Krag-Jorgenson .30-40 rifle issued to rural banks

[lacenter]

I saw the paragraph below on the website listed below. Can you tell me who might maintain records about which banks were issued which rifles (serial numbers) – US Treasury, NARA or some other facility?

http://www.grandarmyofthefrontier.org/articles/m1892.htm

"After the adoption of the M1903, the Krag continued to soldier on as a training rifle and in the hands of National Guard troops until after World War I. During the 1930s, the Krag was also issued by the U.S. Treasury Department to rural bank guards to help defend the bank against criminals and was issued to security guards who guarded strategic production plants during World War II."

Lee Anne

[pony express]

With all the stories of the bank robbers of the time armed with Thompsons, BARs, etc, I wouldn't have been to comfortable protecting a bank with a Krag(as much as I like Krags!) Unless, of course, you could engage the robbers at several hundred yards distance.

[St. George]

In my experience - rifles like these were issued 'free' - meaning without paperwork.

In the Middle West - the more-or-less 'standard' Government-issued weapon for banks was the Model 1897 Winchester and the Model 12 Winchester.

These were issued to a number of banks - and after a few years, were relegated to storage or went home in someone's vehicle, since no record-keeping was required, and they were conveniently 'forgotten'.

Finding any reference on an obsolete and 'surplus to the needs of the Government' weapon is going to be a seriously tough search.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[lacenter]

Thanks St. George and pony express for your interesing replies.