Ward-Burton Rifle
Springfield Armory (US Government) · Rifle · Discontinued · 1871
Also known as: U.S. Rifle, Model of 1871, Springfield Model 1871, Ward-Burton Model 1871
Overview
The Ward-Burton Rifle is a single-shot bolt-action rifle adopted on a trial basis by the United States Army as the U.S. Rifle, Model of 1871. It holds the distinction of being the first metallic-cartridge bolt-action rifle ordered into service by the U.S. military. Chambered for the .50-70 Government cartridge and manufactured at Springfield Armory, it locked its bolt by means of two sets of interrupted threads machined at the rear of the bolt body rather than the front locking lugs favored on later designs. Roughly 1,013 rifles with 32 1/8-inch barrels and 313 carbines with 22-inch barrels were produced. The unfamiliar bolt system and minor mechanical faults led troops in the 1872-1873 trials to reject it in favor of the trapdoor Springfield.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4080 g (143.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1316 mm (51.81") |
| Barrel Length | 816 mm (32.13") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 381 m/s (1250 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2120 J (1564 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 900 m (984 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 3 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .50-70 Government · primary — also known as .50-70 Musket, .50-70-450
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Features: Interrupted Thread Bolt Lockup, Folding Leaf Rear Sight, Full Length Stock, Socket Bayonet Lug, Cleaning Rod
Variants
- Ward-Burton Carbine — Carbine
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1871 · as U.S. Rifle, Model of 1871
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,326 · Production years: 1871-1873
1,013 rifles (32 1/8-inch barrel) and 313 carbines (22-inch barrel) produced at Springfield Armory
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William G. Ward and Bethel Burton
Discontinued: 1873
Notes
Named for its co-inventors: William G. Ward, who patented the bolt-action mechanism (U.S. Patent 81,059), and Bethel Burton, who patented the extractor/ejector (U.S. Patent 99,504). Of 95 field reports from the 1872-1873 service rifle trials, none recommended the Ward-Burton for adoption.
Background
America's first military bolt-action rifle, the Ward-Burton was issued for field trials in the early 1870s but was passed over because soldiers were unaccustomed to operating a bolt rather than the familiar trapdoor breech, and the bolts suffered heat-treatment problems.