US Infantry Weapons
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Rock Island Rifle Model 1903 – Table of Contents
It would be bemusing to find an arms collector or firearm enthusiast who was not familiar with the U.S. Rifle, Caliber, .30, Model of 1903. Developed by the Springfield Armory and adopted in 1903, the rifle is so closely associated with that venerable National Armory in Massachusetts that when someone refers to a “Springfield rifle,” it is almost axiomatic that they are referencing the M1903. It is sometimes forgotten, however, that another U.S. government ordnance facility also manufactured M1903 rifles from the time of the rifle’s adoption in 1903 until just after World War I. Foreword v Preface vii Chapter Page 1 Rock Island Arsenal 1 2 First Production…
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US Infantry Weapons In Combat – Table of Contents
“Some movies, like “Band of Brothers” are very accurate, others are not. The general history books of these wars rarely contain the in-depth details of infantry weapons that would be of interest to collectors. The stories about US infantry weapons contained in this book are the real hands-on experiences of the men who actually used them for their intended purposes. Once I began reading these interviews, I could not put the manuscript down.” – Scott A. Duff Table of Contents v Illustrations vii Foreward ix Preface xiii Acknowledgements 1 Darrell “Shifty” Powers • World War II – ETO • Army, 101st Airborne Division 12 Bill Trexler •…
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“US Infantry Weapons in Combat” – Jack Walentine
Jack Walentine enlisted in the US Army in 1947. He was 16 years old at the time; he got in using his older brother’s birth certificate. The Army sent him to Fort Dix, NJ for basic training. Following basic, he attended jump school at Fort Benning and then was assigned to the 188th Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division in Japan. In 1949, he was transferred to the 25th Division and he remained with them until the outbreak of the Korean War. He served in Korea from July 1950 until being wounded for the fourth time in February 1951. After being wounded in February he was returned to the…
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“US Infantry Weapons in Combat” – Darrell ”Shifty” Powers
Darrell ”Shifty” Powers enlisted in the U.S. Army in early 1942 in Portsmouth, VA. He volunteered for the Paratroops and was sent to Camp Toccoa, GA. where he was assigned to E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The story of Easy Company has been described in Stephen Ambrose’s excellent book, “Band of Brothers” and in the HBO miniseries of the same title. The Regiment became one of the three infantry regiments assigned to the 101st Airborne Division during World War Two. After intensive training in the US, the 506th moved to England and continued to train for the invasion of Europe. Mr. Powers made combat jumps with Easy Company into…
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“US Infantry Weapons in Combat” – Personal Experiences from World War II and Korea
The first thing that the reader must know about this book is that it is a gun book. It is not simply war stories, but is a series of interviews with soldiers and Marines specifically relating their experiences with the US infantry weapons in combat during World War II and in the Korean War. We decided to include both wars as basically both saw the same weapons used. As I first read the manuscript I was fascinated by the dramatically differing opinions. One man loved the M1 rifle and hated the M1 carbine while the next loved the M1 carbine and hated the M1 rifle. One thought that the Garand…
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My Favorite World War I U.S. Small Arms – 1917 Rifle (Part 3/3)
This blog post is the last of three about my favorite World War I U.S small arms. When America entered World War I in April 1917 it was ill prepared in arms and equipment with which to fight in a world war. As it took many months for US troops to train and travel to Europe and to enter combat, weapons manufactured in 1918 have been the focus of my collecting. Surprising to some, the M1903 rifle was not the predominant rifle carried by U.S. troops in World War I. That rifle actually was the United States Rifle Model of 1917, often erroneously referred to as the M1917 Enfield or…
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My Favorite World War I U.S. Small Arms – 1903 Rifle (Part 2/3)
This blog post is the second of three about my favorite World War I U.S small arms. America declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. It took many months for US troops to reach Europe and to enter combat. The primary period of time for Americans in combat in World War I was in 1918, therefore weapons manufactured in 1918 have been the focus of my collecting. From adoption in 1903 through early 1917, Springfield Armory was the only continuous maker of the M1903. Rock Island Arsenal had also manufactured M1903 rifles, but only from 1904 through 1913. Production at Springfield Army was at only a moderate rate. By…
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A 4th of July Tribute (Part 1/2)
Each year on the 4th of July, I take some time away from cookouts, fireworks, and my family to spend a few moments with my favorite firearm. I sit alone in my gunroom, reflecting upon the one piece in my collection that for me most embodies Independence Day. It doesn’t have a gas cylinder, it isn’t even Parkerized. It isn’t a mint, perfect example; in fact it is probably the worst condition piece in my collection. It is a well-used Model 1763 Charleville flintlock musket, which features a branded “U STATES” surcharge and three sets of initials carved into the stock. Both sling swivels have been removed and the studs…
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We Wish They Could Talk – Sometimes They Do (Part 1/2)
Over the many decades I have been a collector and dealer of US martial arms, I have often heard fellow collectors say “I wish this rifle (or pistol) could talk.” Or “I wonder who carried it and where it has been.” In a few very rare cases we have been able to answer at least part of those questions. The 30 Guam Garands are one unique example. These 30 M1 rifles were given to the Guam Security Patrol Force after the battle in 1944 and eventually ended up with the Guam Police Department. In 1994 that Department wanted to update their inventory of small arms. A trade was made with…
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