U.S. Files Forfeiture for Stolen Historic Springfield Carbine

Federal authorities have filed a civil forfeiture action to reclaim a rare U.S. Springfield Model 1868 Trapdoor Saddle Ring Carbine, one of only four ever produced, which was stolen from the Springfield Armory decades ago. The Springfield Armory, a historic site managed by the National Park Service, discovered the carbine was missing in 1985 and later received reports that it may be in the hands of private collectors. A 2023 federal investigation led to the recovery of a carbine believed to be the missing artifact, despite attempts to alter its identifying marks. The forfeiture process will allow third parties to contest ownership before the government seeks to return the firearm to the National Park Service. If the government succeeds, the historic weapon will be restored to the armory’s collection. The case highlights ongoing efforts to recover stolen national artifacts and preserve historical collections.