MODEL 1879 TRAPDOOR COMBINATION TOOL:
An Indian War period U.S. Army issue M1879 Combination
Tool for the M1873 Springfield Trapdoor .45/70 Carbines
and Rifles. This tool was the first to be manufactured
as a new tool since the end of the Civil War, where as
previous patterns of tools for the Indian War rifles and
carbines had been modified from the M1863 Springfield
Combination Tool and other Civil War tools. The M1879
features a right angle “U” shaped cut which served as a
mainspring clamp, a pin punch on the static arm and a
swinging screwdriver blade. This specimen is in
excellent condition. See Gun Tools, Their History and
Identification, Shaffer, Rutledge, and Dorsey, page 168
for more information. $15
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