Model 1877 Carbines

The title, Model 1877, pertains only to carbines. Springfield did not designate a Model 1877 rifle or cadet rifle. The change from Model 1873 to Model 1877 was prompted by the addition of the cleaning rod holes in the butt stock of the carbine which required a heavier stock wrist to off-set any weakness the holes may have caused. The rifle and cadet rifles did not have the cleaning rod modification so they retained there Model 1873 designation.

Many collectors use the name, Model 1877 for rifles and cadet rifles as a means of denoting their time of production. However, Springfield only referred to the Model 1877 when discussing carbines.

The model change was brought about by the Little Big Horn battle of 1876, when General George Custer and his men were killed. It was the military's conclusion that access to cleaning rods during the battle would have been advantageous for removing lodged shell casings.

At this time, it is thought that an unaltered Model 1877 carbine, made in early 1877, could have a Model 1873 rear sight. There seems to be some question whether the Model 1877 Type I sight was made for carbines. This point will require further research. The results will be published in the Trapdoor Springfield Newsletter.

Model 1877 Carbines have thick stock wrists and are found with a variety of breech variations such as: gas port depth, receiver width, barrel tenon form and high and low arch breech blocks. These arms are difficult to find with correlating serial numbers and federal inspection marks.

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