06/25/2026
"One of the units to receive Model 1873 carbines was the 7th Cavalry commanded by Lt. Col. George A. Custer. There had been some issues previously encountered with the new carbines which were tragically, but vividly, illustrated on June 25, 1876, at the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn.
Among the problems was the fact that the ammunition cases were found to be too soft and could sometimes become stuck in the chamber. Unlike the rifle, which was fitted with a full-length cleaning rod under the barrel, the carbine’s lack of a cleaning rod and broken shell extractor to clear jammed cartridges proved to be a serious hindrance. Also, the 'thin wrist' stock was the cause of numerous breakages."
Read more about the history of the "Trapdoor" Springfield at the link in the comments. 👇
