These arms were built by Springfield to test .30 caliber ammunition for the Krag rifle that was being readied for production. The barrels are stamped with a letter rather than a serial number. The letter was a code for different steels, and by keeping track of barrel failures, the best metal for the guns was determined.

Very few rifles were produced (15), but the number of barrels may have reached 100. Most of the guns were probably destroyed during testing or given to various powder companies and subsequently discarded.

The arms feature a number of variations: regular ramrods, rod bayonets, and several different barrel covers. All the barrels are .30 caliber and assumed to be chambered for the same cartridge case. When located, the arms may have damaged breeches or damaged barrels from extensive firing. Also the arm my show some signs of extensive barrel replacement, which should be expected. Very few of these rifles are known, and when found, should be obviously different than any other trapdoor. For example, the rear sight is a miniature M84 Buffington, it will have a positive cam action in the breech and the breech block is unmarked.

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