Showcased Firearms

Our primary mission is to provide documentation about small arms. The developments, experiments, and evolution of U.S. martial arms arms specializaing in the first half 20th century. We sometimes venture outside of that scope when its appropriate.

That being said, one component of Archival Research Group is to collect serial numbers and furnish documentation along with letters certifying the provenance of a firearm’s unqiue history.

Below are our featured firearms. Rifles or sidearms we have worked closely with the owners to design a certain theme to properly showcase them. The theme is typically associated with the accompanying paperwork. The accompnaying equipment items or accoutrements are not directly associated with them but we feel they help emphasize the true star of the show which is the paperwork about the firearm and not just the firearm itself.

There is often an old saying among collectors “Buy the rifle not the story” and “if only this firearm could talk.”

Well, with the help of Archival Research Group, you can buy the story. And rifles, pistols, revolvers, etc can talk, you just have to be able to speak their language. Let us help you with that. Enjoy!

This rifle is not just a fascinating example but a tangible link to our past. We hope to see more artifacts like this one and are happy to provide documentation on them when we can.

M1903 Rifle 286,979 documented to the 2nd Marine Division in 1942 and reunited with a World War II Marine that served in it.

This rifle is documented as being issued to the 2nd Marine Division in January 1942. The rifle was listed as unserviceable and sent to the Philadelphia Depot for overhaul while the Division was en route to Guadalcanal. It’s unclear whether these 1903s were shipped back to the same unit or another unit after being reconditioned.
Several years ago, a few of us took this rifle down to the Globe and Laurel and placed it in the hands of the restaurant’s owner, Major Rick Spooner, Retired.
He took a moment to look over the paperwork and asked us, “You’re telling me this rifle was from my old unit?” The expression on his face that followed is difficult to put into words, but he looked as he was reunited with an old friend.
We visited him the following month and sat in his private dining room, and were allowed to record audio of his experiences during World War II. We were able to record over 2 hours of audio. He said that was his last interview, which was an honor in itself. After the interview, he invited us to have a couple of beers with him in his “CP,” which was the Embassy Cigar Lounge.
Sadly, the Globe and Laurel, as well as the Embassy Cigar lounge, have closed, but the Major is enjoying a well-deserved retirement.

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M1 Carbine serial number 1,925,885 documented to the 10th Marines

A documented USMC M1 Carbine to the 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune.
We’ve been doing this sort of research since 2015. The Springfield Research Service (SRS) was first started in 1976. One of the owners of ARG reached out to the former owner of the SRS, he said he never once got a request to research a M1 Carbine, let alone one with USMC provenance.
To give alittle context on how extremely rare this is.
About 6 million M1 carbines were produced, we have 4,787 entries in our M1 Carbine database and only 459 USMC entries in it.
These are out there. You just have to look. We’re very happy to see the new owner use the database and find something rare like this.
Tommy Phillips Collection

Remington Model of 1917 rifle serial number 306,076 documented to the 124th Infantry Regiment in the summer of 1918

Here, we have a documented M1917 rifle to the 124th Infantry Regiment of the 31st Division at Camp Wheeler. We’ll try to be as concise as possible to avoid “TLDR.”
In the summer of 1918, Lt. Windsor, a rifle demonstrator with the Ordnance Department, was in charge of instructing soldiers at that post on the newly adopted M1917 rifle. In addition to his many other duties, he inspected several thousand rifles at his post at Camp Wheeler before the Division would deploy to the AEF in September of that year. He found several thousand to have maximum headspace. He filed his findings through the standard channels, which reached General John Thompson (the same one you’re thinking of).
To investigate the matter, a rifle expert from the Eddystone plant arrived and found that Lt. Windsor was using an incorrect method for inspecting head spacing on M1917 rifles, concluding that the rifles were fine. Lt. Windsor had to issue a follow-up to his superiors, which was likely less than pleasant. The Division would deploy in September with those rifles.
This issue of Lt. Windor’s inspection and subsequent actions taken by the Ordnance Department spans almost 100 documents. To be more concise, we selected a handful of them and highlighted some of the more interesting statements made.
If you enjoy seeing this sort of research on U.S. martial arts, consider following us, subscribing to our website, or sharing our content to learn more about what we do here.
For more information about the role of the rifle demonstrator and the M1917 rifle, please take a look at this article from one of our long-time subscribers, Jonathon Krisko. He did an excellent job covering a lesser-known issue of World War I. Read his article here: ‘Selling’ The Model of 1917: John T. Thompson & The Rifle Demonstrators 

Model of 1903 Springfield Armory National Match documented to the USMC Rifle and Pistol Team, serial number 1,266,474

One of fifty M1903 National Match rifles shipped from Springfield Armory to the USMC Rifle and Pistol Team Detachment at Wakefield, Massachusetts, for the 1928 shooting season.
The USMC Team at Wakefield received one hundred National Match rifles, which were manufactured between 1922 and 1923 and conditioned for the 1928 shooting season. The Marines preferred later-manufactured rifles and requested replacements.
It’s not uncommon for former National Match rifles to be either reconditioned as “Special Target” rifles, which are cleaned and repaired match rifles or downgraded to service rifles.
This rifle presents in service rifle configuration, which makes it more interesting because it lacks USMC traits such as a stippled butt plate, vise marks on the barrel, a numbered Sedgley front sight blade, or an electric-penciled bolt with the rifle’s serial number.
It does have a “hatcher hole,” but the Army also performed these, and it is not exclusively a USMC overhaul practice.
If you saw this rifle at a show with a tag indicating it had USMC provenance with these physical characteristics, you would likely be skeptical. But with primary sources, it can be a game changer.

Smith & Wesson Double Action .38 Revolver (Victory) Serial Number 248.952 documented to Fleet Air Photographic Squadron 3 jettisoned from PB4Y-1 (converted B-24)

Here, we have a revolver reportedly jettisoned from PB4Y-1 BuNo. 32011. We don’t know why it was jettisoned; there can be dozens of reasons, any of which may be correct.
However, with a serial number, we can now attach it to a document, which gives us a snapshot of its service life.
Here, we have it attached to a PB4Y-1 (not to be confused with a PBY Catalina). This is a B-24 converted from a land bomber to take aerial photographs. With the plane’s Bureau Number, we can use war diaries to track its operations. We found this plane participating in several operations all over the Pacific, most notably Tarawa.
Where most bombers dropped bombs, this plane’s mission was to take photographs, giving the guys on the ground crucial intelligence to help them win the war, one island at a time.
Just before the invasion of Tarawa, it was said it would take 100 years and a million men to take Tarawa. The Marines took it in 3 days! The unsung heroes of that operation were the aircrews performing aerial reconnaissance in the sky.

 

M1903 Serial Number 1,264,589 unserviceable National Match documented to the U.S. Naval Academy barracks ship Reina Mercedes.

On May 22, 1941, Chief Boastwain’s Mate G. W. Meyer, stationed at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, was filing a report to the Bureau of Ordnance (Navy), concerning sixty Model 1903 Springfield National Match Rifles, which were unfit for further use. He notes that these rifles were used for the USNA Rifle Team and, due to long service by the rifle team, were found to have excessive headspace, enlarged barrels, and chambers. He recommends they be turned into the Naval Supply Depot at Norfolk, Virginia, and replaced with new rifles for use on the Reina Mercedes.

The USS Reina Mercedes was a Spanish Navy cruiser captured by the U.S. military during the Spanish-American War. It was refurbished by the Navy and used for various purposes, eventually becoming a barracks ship for the Naval Academy in 1912 until 1957. She was classified as an auxiliary vessel with the hull number IX-25. Her main purpose was to be a barracks ship for enlisted personnel assigned to the Naval Academy as well as the Commander of the Naval Station. She remained stationary and secured to the Naval Academy seawall, but as a joke, she was referred to as the “fastest ship in the fleet.

(Thomas Philips collection)

M1903 Serial Number 603,758 Pre-World War I National Match issued to the State of Florida (Florida National Guard)

Lots of pictures and a good bit of documentation.
You will definitely not see this every day. Brophy’s 1903 Springfield book suggests it simply doesn’t exist. It’s long been believed that there were no National Match rifles before 1921 and only “specially selected” service rifles before that. This is only partially true. There were no “National Match” 1903 rifles before 1921 because that was not the term; the designation was “M1903 star gauged and specially selected for the National Matches.” This suggests they were nothing more than hand-selected, but again, this is not true. Documentation at the National Archives confirms this. The first 1903 rifles were used in the National Matches in about 1908, and only in the first year were the rifles nothing more than hand-selected. The following year, they began polishing bolts. Each subsequent year, with the authorization from the Chief of Ordnance, Springfield Armory started implementing authorized modifications to help make them more accurate. More importantly, it gave the individual shooter the best possible platform to work with in competition. But this concept was in its infancy compared to the interwar days.
National Match rifles this early were, in fact, star-gauged but not stamped at the muzzle, which most collectors are familiar with. They also do not have the start gauge registry number stamped on top of the barrel. Those “traits” were not implemented until 1921. The bolts were polished (after the 2nd year) but not electro-penciled with the serial number. Without primary sources, it’s nearly impossible to confirm a National Match rifle off of “traits” this early on. There are more examples like this, where one only believes the story with properly authenticated provenance.

M1884 Trapdoor Serial Number 456,652 Company L 2nd Virginia Volunteers (Philippine Insurrection)

Here we have a Trapdoor issued to George V. Smith of Company L of the 2nd Virginia Volunteers. The 2nd Virginia Volunteers was one of four volunteer regiments that mustered after the declaration of war with Spain during the Spanish-American War. It stayed in stateside service and did not make it overseas. However, having the name of the person it was issued to provides a research point for the owner to dig further. With other resources available, such as ancestry, newspaper archives, etc., the owner can dive deeper into who carried the firearm when it was in military service. It’s intriguing, a hidden history brought to light by diving into the records of the National Archives.

Photos are courtesy of the Jonathon Krisko

M1903 Serial Number 316646 Company F, 2nd Ohio Infantry (Punitive Mexican Expedition Rifle)

M1903 Springfield Rifle was documented to the Company of the 2nd Ohio Infantry in January 1917. This rifle was found on an inspection report of various rifles by the Ohio National Guard. The Guard was deployed to provide border protection during the Punitive Expedition into Mexico (or Poncho Villa Expedition). Although the expedition was not considered a success in capturing Villa, it was later regarded as valuable as it provided many young regular army and National Guard officers with an environment to train large numbers of troops in the field. This would prove invaluable in the following months when the United States was thrown into a world war raging in Europe.

Photos are courtesy of the Jonathon Krisko

M1898 Krag–Jørgensen Serial Number 172,232 Krag–Jørgensen to 26th U.S. Volunteer Infantry (Philippine Insurrection)

This Krag was issued to the 26th United States Volunteers Infantry Regiment in 1899 before being deployed to the Philippines during the Philippine-American War. This is not to be confused with the 26th Infantry Regiment.
Now, a little background.
In 1906, there was an incident in Brownville, Texas, called the “Brownsville Affair.” One evening in August of 1906, a white bartender was shot and killed, and a white police officer was wounded. The nearby residents blamed the nearby Buffalo soldiers stationed nearby at Fort Brown. There was little evidence to support the charges. Still, the Army Inspector General’s investigation found them at fault, and President Theodore Roosevelt ordered all 167 men expelled from the Army without honors. This would hinder veterans’ ability to find employment for the rest of their lives, including barring them from ever obtaining civil service jobs. However, a later investigation allowed some of the men to re-enlist. In the 1970s, a renewed investigation pardoned the remaining men or restored their service records to reflect honorable service in 1972. Unfortunately, only one individual lived to see their reputation restored by that time. It’s an example of racial tension that existed in the early 20th century and still resonates today.
If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably wondered why the background of the Brownsville Affair and the 25th Infantry Regiment. Part of the Inspector General’s report indicated he requested the serial numbers of the rifles issued to the 25th Infantry Regiment from Springfield Armory. In a clerical error, Springfield Armory sent a list of 1272 Krag-Jorgensen rifles issued to the 26th United States Volunteers. In addition to what is mentioned above, it’s also an example of government officials making errors as part of in-depth investigations.
You can only imagine the frustration of the Inspector General reading this list and thinking to himself “this is not what I asked for….” A 1906 version of a “facepalm”

Photos are courtesy of the Jonathon Krisko

M1917 Serial Number 84286 Revolver

This M1917 revolver is reported lost by the United States Post Office. During the post-WWI era, the Post Office was the target of frequent robberies. Mail robberies became so problematic that the Department of the Navy began putting Marines on mail trains for security. The Ordnance Department also began issuing surplus small arms such as double-action .38 and .45 caliber revolvers to help protect workers and guard the mail.

Photos are courtesy of the Jonathon Krisko

M1903 Serial Number 1,294,982 NRA Sporter sold to: A. L. Warren

This rifle is a 1903 Factory Sporter or 1903 NRA Sporting Rifle. It is not “sporterized” it was produced during the interwar years as one of many methods to keep trained armorers employed at Springfield Armory during the Great Depression. Armory employees were not salary or hourly but compensated per unit. Until the M1 Garand service rifle was adopted, there was little need for new production rifles from Springfield Armory. The armory employed “busy” work to avoid the risk of losing its skilled labor force to other nearby firearm factories. One of the attempts was offering many variations of the M1903 Springfield Rifle to the public via the DCM (predecessor to the CMP). More on this later. The craftsmanship of these rifles is quite impressive, especially when compared to firearms produced today by factories focusing on military firearms.
The original owner of this rifle was A L Warren of Seattle, Washington in August of 1929.
After some research, we were able to rule out several potential individuals with those initials and last name and determine the likely candidate to be Arthur LeRoy Warren.
Arthur LeRoy Warren was born on March 18, 1877, to Andrew and Elizabeth Warren in Lapeer County, Michigan. In 1902, he moved to Seattle. Mr. Warren first married Flora Wadl and eventually married a second time to Ollie Warren. He had one son, Thomas LeRoy Warren, who passed in 2001. It’s still unclear if his son was from his first marriage or second. Mr. Warren made a career as a welder. When he retired from that profession, he became a hotel manager in Seattle. The hotel was located at 1529 Boylston Avenue, we included a street view as it stands today. He never served in the military but did register for the draft and passed on July 4, 1948, likely from a heart attack. Sadly, we have been unable to locate a photograph of Mr. Warren.
The rifle itself is a interesting dive into an era when resources for the U.S. military was not in question and Army Ordnance had to get creative to take care of the livelihood of its civilian personnel. Between the adoption of the M1 Garand and its required resources and an outcry from civilian manufacturers over government competition, production of these rifles winded down in mid-1930s leading into World War II.

 

M1903 Serial Number 1,403,814 National Match purchased by Husband Kimmel

Springfield Armory M1903A1 National Match, serial number 1,403,841, which was requested to the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. New York from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba via the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (D.C.M.). This one presented a unique challenge. The date of the sale recorded by Springfield Armory was June 15, 1934. The challenge is that on June 14, 1934, outgoing Captain Husband E. Kimmel transferred command to incoming Captain John Strong Abbott. Kimmel’s career was rising quickly; after being the Captain of the U.S.S. New York, he became Chief of Staff to Commander of Battleships, Battle Force.
The question was, did Captain Kimmel purchase this rifle before his promotion? Or did John Strong Abbott purchase the rifle after being assigned to the prestigious command of the U.S.S. New York? To find the answer, we had to examine the Deck Logs at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. We found that the U.S.S. New York sailed from the Canal Zone in early May 1934 and arrived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on May 19, 1934. She was moored there until May 24, 1934. She then sailed for New York harbor and arrived there June 13, 1934. Kimmel transferred command to Abbott the following day and returned to sea. The New York sailed down the coast, bypassed Cuba, and spent the next several months sailing up the West coast. The answer was that Kimmel arranged the request weeks prior, and it took some time for Springfield Armory to receive the order and process it. Kimmel’s date with destiny would occur several years later in 1941. Without the paperwork, it’s just another Springfield Armory National Match.

M1903 Serial Number 332,868 26th Infantry Regiment (Blue Spaders)

This rifle is reported as being issued to the 26th Infantry Regiment (Blue Spaders) out of Fort Wayne, Michigan. We have attached some photographs at the bottom of Fort Wayne as it stands today as a park open to the public to help give a clearer view of where the rifle served.
The 26th Infantry Regiment has a hard-hitting record for the U.S. Army. It was formed in 1901 by an act of Congress, and obtained its first battle streamer during its service in the Philippine American war. When the first world war began, it was one of four regular army units deemed combat ready. When it first arrived in France, it was immediately sent to the front, and some terrible combat conditions, losing nine hundred men in six months. It would earn half a dozen battle streamers and foreign awards for its service during the Great War. By World War II, it would see combat in North Africa, Omaha Beach, and capture the first German city of Aachen. Its combat readiness would continue during Vietnam, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan and still serves today.
The rifle’s service with the unit was brief, likely from about 1907 until 1911. It was sent from Fort Wayne to Rock Island Arsenal to be inspected.The Ordnance Officers were not pleased with the conditions of the rifles they received, as mentioned in the documentation. If you notice, the date on the rifle’s barrel is September 1911, and the report is November 1911. The rifle barrel is likely installed as a result of this report. Connecting the physical characteristics of the rifle to primary sources is truly fascinating.
We thank the members of the Blue Spaders for their contributions to our nation’s history and safety.

 

 

M1 Garand Serial Number 3706 one of the first 400 Garands shipped to the Marines in 1938.

A common misconception is that the Marine Corps resisted the adoption of the M1 Garand until after the Battle of Guadalcanal.
However, primary sources indicate that this needs to be more accurate.
The Marine Corps Commandant placed its first order for four hundred M1 Garands in 1936. The first shipment of 100 was received in March 1938. However, in their eagerness to receive the complete shipment, the Marines returned these rifles and patiently waited for the full order of four hundred.
Finally, the Marines would receive their shipment in September 1938. They were informed that the Ordnance Department would ship three hundred ninety-eight rifles to the Philly Navy Yard and two to the Marine Corps Schools in Quantico.
This rifle is from that shipment, with detailed records in the National Archive USMC files. It is reported as being tested by the famous 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.
The reports, while exceptionally voluminous, are a testament to the thoroughness and dedication of those who documented this significant event in Marine Corps history.
Please bear in mind that the rifle originally was a Gas Trap and has been overhauled and rebuilt several times, most recently at the Letterkenny Army Depot in September 1966.
This group project. We thank Gene Veillon Jr at Marine Corps History Preservation for sharing this discovery and working with us to tell its story. We would also like to thank Alec Tulkoff for his consulting expertise on USMC history and donating USMC period items to help showcase this piece.

M1903 Serial Number 325,901 USMC Rebuild documented to PFC Kyle Elmer Mills

The rifle is an SRS (Springfield Research Service) hit, but it’s fundamental and provides no detailed information other than the serial number, which is somehow connected to the USMC.
325901 022438 USMC – WASHINGTON (SURVEY)
Once we pulled the report, we found a survey connected to PFC Mills’s having an unserviceable rifle barrel. We had to find out who PFC Mills was. By reviewing the muster rolls for March 1938 at the Washington Navy Yard, we found PFC Mills was PFC Kyle E. Mills. If you notice the date of the document is February 1938 and the date of the barrel is March of 1938. It’s very possible the replaced barrel is directly connected to the condition of the bore as it was inspected and found unserviceable.
From there, we were able to order a copy of his Service Record Book from the National Archives in St. Louis, MO. We included a copy of his enlistment photo.
Kyle Mills served his first enlistment from 1935-1939; once World War II broke out, he wanted to return to the military and do his duty for his country. In his service record, he wrote the following requesting to get back into service, but he only wanted to serve with Marine Corps:
“June 15, 1943
Balt. Md.
Dear Sirs,
I am writing this letter to inquire of the discharge of Kyle Elmer Mills from the Marine Corps Reserve. Fifth Reserve District, Marine Barracks, Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth Va.
Just after my discharge in 1939, the going was rather tough + I changed jobs + addresses pretty often. And once I forgot to write my address in, then a letter came from Norfolk notifying me of the discharge. What I would like to find out is, if there is any way I can reenlist or be reinstated in the Marine Corps. Reserve?
I registered for selective service + have been employed at the Rustless Iron + Steel Corps, 3400 E. Chase Street Balt. Md for the past three years. I wanted to make it clear I am not trying to keep out of the service, on the contrary, I would like very much to be back in the Marine Corp.
I am now in class IIB, the company, doing 100% different work, I am on my third Department, the work is important but I certainly don’t claim to be indispensable. I have tried to enlist + volunteer for induction, but they won’t take me unless I am in IA.
I would appreciate it very much if you will give me the information on the discharge + the possibility of my either reenlisting or being reinstated in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Respt-
Kyle Elmer Mills
236 E. 25thStreet
Baltimore Md.”
Kyle Mills returned to the Marine Corps, serving as a combat engineer and landing on Okinawa. Many engineers were sappers and flame throwers.
The story of this rifle continued to be fascinating so that we couldn’t stop. Sadly, Kyle Mills passed away in 1996. However, we were able to contact his daughter. She returned a simple phone call and asked, “What kind of information would you like to know?”
We replied that we could discuss his life through documents and his service records, but we wanted to learn about him from those who knew him personally.
She replied: “Well… I remember every year on Easter Sunday, my father would cry uncontrollably, I never knew why. It honestly scared me for years, then one day he sat me down and told me it’s because it’s a yearly reminder of the carnage he saw on Okinawa.”
We said if you feel comfortable telling that story and others, we would love to hear about it. She wrote a letter and provided many photographs.
Please read his story. We included a copy of the letter she provided. We redacted her name to respect her privacy.

M1903 National Match Serial Number 1,526,131

This may be one of the nicest rifles we have ever documented. It is abstolutely stunning and a true time capsule. It even includes a shipping crate. The owner has also photographed it with period correct National Match shooting accessories to better help showcase this piece. The name on the index card matches the same name on the shipping crate. A rare gem indeed.

Rifle, U.S. Cal. .30 M1903. A1, National Match 1939, New with Target wand Stargauge Record Card.

Serial Number: 1,526,131
Sold to: Mr. Calvin H. Austin

Address: 266 Funston Avenue, San Francisco, California

Thomas G. Jackson collection

 

M1903 Serial Number 1,024,813 USS Califronia Pearl Harbor battleship recovery rifle!

This may be the best example where you can buy the story…

Rifle number 1,024,813 is included in a string of correspondence between Captain J.W. Bunkley and the Salavge Officer of Lt. Comdr. Berthold at Pearl Harbor. This paperwork is copied from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Capt. Bunkley was transferring custody of various small arms from the USS California (sunk at the attack on December 7th) to various coastal artillery batteries constructed for the defense around the islands of Hawaii following the attack on December 7th.

When the United States military was caught off guard by the devastating attack at Pearl Harbor. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Army were thrust into a frenzied scramble for equipment and supplies. In the midst of this chaos, the U.S. Navy was salvaging equipment and supplies from ships sunk at Pearl Harbor, including the USS California.   In preparation for a potential second strike by the Empire of Japan, these supplies and military equipment were swiftly and strategically transferred to coastal artillery batteries around the islands of Hawaii. The anticipated attack, however, never materialized, leaving behind a tense and uncertain peace.

But this rifle is linked to that event.

The USS California and all of her glory!

A inter-war period era photograph of the USS Califronia landing party training, You can notice the USMC officers leading the training exercise and the USS Tennessee in the background, the only other USS Teneesee class battleship ever made.

 

 

USMC M1911A1 Serial Number 856,682

This 1911 was found within a report from Major F.T. Clarke, Jr., of the 1st Aircraft Wing which recorded several articles of equipment he had received from the Wing Quartermaster’s Guard Company. Within that report were 10 Model 1911 & Model 1911A1 pistols. The pistol’s serial number is noted as the 3rd from the last in that group of pistols. At that time Major Clarke Jr., was stationed at the Headquarters Squadron 61, Marine Aircraft Group 61, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The Guard Company acted as the security detail for aircraft wing. Other articles transferred to Major Clarke, includes 10 nightsticks and 30 brassards marked “MP” (military police).

Photos are courtesy of the P. DuBaldo collection.

Once Mr. DuBaldo received his paperwork, he painstakingly sought Marine Corps articles that matched the theme and era of a USMC Aircraft Wing, Guard Company.

His photography and layout design takes his appreciation of the story to the next level!

 

14th Cavalry M1911 Serial Number 600,340

This paperwork was found in a box of issuance paperwork for the 14th Cavalry in 1920. The month and day are not noted. The box indicates it was for Troop H of the 14th Cavalry. Fortunately, the issuance paperwork denotes an individual Cavalry Trooper to whom it was issued. This allowed the owner to dive deeper and deeper and form a backstory of who carried this sidearm.

Now, with the help of primary sources, it can paint a personal story of the pistol due to its paperwork.

A.R.G. located an ‘Ordnance Property Account’ document signed by Trooper Fred Spink showing that this pistol was issued directly to him. Born in 1901, he enlisted in 1918 and underwent basic training at Camp Funston. However, his service was cut short by the end of World War I. Undeterred, he reenlisted and was assigned to the 14th Cavalry. After a few years, he was transferred to a field artillery unit in the late 1920s. A family man, he was married and had two daughters. Tragically, he passed away in 1952 during a hunting trip, the cause of death believed to be a heart attack.

His service record was last updated in 2007 (not a typo) when his daughters requested his service number to attain veterans benefits for their mother for nursing home care.

The last photo is presently the only known photo of Fred Spink in uniform. This takes the pistol from the finish and markings of the parts and emphasizes the human aspect of the pistol history.

The owner acquired equipment and gear a early 1920’s Cavalry Trooper would have been issued post World War I. (You may notice the 14th Cavalry DUI (Distinctive Unit Insignia) on the campaign hat.)

This pistol resides in a personal collection on the East Coast.

 

M1903 Serial Number 661,258 used in a Winchester ammunition test in 1919

In 1917, the United States found itself unprepared for war. It was propelled from a small peacetime force handling border disputes and protesting workers into a world war that engulfed every corner of the globe. With that came wartime expediency, where quality suffered tremendously.

One of the significant issues was ammunition quality. Reports came back from the AEF in Europe of ammunition causing injuries and failures. The problem became so severe that USMC Major General Lejeune ordered an investigation.  His division suspended the use of Winchester ammunition until the investigation was completed.

In 1919, Winchetser conducted a rather large ammunition test. Every rifle was inspected, and the number of rounds fired was recorded. In the paperwork, Army Ordnance Officer Colonel L. M. Fuller was inquiring through official channels if shipping orders were initiated so he could ship the rifles back to Springfield Armory from the Bridgeport District Ordnance District now that the ammunition test at Winchester Repeating Arms had been concluded.
The rifle shows many post war rebuild characteristics (possibly at Rock Island Arsenal) such as a second stock screw (collectors refer to them as “stock bolts”), 1919 Rock Island Arsenal replacement barrel, Rock Island stamped front sight (Ordnance Bomb, and 23), Rock Island Bolt Shroud (Ordnance Bomb and 36) and 1917 Rock Island Arsenal Bolt (R4 stamped under the bolt handle circa 1917).

This is a unique individual history that would have been lost without the accompanying primary sources obtained at the National Archives.

The owner elected to do a layout using Ordnance manuals, authentic ordnance paperwork, and an Ordnance Officer’s uniform from that period. This is a great way to showcase its unique history.

This rifle resides in a collection in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The associated paperwork, detailing the severity of the problem concerning ammunition qaulity and safety concerns.

 

M1903 Serial Number 1,017,612 connected to the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga

This rifle is linked to a Survey Request Report and Expediture for the U.S. Navy concerning the USS Saratoga at Puget Sound Navy Yard in August of 1941

The USS Saratoga was going through a substantial upgrade for her Anti-Aircraft guns and radar. During this period equipment for her “landing party” equipment was taken off removed from inventory and reissued elsewhere. The report catalogues cutlass swords (think about that one for a minute), Marine Corps machine gun carts, M1907 slinks, 157 M1903 rifles and various other asscessories.

The USS Saratoga (nicknamed the “Sara”) has a rich history.  Initially she was a battlecruiser but converted to one of the first aircraft carrier to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. During her AA and radar upgrade landing force equipment was eliminated from aircraft carriers.

A landing force was a Navy and Marine Corps combined assault force designed to take hostile ports. A classic example of this is the United States occupation of Vera Cruz. However, the U.S. Navy model had changed substantially from 1914 and the Navy would never allow a aircraft carrier anywhere near a hostile port. So with that change, unnecessary small arms and equipment was eliminiated from her inventory as detailed in this string of correspondence.

It should be noted that the U.S. Navy had the M1903 Springfield rifle its standard issue rifle for the duration of World War II even with the adoption and mass production of the M1 Garand Service rifle. The US Navy would not begin to replace the 1903 with the M1 Garand until September of 1945 (see the accompanying document).

The owner here has elected to piece together a interwar sailors uniform, period photographs of the USS saratoga and varying naval landing party items to help highlight this rifle’s history.

The owner wishes to remain annoynmous but resides on the East Coast of the United States.

 

 

 

A special thanks goes out to:

P. DuBaldo M1911 historian and passionate collector for his photograph contributions. His dedication to the study of the M1911 is something we can all appreciate.
Alex Antonopoulos, Massachusetts based for his knowledge and expertise on various projects we work on that help shed light on our nation’s military history. His contributions are a constant reminder that research is a team sport.