SmokeEaterPilot
Active Member
- Jun 3, 2011
- 525
Alright Guys,
You probably know I like paperwork. I figured I'd post this on here (locally) before throwing it out on other forums.
We always hear "Oh if only this rifle could talk." "Buy the rifle not the story." My question to you is, how would you look at the rifle differently if it could? Looking beyond the bolts, pins, and small parts. Tossing out the concept "is this rifle correct?" Focusing on the story it can tell through paperwork. What if it was a story you could prove?
Now this rifle is NOT mine. It currently resides in a private collection and the owner has expressed to me he now loves the rifle because of the story behind it. Even if it is "salty" to be nice to its condition. She's not pretty.
This is a rifle I documented and, it's unique for several reasons. One it can be documented to a specific piece of paperwork from the archives. Next, it can be pinpointed to a specific unit. But what was most intriguing about this rifle is that it had an individual attached to it. This particular rifle's serial number is associated to the 14th Cavalry and a specific trooper.
Now the 14th Cavalry only served in the Mexican Border War, never made it to Europe during World War I. During the Post WWI era, served mostly in the Midwest (probably Iowa since that is where it was moved to, mobilized only for Union Strikes and such.). So it's unit's History during the 1903's issuance was lackluster. But let's look at the individual Leo Girens.
Census records indicate Leo Girens was born April 18, 1904 of Joseph and Anna Girens in Winnebago, Wisconsin. His father was a painter in the carriage industry. By the age of 17, Leo Girens was working as a laborer for an unidentified Sash and Door Factory. Fifield Lumber Co. was a “sash and door factory that was advertising a need for laborers at this time. Records indicate in 1930 he was a truck driver. He married Mary Weisaple and they had at least one son together, Leo Elmer Girens. In 1932, he became a member of the Oshkosh Fire Department, and became Chief of that Department in 1945. Eventually Girens became President of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association. He is mentioned in several local newspapers concerning the actions of his fire department at the time.
I contacted his fire department and they provided a picture of him. They were actually shocked they had anything on him since the file probably has not seen the light of day in quite some time.
He is found in several newspaper articles(not surprisingly since he was the fire chief for the area.) and attached them. He was also in an article on the history of their Fire Department.
My question to you, is how would you feel about this rifle in your collection? The documentation from the archives is a snapshot in time, a quick link of the rifle to the trooper. But paint a story of the individual behind the rifle. What he was like. What he looked like. What he did with his life after he served his country. Does that matter to you?
We all say we love collecting Military Surplus because we love history. But how much do you love history? Can you look beyond "correct parts," "original configuration," "beat, salty, rough."
"Pretty and Papered" is obviously desirable. But these service arms were used, and the more it was used the more likely it is to carry paperwork.
If this something in your collection can tell a story, would you listen? Would you care?
You probably know I like paperwork. I figured I'd post this on here (locally) before throwing it out on other forums.
We always hear "Oh if only this rifle could talk." "Buy the rifle not the story." My question to you is, how would you look at the rifle differently if it could? Looking beyond the bolts, pins, and small parts. Tossing out the concept "is this rifle correct?" Focusing on the story it can tell through paperwork. What if it was a story you could prove?
Now this rifle is NOT mine. It currently resides in a private collection and the owner has expressed to me he now loves the rifle because of the story behind it. Even if it is "salty" to be nice to its condition. She's not pretty.
This is a rifle I documented and, it's unique for several reasons. One it can be documented to a specific piece of paperwork from the archives. Next, it can be pinpointed to a specific unit. But what was most intriguing about this rifle is that it had an individual attached to it. This particular rifle's serial number is associated to the 14th Cavalry and a specific trooper.
Now the 14th Cavalry only served in the Mexican Border War, never made it to Europe during World War I. During the Post WWI era, served mostly in the Midwest (probably Iowa since that is where it was moved to, mobilized only for Union Strikes and such.). So it's unit's History during the 1903's issuance was lackluster. But let's look at the individual Leo Girens.
Census records indicate Leo Girens was born April 18, 1904 of Joseph and Anna Girens in Winnebago, Wisconsin. His father was a painter in the carriage industry. By the age of 17, Leo Girens was working as a laborer for an unidentified Sash and Door Factory. Fifield Lumber Co. was a “sash and door factory that was advertising a need for laborers at this time. Records indicate in 1930 he was a truck driver. He married Mary Weisaple and they had at least one son together, Leo Elmer Girens. In 1932, he became a member of the Oshkosh Fire Department, and became Chief of that Department in 1945. Eventually Girens became President of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association. He is mentioned in several local newspapers concerning the actions of his fire department at the time.
I contacted his fire department and they provided a picture of him. They were actually shocked they had anything on him since the file probably has not seen the light of day in quite some time.
He is found in several newspaper articles(not surprisingly since he was the fire chief for the area.) and attached them. He was also in an article on the history of their Fire Department.
My question to you, is how would you feel about this rifle in your collection? The documentation from the archives is a snapshot in time, a quick link of the rifle to the trooper. But paint a story of the individual behind the rifle. What he was like. What he looked like. What he did with his life after he served his country. Does that matter to you?
We all say we love collecting Military Surplus because we love history. But how much do you love history? Can you look beyond "correct parts," "original configuration," "beat, salty, rough."
"Pretty and Papered" is obviously desirable. But these service arms were used, and the more it was used the more likely it is to carry paperwork.
If this something in your collection can tell a story, would you listen? Would you care?
