shotguns

[voodoo child]

i have a few questions about the military use of shotguns   1) what was the first shotgun officially adopted by the US  2) what kind of troops were issued shotguns and  3) when did the trench gun come into use?

[Charles Isaac]

The M1881 20ga Springfield "Trapdoor Forager" is the earliest purpose issued US shotgun I know of.

Prior to the adoption of the rifled musket and except for a few issue rifled small arms, virtually all muskets, carbines, musketoons etc. were technically shotguns. They were capable of firing buckshot, shot and  ball loads.  Geo Washington favored the combination buck and ball load and prescribed its use in battle, although it is doubtful this was possible on a large scale due to poor logistics. When the troops had to forage for small game with, they loaded up with a lighter charge, some wadding and shot.

One of the Marine officers killed at the Battle of Chapultepec was armed with a double barrel shotgun and there is a story that a Private in one of the volunteer units brought an early Marlin or Winchester pump shotgun to the Philippines around 1899 for use on opium fueled Moros, setting the precedent for the modern pump combat shotgun. (Today, autoloaders are issued, but in much smaller numbers than the pumpgun.)

The Winchester trenchgun was first issued in 1917 as far as I know.

[St. George]

The 20 Guage Springfield Model of 1881 was created in part from salvaged parts, in order to provide the lowest-cost weapon possible.

Given the manner in which they were built - and being as plain as they are - beware of fakes.

They made approximately 1,376 of them, and they were a standard Post item of issue until 1904.

They were designed to enhance the larder of the Post via hunting - they were not a combat shotgun.

For more information on 'that' - get a copy of 'United States Combat Shotguns' - by Canfield.

For an in-depth look at the Model of 1881 - read 'Trapdoor Springfield' - by Waite and Ernst.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[voodoo child]

thanks 4 the info       (speaking of automatic shotguns i know a formor marine that carried a semi auto shotgun in nam he still has the pelt from a tiger he killed with it)   ive noticed soldiers useing win97s on alot of span am war movies did this actually happen or is that another hollywood thing?

[St. George]

Insofar as the Silver Screen is concerned - the shotgun is a dramatic device.

It looks good and it looks deadly and there's a lot of 'action' associated with it, and some morons even think that you're supposed to actuate a pump shotgun one-handed...

Hollywood does a lot of unusual things for dramatic effect - muddying the waters seems to be a side benefit.

Actuality is somewhat different.

The only movie that comes to mind, is 'The Wind and the Lion' - there are a couple of Model 97 Winchesters being used by the Marine Landing Party.

Again - it's a movie...

Canfield's book is fairly comprehensive, so far as bona-fide military use is concerned.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!