small arms that led to the selection of the .45-70 Springfield rifle and carbine. Yet these rifles and carbines bore the brunt of fighting in the early part of the Indian Wars. Today, they are popular with firearms collectors but who find little information to aid in determining their authenticity.
Richard A. Hosmer, a well-known collector of this period, has written a concise and comprehensive text on each of the eighteen rifles and carbines that were developed at the Springfield National Armory during this seven year period and field-tested by the U.S. Army during years that saw some of the most intense fighting in the West.
Of these eighteen arms, five rifles and one carbine were adopted and issued for general service; three were issued to the cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The remaining seven rifles and two carbines were issued for various periods of field testing. They were all variations of the Allin “trapdoor,” Remington, Sharps, Spencer, and Ward-Burton breech loading systems. All are extremely historical arms.
Mr. Hosmer’s book provides a detailed description of each rifle and carbine, including markings, finishes, dimensions of all pertinent parts, and a history of each arm’s development. Each firearm is summarized in a separate table. Additional tables list all finishes and markings. Separate chapters describe the bayonets issued with each arm as well as their accoutrements and tools. The book is heavily illustrated with photos of the firearms and their parts.
Model 1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations. Poyer.
The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle was perhaps the most famous and popular of all U.S. military rifles. First issued in 1903, it served in two world wars and the Korean War and numerous smaller military actions around the globe between in the first half of the 20th Century. It even saw limited service during the War in Vietnam. Today, it is an extremely popular and sought-after military rifle by collectors. A modification of the famous Mauser bolt action, The Model 1903 Springfield was legendary for its accuracy in the hands of a well-trained rifleman. A variation of the rifle developed especially for match shooting held the crown in the National Matches longer than any other rifle. The National Matches have been conducted annually on a nationwide basis since 1873 except in wartime and involved both civilian and military shooters competing on an equal basis. The matches exerted a great deal of influence on the design of American military rifles and marksmanship training.
"The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations" provides a detailed examination of this famous military rifle on a part-by-part basis. Every variation in every part is documented and matched to the serial number range of its use. Thirty-one different variations of the rifle were developed over the 41 year course of its production and all are described and identified.
Twelve different variations of the rifles were developed as sniper rifles beginning in 1907. All are discussed and described as are the telescopic sights used on each. The rifle was produced for civilian shooters by the Springfield National Armory as well. Several variations of .30 caliber rifles were developed and sold through the Director, Civilian Marksmanship Program and the National Rifle Association for target shooting and hunting. A range of .22 caliber rimfire rifles was also developed for both low cost military and civilian marksmanship training in the 1920s and 1930s.
During World War II, to meet the needs of a 12 million man military force, the Remington Arms Company and the Smith Corona Typewriter Company produced more than 1.8 million Model 1903A3 rifles including the Remington-manufactured Model 1903A4 sniper rifle.
Appendices provide additional information on serial numbers, production numbers, ammunition, inspection procedures and markings, lists of military and civilian inspectors and their markings, the National Match rifle and the rare and highly classified Pedersen device that converted this bolt action rifle to a semiautomatic rifle during World War I with never-before published original factory photos. A thorough bibliography completes the text.
More .45-70 Springfields, 1873-1893: The Uncommon, the Scarce & Rare. Hosmer.
The uncommon, the scarce & the rare. This book is a descriptive guide to the firearms and accessories produced for the US military, at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, during the period of 1873 to 1893. It contains detailed descriptions, serial number data, and photographs of EVERY rare variety of the .45-70 Springfield ‘trapdoor’, most never before available in this handy format.
Included are Sporting Rifles, the Metcalfe device, the M1875 Officer’s Rifles, the M1880 Triangular rod-bayonet rifle, the 1881 Long-Range rifles, the M1881 Marksman’s rifle, the M1882 Short rifles with 28” barrel, the M1884 Experimental (flat-latch) rod-bayonet rifles, the M1886 “XC” 24” barrel carbine, the .30 caliber ammunition test rifles of the 1890s, and more . . . In addition to the Allin-system ‘trapdoors’ noted above, individual and comprehensive chapters are devoted to the Model 1875 Lee-Springfield “vertical breech” rifle, all five versions of those martial-type Winchester-Hotchkiss repeating arms assembled by Springfield Armory, and, last but not least, the rare Chaffee-Reece magazine gun from the 1882 trials.
Springfield Armoury Infantry Muskets 1795 - 1844. Johns.
An identification guide to the flintlock infantry muskets produced at Springfield, including conversions to percussion. Detailed color photographs allows the physical characteristics of each type to be clearly explained. Enthusiasts and collectors will find the coverage of markings and the letter/number stamps found on components both inside and out to be especially useful. Not just a beautiful book, but also a valuable tool in understanding and assessing these wonderful, early U.S. longarms.
Springfield Armoury: Shoulder Weapons 1795 - 1968. Ball.
Robert W.D. Ball is well known to military history buffs for his carefully researched, beautifully illustrated books and SPRINGFIELD ARMORY: SHOULDER WEAPONS 1795-1968 is no exception. This book surveys the contributions of the Springfield Armory to American freedom from the time of its independence to 1968.
American soldiers carried Springfield rifles for most of this country's history. A veteran himself, Ball understands this and his determination to do justice to this once-great national arsenal and the arms it produced is admirable.
This would make a great companion to Lieutenant Colonel William S. Brophy's classic THE SPRINGFIELD '03 RIFLES. I like Ball's work and am happy to give him five stars and my highest recommendation. This is a great book for anybody interested in firearms, military history, or the Springfield Arsenal and its impact on the history of our country.
The Springfield 1903 Rifles. Brophy.
This book is the massive lifetime work of the rifle's premier authority, William Brophy. His exhaustive research has taken Brophy into some of the rarest collections in existence. 1,500 photos, diagrams; 624 pgs.
