Vintage Military Rifles - The American Doughboy, immortalized in photographs, films and sculptures, almost exclusively shown wielding the classic M1903 Springfield or rifle M1917 bolt action quickly. While other iconic weapons of the era certainly appear in the American consciousness, such as the M1911 pistol and the M1897 pistol, two guns hold a special place in the hearts of historians, collectors and sportsmen around the world. This is perhaps because World War I was the last shooting war, during which the place of the rifle as the most lethal weapon on the battlefield was completely eclipsed by artillery, machine guns and other technological devices imaginable.
While the total M1903 production reached 914,625 on November 30, 1918, the 587,468 M1903 rifles on hand when the war began (according to the Ordnance Department after the war) was not enough for the large number of men who would be put into service during the service. War. It is known that this makes Brig. Genetics. William Crozier, the US Army Chief of Staff, called for the authority to "acquire small arms that are not of the type of America immediately." This led to the adoption of the slightly modified British P14 Enfield rifle, again for the standard American Model 1906 cartridge (.30-'06 Sprg.) and designated Model 1917.
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4 Forgotten US infantry artillery that was used by the United States in some forces during World War II. From top to bottom: Springfield Trapdoor, Krag-Jorgenson, Ross Mk II*** and the American M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle.
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But it wasn't a painless or quick process, and between military and bureaucratic disputes along with severe parts replacement problems, the first production rifles didn't hit the production line until September—about five months after the adoption decision. and the official entry into the war of the United States. While the three commercial factories responsible for its production correctly consider the assignment of the M1917 as an impressive industrial feat (actually M1917s more than M1903), the fact remains that at the same time many rifles are desperately needed to train recruits, protect the state. infrastructure, and they also operate abroad.
The first and most obvious choice to fill the shortage of "modern" guns is the style of Krag-Jorgenson rifles, produced between 1894 and 1903 by Springfield Armory. Although not as perfect as the M1903 that replaced them (the Krag lacked a magazine loading system, used a ballistically inferior slide, and was long overall), they were still a suitable weapon for military use in the early 20th century, fitting the mold of a small. and smokeless gunpowder that has become a practical requirement.
After the adoption of the M1903, the Krag pistol remained the primary weapon of many state military units while the M1903 gradually spread to all forces. In addition, many were disbursed to organizations that needed recently obsolete military rifles for training, practice, or ceremonial use. However, most were recalled and stored in government arsenals awaiting future use or disposal.
In the memorandum of the Office of the Chief of Police from May 17, 1917, they reported that "in the possession of the educational institution there are 44,708 Kragos and in the possession of batons 7,421." Due to the apparent lack of rifles at the beginning, Brigadier General Crozier said that "it is not necessary for the soldiers to enter the campaign armed with [Krag] rifles, it is possible that some of these rifles will have to be carried out. And target practice, and he recommended that the issuance of Krag rifles be suspended to groups "beyond the federal forces."
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One would think that guns in federal possession would be the easiest to use immediately, since they only need to be taken out of storage - but they are not in a "combat ready" state. In a memorandum on May 17, the Department of Armaments reported, "There are about 210,000 guns and pistols. cylinders, including 102,000 cylinders, and weapons that cannot be used must be updated and placed out into shape."
Brief messages going back and forth between the Ordnance Office and the commandants of both Springfield Armory and Watervliet Arsenal detail this process. In response, the three parties worked out the details of sending some 88,952 unrepaired Krag rifles and carbines. , along with the supply of Springfield, to Watervliet for repairs. This includes not only the M1898 rifle, but also about 2,500 M1892 and M1896 rifles, as well as "bayonets and accessories."
As explained above, and as anticipated by Ordnance officers at the time, the Krag saw the intensive training of an increasing number of American fighters as they prepared for deployment to Europe. However, the general public was aware of the shortage of guns, and many wrote to their elected officials to express concern that their sons might be forced to drill with wooden or wooden guns. Krag is often used to alleviate those fears, with Brig. Genetics. Crozier told the worried mother, "For a time there were in each jurisdiction of the National Army 55,000 Krag Jorgenson training rifles; this was followed shortly after their acquisition by the addition of 2,000 of these rifles, which are very useful weapons, although not the current standard model for the United States Army."
Some Krags saw limited overseas service during the war, at least with the US 14th Engineer Corps taking them to France. However, by July 1918, they had been exchanged for M1903 rifles, and Civil Guard II officers reported that 1,157 M1903s had been paid for in exchange for at least 972 Krag rifles. The reason for the change is to ensure the standard of ammunition in whatever area the unit is assigned.
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Even senior US military artillery has been returned to service to alleviate a severe shortage of useful weapons. On August 23, 1917, an officer in the Small Arms Division of the Ordnance Department ordered the superintendent of the Rock Island Arsenal to "bring to order" the 2,927 unrepairable Trapdoor Springfield rifles in the arsenal's hands. This act, along with the work on guns and pistols, was frowned upon by some workers—as shown in an anonymous complaint written to U.S. Senator G.M. Hitchcock and sent to the head of the police unit:
I know from my personal knowledge that there is a force of men working in the R.I.A. on with the use of Krag-Jorgenson rifles during the campaign of the Philippines '99. and 1900 – yet another powerful .45 Springfield that was dropped at that time.
Now I don't know if this will put me in prison, but I think Mr. Baker [Secretary of War] should be asked how this can help in arming our men to defeat the Huns.
Despite this anonymous employee's skepticism about the utility of Trapdoors for the war effort, they are actually in high demand in many states that require guns for state security use. In particular, New York, while trying to obtain more modern weapons from Canadian sources, spoke of the need to protect "the lines of transportation and communication through which federal equipment is sent" and that "the attack by the N.Y. shore [gunners] appears serious. ." Brig. Genetics. Crozier, rather grimly, reminded the writer that "the governor of New York is authorized to solicit arms from the academies and women's clubs of New York," and that he had not drawn all that he could.
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Barrels of four rifles compared. From left to right: Springfield Trapdoor, Krag-Jorgenson, Ross Mk II*** and the American M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle.
In addition, he stated that 500 Trapdoor Springfields were issued to the governor on August 11, 1917, and that, "There are on hand, not assigned to the state organization, 7,979 rifles .45 caliber, the need is great for this. The nature of the equipment for the use of the Home Guard." Organization; About 30 states have not provided, and no additional rifles can be issued properly to this state. The former commander-in-chief was fully informed about this matter."
Therefore, although the Trapdoor was completely out of modern military fashion in 1917, because it was not only a single shot bolt, but also black powder and a large caliber; Thousands of them continue to play a role in transporting US warplanes and equipment. of them to go around the country safely and transported them on a ship headed to the country France.
While the portholes were useful in some roles, there was still a national demand for "modern" rifles similar to the M1903 and M1917 rifles to be used against the Huns (and the RIA staff, after all, didn't intend to.
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