welcome to today photo of the Day! Here we have a carbine that was used in the most studied battle in American history. This is a Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine in .45-70, and it comes in the serial range issued to the 7th Cavalry. In other words, it is the type of gun that George Custer’s troops took to the Little Bighorn in June 1876.
The trapdoor was a single-shot, hinged-breech design, strong and accurate but slow. This matters, because the Lakota and Cheyenne, who met that day on the 7th, were often carrying Henry, Winchester, and Spencer repeaters. The soldiers’ Colt Single Action Army revolver was the second gun on the last stand, but single-shot carbines against lever guns are a tough business in a close fight.
For years the story was that the carbines jammed and Custer lost the battle. Early copper cartridges could swell as the chamber heated, and the extractor would tear the soft rim and leave a trapped case that you had to remove with a knife. There is some truth in this, but a 1983 archaeological dig found that only 3 percent of the cases recovered appeared to be theft. The honest answer is that poor terrain, poor intelligence and small numbers caused greater losses than guns.
Most of our POTDs use images of our friends Rock Island Auction CompanyMajor firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse them current auction – Who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Desirable Custer Era US Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Saddle Ring Carbine.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5032/471/custer-era-us-springfield-model-1873-trapdoor-carbine. Accessed 3 July 2026.
