SmokeEaterPilot
Active Member
- Jun 3, 2011
- 527
One of my first rifles I was able to document and finally got out to take some pictures of this one. Just got distracted from taking it out. It was in the back of the safe for years.
It's been rebuilt several times. W.E. Strong, then there's a SADAL and a SA JFC that are very faint. 1922 RIA replacement barrel, among other replaced parts. No idea what the "A" on the rear sight base means. Gonna have to look into that one.
But it does have some history to it.
Part of an Ordnance Department inspection at Fort Ringgold, Texas in 1923 by Captain Harris. There were some problems with other units but apparently it was noted that "G" Troop (where this rifle was issued) had exceptionally satisfactory condition and cleanliness of their rifles under the command of Captain Sprinkle (man he must've had a hard time in boot camp).
Captain Harris inspected rifles, BARs, M1917s (MGs), Gallery Practice rifles, Rifles with telescopic sights (which were turned in most likely because they were obsolete by this point), trucks and the rifle range.
The rifle is too late for the Punitive Mexican Expedition, this unit missed WWI and it probably did not see action in WWII with this unit. They probably turned them in long before combat in Europe. But still neat history.
The current rifle I'm working on I'm hoping to submit for publication. A rifle reported lost by the USCG. The Coastie stated he fired the rifle with one arm, steering the boat with the other while chasing a rum runner and dropped it overboard. The story just gets more exciting from there. A historian with the USCG is actually working on the same individual involved with that investigation as I am at the same time. Call it a weird coincidence. That is project is currently in progress.
Have a great week!
It's been rebuilt several times. W.E. Strong, then there's a SADAL and a SA JFC that are very faint. 1922 RIA replacement barrel, among other replaced parts. No idea what the "A" on the rear sight base means. Gonna have to look into that one.
But it does have some history to it.
Part of an Ordnance Department inspection at Fort Ringgold, Texas in 1923 by Captain Harris. There were some problems with other units but apparently it was noted that "G" Troop (where this rifle was issued) had exceptionally satisfactory condition and cleanliness of their rifles under the command of Captain Sprinkle (man he must've had a hard time in boot camp).
Captain Harris inspected rifles, BARs, M1917s (MGs), Gallery Practice rifles, Rifles with telescopic sights (which were turned in most likely because they were obsolete by this point), trucks and the rifle range.
The rifle is too late for the Punitive Mexican Expedition, this unit missed WWI and it probably did not see action in WWII with this unit. They probably turned them in long before combat in Europe. But still neat history.
The current rifle I'm working on I'm hoping to submit for publication. A rifle reported lost by the USCG. The Coastie stated he fired the rifle with one arm, steering the boat with the other while chasing a rum runner and dropped it overboard. The story just gets more exciting from there. A historian with the USCG is actually working on the same individual involved with that investigation as I am at the same time. Call it a weird coincidence. That is project is currently in progress.
Have a great week!