Hole in arsenal to be filled shortly

[cpt dan blodgett]

In the process of procuring a 1884 TD Springfield to join the 98 Krag, 03 Sprg, M1, M1-A.  May well be a fool and his money deal but...
Small detail of sending check and having it mailed to AZ remain.  At some time I guess I will need to get a CW Springfield, AR and 2 1795 springfields
The butt plate indicates 37 and the stock is painted 5 L 37, presumably 37th US Infantry.  Near as I can tell the 37th Infantry was organized in 1916 and served on the Rio Grande during the time of the Punitive Expedition.  Strange that a unit organized in 1916 would be issued Trap Door Springfields, but perhaps the shortage of 03s and Krags necessitated the issuance of the really obsolete TD.

[Cowtown Scout]

Congratulations Captain!

[cpt dan blodgett]

Hopefully it will be a good shooter.
Cow Town Scout if you are at WR we can shoot it Bucky Oneill.  Now that I am retired load development should be much easier.

[Drydock]

Will do some research, but suspect thats a national guard marking from the S.A.W.  37 is most likely a simple rack number.

[Charles Isaac]

    That is NICE! Especially seeing how it's the model the U.S. Marines used!


    Got a lot of case left and a nice bore-that one should be a blast-a real winner!

[cpt dan blodgett]

Will do some research, but suspect thats a national guard marking from the S.A.W.  37 is most likely a simple rack number.

Does this 37 mean the regiment???

[Drydock]

No.  US Army regular units of the era did not stamp or otherwise unit mark weapons.  That was applied by a state/national guard unit.  Most likely in the buildup during the Spanish American War.   I would guess 5th battalion/regiment, company L, rack #37.  But 5th of what, well, I'd call it 5th US Volunteer infantry myself.

BTW thats an M1888 Rod bayonet rifle.  They still used the 1884 stamping on the breechblock.  The M1888 was the most commonly issued Trapdoor to the volunteer regiments of the SAW.  And a fine looking one it is!

[Cowtown Scout]

Hopefully it will be a good shooter.
Cow Town Scout if you are at WR we can shoot it Bucky Oneill.  Now that I am retired load development should be much easier.

First Congratulations on Retirement!  I do plan to attend Winter Range and shoot the Bucky O'Neill match.  If I don't get one of my trapdoors going by then I would love to shoot yours.

[Drydock]

http://www.fortwiki.com/5th_U.S._Volunteer_Infantry


One of the few units to deploy, occupation duty in Cuba.