Rifle

This Model 1873 Springfield Trapdoor Carbine was recovered from the Little Bighorn battlefield hours after the conclusion of hostilities on June 25th and 26th, 1876. This particular carbine was acquired by Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in 1982 from a private donor. While there are many surviving examples of weapons from this world renowned battle, this is the only firearm in the park's collection that can be forensically linked to the battlefield.

A massive wildfire swept the majority of the battlefield in 1983. The resulting vegetation loss allowed a rare opportunity for archeological investigation. Project archeologists employed forensic techniques such as studies of firing pin markings on cartridge cases and rifling marks on bullets.

In the 1984 field archeological season, many spent cartridge cases from the battle were discovered, Including spent .45-55 cartridge found on an area of the battlefield known as Greasy Grass Ridge. Analysis of firing pin imprints on this case linked it directly to this model 1873 Springfield Carbine in the park's collection, definitively placing the carbine at the battle.

Greasy Grass Ridge was the site of a failed cavalry charge by Company C of the 7th US Cavalry. All of the Company C soldiers were killed during the fight, and it is likely that native warriors recovered their weapons.