Springfield rifle

American  

noun

1. a single-shot, breechloading .45-caliber rifle used by the U.S. Army from 1867 to 1893.

2. Also called Springfield 1903.  a bolt-operated, magazine-fed, .30-caliber rifle adopted by the U.S. Army in 1903 and used during World War I.

3. a single-shot, muzzleloading rifle of .58-inch caliber, used by the Union Army during the Civil War.

---

Springfield rifle British  

noun

1. a magazine-fed bolt-action breech-loading .30 calibre rifle formerly used by the US Army

---

Etymology

Origin of Springfield rifle

After Springfield, Mass., site of a federal armory that made the rifles

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Springfield rifle

The modified Springfield rifle that was buried alongside lawman and gunfighter Wild Bill Hickock in South Dakota in August 1876 is expected to fetch up to $200,000.

From Reuters ● Jul. 21, 2021

Theodore Roosevelt, the combat-hardened Rough Rider, ordered development of the Springfield rifle.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 31, 2016

He promoted the 1903 Springfield rifle for his troops.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 31, 2016

In June, the Martin family loaned the elder Martin's Springfield rifle and a German-made Confederate sword to the state for one year.

From US News ● Jan. 27, 2015

It has been explained why, though it should be added that in the way of firearms there was only the single worthless Springfield rifle in the house.

From The Launch Boys' Adventures in Northern Waters by Hughes, Burton Donnel