20th century us army induvidial issued firearms

My 20th Century Military Gun Collection and others. 3 March 2010

M1903 Colt .38 Long Colt DA Revolver
This was the first US Army issued sidearm during the 20th century and used in WWI. There was a
M1901 and a M1905, but both were similar to the M1903. I bought it from the Gunbrokers.com
auction site in 2010 for $500.00.
Colt Model 1903 U.S. Army
"U.S. Army Model 1903"
Date: 1903 S/N 205097
This Model 1903 was actually manufactured in 1903 and the total delivered to the Army was reported by Springfield Armory at 12,500. This model was the last variation in the New Army/Navy Model family (Model 1892 series) and serial numbers for the Model 1903 ran from 200,000 to 212,500.
The Model 1901 and 1903 were the only New Model Army and & Navy revolvers shipped from Colts with the lanyard loop, earlier models found with the lanyard loop probably received upgrades at Colts or Springfield to bring them up to the Model 1901 specifications.

The Model 1903 had two major changes from its predecessors:
1) Bore diameter was decreased from .363 inch to .357 inch to increase accuracy. This was to accommodate the new more powerful S&W .38 Special Cartridge, though it could still shoot the .38 Long Colt cartridge.
2) Grips were narrowed to provide for a better grip
The example shown here is the Army marked model, there are also Navy and Marine Corp marked variations but these are much rarer and demand a premium price. This revolver is in roughly 70% condition and has not only survived with original parts and finish but the original serial numbered grips as well. This is a neat example of the last primary issue revolver in .38 caliber as it was replaced by the .45 caliber bullet which was re-introduced in the Model of 1909 (45 Long Colt). The cartouche information that appeared on the left side of the grip panels on previous military models was moved to the frame in 1902 by the Army and first began appearing on the Model 1901 Army model. You will find the Model 1903 revolvers with "1902", "1903" or "1904" on the frame depending on when they were received by the Army.
The Philippines Insurrection was a huge failure of performance for the .38 caliber revolvers and was the last conflict they participated in as the U.S. governments primary sidearm. In 1909 the Colts M1909 in .45 Long Colt was adopted as the primary sidearm of the U.S. Army and was subsequently replaced by the Colts M1911 semi automatic pistol in late 1911. The M1917 came to be as a interim revolver due to the needs of World War I not being met by M1911 manufacturers. The M1911 was updated in 1924 and became the M1911-A1 which was then produced through 1945.
 R.A.C. = Rinaldo A. Carr who was a civilian employee of the War Department and was the sub-inspector on the revolvers. Mark is found on the Cylinder, left frame, and bottom of grips.
 J.E.H = Captain Jay E. Hoffer - Inspector of Contract Arms, Colt revolvers and Colt Gatling guns. Oct. 31, 1903 to Mar. 6, 1906. Commanding Officer at Springfield Armory from Mar. 15, 1918 to Sept. 16th, 1918. Retired as a Colonel on Jan. 1919. There were other inspectors that accepted the Model 1903 as well.
 Serial numbers are found on grips, butt, cylinder latch, crane recess and crane.
 No serial numbers on the barrel or cylinder just as the Colt M1909 revolvers.
 "K" mark on Latch release, grip frame, cylinder crane, and barrel match in size and font.
 It has also been reported that these pistols saw use as late as World War II. Refer to documentation presented in Charles W. Pates "US Handguns of World War II, The secondary pistols and revolvers". However, this book does not address these revolvers on any detail.


M1903A3 cal. 30-06 bolt action Remington
This rifle was the issued rifle used by troops of the US Army during World War I. I received one of
These from DCM (Director of Civilian Marksmanship) at a cost of $300.00
The M1903 Springfield, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903, is an American magazine-fed, 5-shot, bolt-action service rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century.
It was officially adopted as a United States military bolt-action rifle on June 21 1905, and saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing, semi-automatic 8 round M1 Garand, starting in 1937. However, the M1903 Springfield remained in service as a standard issue infantry rifle during World War II, since the U.S. entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops. It also remained in service as a sniper rifle during World War II, Korean War and even in the early stages of the Vietnam War. It remains popular as a civilian firearm, historical collector's piece and as a military drill rifle.

M1909 Colt .45 Long Colt Revolver
This gun was the issued sidearm for the US Army preceding the M1911. It was designed and adopted
due to the perceived inefficient knockdown of the current 38 Long Colt issued sidearm used in the
Philippine conflict which it replaced. I bought it from the Gunbrokers.com online auction site in 2008
for $350.00. The front sight has been modified.
The Colt New Service was a double-action revolver made by Colt from 1898 until c.1946. It was adopted by the U.S. Armed Forces in .45 Colt as the Model 1909 U.S. Army, Marine Corps Model 1909, Model 1909 U.S. Navy and in .45 ACP as the Model 1917 U.S. Army.[1] The Model 1917 was created to supplement inadequate stocks of M1911 pistols during World War One.[2]
In 1899 Canada acquired a number of New Service revolvers (chambered in .45 Colt) for Boer War service, to supplement its existing Model 1878 Colt Double Action revolvers in the same caliber.[3] In 1904/5 the North-West Mounted Police in Canada also adopted the Colt New Service to replace the less-than satisfactory Enfield Mk II revolver in service since 1882.[4]
New Service revolvers, designated as Pistol, Colt, .455-inch 5.5-inch barrel Mk. I, chambered for the .455 Webley cartridge were acquired for issue as "substitute standard" by the British War Department during World War One.[5] British Empire Colt New Service Revolvers were stamped "NEW SERVICE .455 ELEY" on the barrel[6], to differentiate them from the .45 Colt versions used by the US (and Canada).
The Colt New Service was a popular revolver with British Officers, and many of them had privately purchased their own Colt New Service revolvers in the years prior to World War I as an alternative to the standard-issue Webley Revolver. 60,000 Colt New Service revolvers were supplied to British Empire and Canadian forces during WW I, and they continued to see service until the end of World War II.[6]

M1911 cal .45 Auto
This was the issued sidearm for the latter WWI soldiers which replaced the M1909 revolver. I built mine from new and used GI parts and assembled it on a Safari Arms receiver.

The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.[1] It was designed by John M. Browning, and was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985, and is still carried by some U.S. forces. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Its formal designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original Model of 1911 or Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the M1911A1, adopted in 1924. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam era.[1] In total, the United States procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols in military contracts during its service life.
The M1911 is the most well-known of John Browning's designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. Besides the pistol being widely copied itself, this operating system rose to become the pre-eminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as IDPA, International Practical Shooting Confederation, and Bullseye shooting. It is also a popular civilian concealed carry option due to its slim width.
M1917 Colt Revolver was modified by the US Army from the 45 Long Colt to chamber the newly adopted 45 Auto cartridge created to supplement inadequate stocks of M1911 pistols during World War One.[2]

M1917 revolver
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M1917 Revolver

Colt M1917
Type Revolver

Place of origin United States

Service history
In service 1917–c. 1954
Used by United States, Brazil

Wars World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War (reportedly)

Production history
Designed 1917
Produced 1917–1920
Number built c. 300,000 total (c. 150,000 per manufacturer)
Variants Slightly differing versions of the M1917 were made by Colt (shown above) and Smith & Wesson

Specifications
Weight 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) (Colt)
2.25 lb (1 kg) (S&W)

Length 10.8 in (274 mm)

Barrel length
5.5 in (140 mm)

________________________________________
Cartridge
.45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim

Action
double action, solid frame with swing-out cylinder
Muzzle velocity
760 ft/s ( 231.7 m/s)
Feed system six-round cylinder, loaded singly or with two three-round half-moon clips

Sights blade front sight, notched rear sight
The M1917 Revolver (formally United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917) was a U.S. six-shot revolver of .45 ACP caliber. It was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1917 to supplement the standard M1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol during World War I. Afterwards, it was primarily used by secondary and non-deployed troops. There were two variations of the M1917, one from Colt and one from S&W.
•
[edit] Background
U.S. civilians arms companies of Colt and Remington as well as other companies were producing M1911 pistols under contract for the U.S. Army, but even with the additional production there existed a shortage of M1911s. The interim solution was to ask the two major American producers of revolvers to adapt their heavy-frame civilian revolvers to the standard .45 ACP pistol cartridge.
Colt had until recently produced a revolver for the U.S. Army called the M1909, a version of their heavy-frame, .45-caliber, New Service model in .45 Long Colt to supplement and replace a range of 1890s-era .38 caliber Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers that had demonstrated inadequate stopping power during the Philippine-American War. The Colt M1917 Revolver was essentially the same as the M1909 with a cylinder bored to take the .45 ACP cartridge and the half-moon clips to hold the rimless cartridges in position. In early Colt production revolvers, attempting to fire the .45 ACP without the half-moon clips was unreliable at best, as the cartridge could slip forward into the cylinder and away from the firing pin.[citation needed] Later production Colt M1917 revolvers had headspacing machined into the cylinder chambers, just as the Smith & Wesson M1917 revolvers had from the start. Newer Colt production could be fired without the half-moon clips, but the empty cartridge cases had to be ejected with a device such as a cleaning rod or pencil, as the cylinder extractor and ejector would pass over the rims of the rimless cartridges.



M1917 Eddystone (Made by Remington) is a Bolt Action (P17) Enfield type rifle that were made in .30-
06 Caliber for US Army. The P14 was a similar rifle used by the British Army, chambered for the .303
cartridge. I bought mine from Gunbrokers.com online auction in 2009 for $300.00.
The Eddystone Story
By Walter J. Kuleck, Ph.D.
________________________________________
Eddystone Rifle Plant
The war activities of the Baldwin Locomotive Works also included the construction of two large plants on their property at Eddystone for the manufacture of rifles and ammunition, and accomplishments in this connection constitute a series of achievements worthy of record.
On April 30, 1915, the British Government placed a contract with the Remington Arms Company of Delaware for 1,500,000 rifles to be manufactured in one of the plants mentioned above, under the general direction of Mr. S. M. Vauclain. The work of constructing equipping and organizing this enormous plant was fully accomplished, and production established by December 31, 1915, continuing until the close of 1918. Mr. Charles H. Schlacks was engaged as General Manager on May 1, 1915, and to him great credit is due for the completion of the organization and the remarkable manufacturing results obtained.
The main building of the Rifle Plant covered 14 acres of ground, and had a length of 1,040 feet and a maximum width of 816 feet. Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining delivery of equipment and machinery in time to meet the terms of the British contract, and some idea of the extent of the installation may be had from the fact that 10,000 machines, 40,200 feet of shafting, and 424,000 feet of belting were required.
The first British contract, mentioned above, was followed by another, signed August 2, 1915, calling for 500,000 rifles, and necessitating additional equipment. Because of the complexity of rifle manufacture, it was impossible to obtain experienced workmen; hence it was some time after the completion of the Plant before it could be operated at capacity. In consequence, an extension of time was granted for the completion of these contracts.
Soon after the United States entered the war, April 6, 1917, and in view of its prospective rifle requirements, cancellation of the British contracts, after the completion of 600,000 rifles, was arranged. Later, the British-owned machinery and equipment passed by agreement to the United States Government who continued the British arrangement with the Remington Arms Company for its operation in the manufacture of rifles for the United States Army.
The first contract for rifles for the United States Government was signed on July 12, 1917; and during the twelve months beginning September, 1917, 1,000,000 rifles were completed, the greatest known achievement in rifle production. These rifles differed slightly from those manufactured for the British Government, in that they fired a .300 calibre rimless cartridge; whereas the British rifle, which was an Enfield (model of 1914) fired a .303 calibre rim cartridge.
On January 2, 1918, the Remington Arms Company of Delaware was absorbed by the Midvale Steel and Ordnance Company (Eddystone Rifle Plant). The latter Company operated the plant until after the close of the war.
The completion of rifle number 1,000,000 for the United States Government was celebrated by a mass meeting held on September 12, 1918. the meeting was attended by a number of notable army, navy and industrial officials, and by more than 14,000 employees of the Plant.
Operations at the Plant ceased on January 11, 1919, at which time nearly 300,000 rifles were in process of manufacture. The Government then leased the premises for a storage plant.
The total number of rifles manufactured in this Plant was 1,959,954, in addition to spare parts equivalent to 200,000 rifles. The greatest production exceeded 6,000 rifles per day, and the maximum number of employees was 15,294. When it is remembered that nearly two-thirds of all the rifles used in combat by the American Army in France were manufactured at Eddystone, the value of the wrok done can, to some extent, be appreciated; and the achievement was the more remarkable in view of the exceptional difficulties encountered in equipping the plant and securing labor and material.
--from "History of The Baldwin Locomotive Works 1831-1923," company history reprinted in "The Locomotives that Baldwin Built" by Fred Westing, Bonanza Books, New York, 1966.


M1928 Thompson .45 caliber semi-auto clip fed rifle.
This was also issued to some WWII soldiers. Mine has a 30 round stick magazine (some 20 rounders
were common issue) and a 10 round drum magazine (original issue was 50 round). It has a finned
vertical hand grip. It’s a semi-auto version that I purchased new from Auto Ordinance in 2004 for
$850.00.
World War II
In 1938, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military, serving during World War II and beyond.
There were two military types of Thompson SMG. The M1928A1 had provisions for box magazines and drums (the drums were disliked because of their tendency to rattle and jam). It had a Cutts compensator, cooling fins on the barrel, and its charging handle was on the top of the receiver. The M1 and M1A1 had a barrel without cooling fins, a simplified rear sight, provisions only for box magazines, and the charging handle was on the side of the receiver. Because the option to use drums was not included in the M1 and M1A1, the 30 round box magazine was designed for use with this model.
The Thompson was used in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant and higher ranking), and patrol leaders. In the European theater, the gun was widely utilized in British and Canadian Commando units, as well as the U.S. Army paratroopers and Ranger battalions who used it widely because of its high rate of fire, its stopping power and because it was very effective in close combat. A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, called Kulsprutepistol m/40 (meaning "submachine gun model 40"), served in the Swedish Army between 1940 and 1951. Through Lend-Lease, the Soviet Union also received the Thompson, but due to a shortage of appropriate ammunition in the Soviet Union, usage was not widespread.[20]
In the Pacific Theater, Australian Army infantry and other Commonwealth forces initially used the Thompson extensively in jungle patrols and ambushes, where it was prized for its firepower, though its hefty weight of over 10 pounds and difficulties in supply eventually led to its replacement by other submachine guns such as the Owen and Austen. The U.S. Marines also used the Thompson as a limited-issue weapon, especially during their later island assaults. The Thompson was soon found to have limited effect in heavy jungle cover, where the low-velocity .45 bullet would not penetrate most small-diameter trees, or protective armor vests (in 1923, the Army had rejected the .45 Remington-Thompson, which had twice the energy of the .45ACP).[21] In the U.S. Army, many Pacific War jungle patrols were originally equipped with Thompsons in the early phases of the New Guinea and Guadalcanal campaigns, but soon began employing the BAR in its place, especially at front (point) and rear (tail) positions, as a point defense weapon.[22] The Argentine company Hafdasa and the Buenos Aires based firm Halcon manufactured the C-4 and M-1943 submachine guns which have a very similar layout and performance to the Thompson Gun, both weapons chambered in 9x19mm for the Argentine Army and .45 ACP for the Argentine Police forces. These weapons were a serious contender to the Thompson Gun but did not see much service outside Argentina.


Smith & Wesson “Victory” M10 Revolver in 6” barrel .38 S&W caliber. This gun was used in WWII
Mainly by aircraft pilots and for lend lease to our allies. Marked “US Property”

Victory model
The S&W Model 10 military revolvers produced from 1940 to 1945 had serial numbers with a "V" prefix, and were known as the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. It is noteworthy that early Victory Models did not always have the V prefix. During World War II, huge numbers - over 570,000 - of these pistols, chambered in the British .38/200 caliber already in use in the Enfield No 2 Mk I Revolver and the Webley Mk IV Revolver, were supplied to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa under the Lend-Lease program. Most Victory Models sent to Britain were fitted with 4" (102 mm) or 5" (127 mm) barrels, though a few early versions had 6" (150 mm) barrels.[5][6] In general, most British and Commonwealth forces expressed a preference for the .38/200 Smith & Wesson over their standard Enfield revolver.[7]
The Victory Model was also used by United States forces during WWII, being chambered in the well-known and popular .38 Special cartridge. The Victory Model was a standard-issue sidearm for US Navy and Marine aircrews, and was also used by guards at factories and defense installations throughout the United States during the war. Some of these revolvers remained in service well into the 1990s with units of the US Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard. Some Lend-Lease Victory Model revolvers originally chambered for the British .38/200 were returned to the U.S. and rechambered to fire the more popular and more powerful .38 Special ammunition, and such revolvers are usually so marked on their barrels. Rechambering of .38-200 cylinders to .38 Special results in oversized chambers which may cause problems.
The finish on Victory Models is typically a sandblasted and parkerized finish, which is noticeably different from the higher-quality blue or nickel/chrome finishes usually found on commercial M&P/Model 10 revolvers. Other distinguishing features of the Victory Model revolver are the lanyard loop at the bottom of the grip frame, and the use of smooth (rather than checkered) walnut grip panels. However some early models did use a checkered grip. Most notably the pre-1942 manufacture.[8]

M1D Garand cal. 30-06 semi-automatic eight shot top loading clip fed Springfield Armory rifle. It was
designed and adopted by the US Army to replace the M1903 and M1917 rifles.
This rifle also came from DCM at a cost of $650.00. It was the designated “Sniper rifle” that was issued
During WWII and the Korean War. It has the scope, cheek piece, flash suppressor and bayonet that
Was issued with it. It is topped with a Libby-Owens-Ford manufactured M82 2.5 power scope. The
Rifle appears to be unfired or arsenal refinished. The scope, cheek pad and M2 flash hider were new in
Wrappers. I assembled it, zeroed it and fired about 10 rounds and that’s all it’s been used.

Most variants of the Garand, save the sniper variants, never saw active duty.[27] The sniper versions were modified to accept scope mounts, and two versions (the M1C, formerly M1E7, and the M1D, formerly M1E8) were produced, although not in significant quantities during World War II.[36] The only difference between the two versions is the mounting system for the telescopic sight. In June 1944, the M1C was adopted as a standard sniper rifle by the U.S. Army to supplement the venerable M1903A4.[37]
The procedure required to install the M1C-type mounts through drilling/tapping the hardened receiver was inefficient in terms of tooling and time. This resulted in the development of the M1D, which utilized a simpler, single-ring Springfield Armory mount.[37] The M1C and M1D first began to be widely used during the Korean War. The U.S. Marine Corps adopted the M1C as their official sniper rifle in 1951. The U.S. Navy has also used the Garand, rechambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round.


The T20E2 selective fire prototype was designed to feed from 20-round BAR magazines.
Two interesting variants that never saw service were the M1E5 and T26 (popularly known as the Tanker Garand). The M1E5 is equipped with a folding buttstock, while the T26 uses the standard solid stock, and has a shorter, 18-inch barrel. The Tanker name was also used after the war as a marketing gimmick for commercially-modified Garands. Another variant that never saw duty was the T20E2. This variant is a Garand modified to accept Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) magazines, and has selective fire capability, with semi- and fully-automatic modes.
The T26 arose from requests by various Army combat commands for a shortened version of the standard M1 rifle for use in jungle or mobile warfare. In July 1945 Col. William Alexander, former staff officer for Gen. Simon Buckner and a new member of the Pacific Warfare Board,[38] requested urgent production of 15,000 carbine-length M1 rifles for use in the Pacific theater.[39][40][41][42] To emphasize the need for rapid action, he requested the Ordnance arm of the U.S. 6th Army in the Philippines to make up 150 18" barreled M1 rifles for service trials, sending another of the rifles by special courier to U.S. Army Ordnance officials at Aberdeen as a demonstration that the M1 could be easily modified to the new configuration.[39][41][43][44] Although the T26 was never approved for production, at least one 18" barreled M1 rifle was used in action in the Philippines by troopers in the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR).[44]
During the 1950s, Beretta produced Garands in Italy at the behest of NATO, by having the tooling used by Winchester during World War II shipped to them by the US government. These rifles were designated Model 1952 in Italy, and eventually led to variants of their own, the best known of these being the BM59 series.
The M1 Garand became the standard U.S. service rifle in 1936, but the former standard M1903 Springfield continued in use. The M1903A4 model Springfield was a bolt action sniper rifle that remained in use for years due to its superior performance. The U.S. rifle M1C or M1D (Sniper's) is the standard U.S. rifle M1 with telescope M81, M82, or M84 mounted on the receiver and a cheek pad laced to the stock. The cone shaped flash hider M2 or prong flash hider T37 is furnished as an accessory with the M1C and M1D models. The 1952 Marine version of the M1C had a different scope and flash hider. The M1C and M1D sniper versions of the M1 Garand were standardized in 1944. The M1C was used late in World War II and was the main sniper weapon for the U.S. Army in Korea. Few M1D models were produced before the end of World War II. Many standard M1s were converted to M1D during the Korean War, but few made it to that war. During the early years of the Vietnam War, the M1D was the official U.S. Army sniper rifle until it was replaced in the mid-1960s by the M-21 7.62mm Sniper Rifle.

M1 Carbine .30 caliber rifle is a semi-auto magazine fed rifle made by several manufacturers (Mine is
Underwood.) This rifle was issued to some troops during WWII. I have several 15 and 30 round
magazines and the bayonet that goes with it.

The M1 carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1) is a lightweight semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm in the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S. and foreign military and paramilitary forces, and has also been a popular civilian firearm.
In selective fire versions capable of fully-automatic fire, the carbine is designated the M2 carbine. The M3 carbine was an M2 with an active infrared scope system.
Unlike conventional carbines, which are generally a version of a parent rifle with a shorter barrel (like the earlier .30-40 U.S. Krag rifle and carbine and the later M16A1 rifle and M4 carbine), the M1 carbine has one part in common with the M1 rifle (a short buttplate screw) and fires a different cartridge.

Savage British Enfield .303 rifle (US PROPERTY) marked was manufactured during WWII through the
US Army contract and lend/leased to its British allies. I purchased it from Gunbrokers.com for $250.00
In 2009.
Savage produced Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I*
In the late 1930’s, hordes of aggressors swarmed over Europe, South East Asia and the Pacific Rim. The land was plundered for raw materials such as oil, lumber, and the ore to produce steel, copper, aluminum etc. Businesses and private property was confiscated without due process. Outrages were directed against women & girls. By the millions, men, women & children were simply slaughtered out of hand. Slave labor camps & factories were set up. Many were subject to hideous medical experiments, or murdered by the testing of new biological and chemical weapons. The aggressors claimed religious, racial, ethnic, or national differences made their victims “less then human”.
Since the end of the Great Depression, Americans had been enjoying an era of prosperity. The news media of the day, radio and newspapers, dutifully covered the events transpiring across the world. (Note 1) While all agreed the intentions and actions of the axis powers were immoral & shameful, many in the U.S. felt we had neither a moral or legal right to interfere in the business of other nations. They, the isolationists, thought the problems of Europeans, Asians and those residing in the Pacific had no bearing on the lives of Americans. They flatly stated we had no business taking a pro-active role in such activities. They further said the stability, or lack of stability in other nations did not affect the livelihood or security of Americans.
They pointed out that Japan had always been an Imperialistic society. They reminded Americans that the German people lawfully elected Adolph Hitler to office. So, how could we justify more then a passing interest in such matters? Besides, they argued, wasn’t that the job of the League of Nations? (Note 2) Also, WWI had ushered in the era of modern warfare. Death could be brought in new & horrifying ways to soldiers, on a scale never even imagined. The trenches were frightening places. The last thing many wanted was for Americans to be dragged into this new fray. It was also pointed out, and quite truthfully, that the US forces had been drastically reduced by the Congress after WWI. Also the Senate Appropriations Committee had failed to provide funding for new, modern equipment. Most of the US Army Air Corps planes were WWI bi-planes.
Many in the US Military and US Government knew that sooner or later the US would be dragged into the war. They especially wanted the UK to remain free of the Nazi yolk. US Forces would need a base to operate from when it came time to launch an invasion of Western Europe. The British Isles were a perfect jumping off spot. The short trip across the English Channel would keep troops fresh for the battle that lay ahead. However, the US was not at war with either Germany or Japan at this point. Since the United States was officially “neutral”, the Neutrality Act of 1939 forbade “direct involvement” in the war; our allies were technically on their own. How could we help, but not violate the law?
Crafty politicians & lawyers in Washington read the law extensively, and wrote a bill to give the president the power to put the vast industrial base of the US at the disposal of our allies, but not have to declare war, or have war declared on us by the axis. Thus, the LEND LEASE ACT OF 1941 came into being. Because the war material supplied was “officially” US PROPERTY, and so marked, it managed to squeak past the benchmark of an outright violation of neutrality. Thus, the US managed to keep our allies supplied with war material, yet, still remain on the correct side of US and international law (though just barely).


Remington Model 11 12 Gauge semi-automatic shotgun. These guns were used throughout WWII, The Korean War and Viet Nam. The gun has the Military Ordnance flaming bomb and Military Finish, but has been re-blued and recoil pad added.

The Model 11 is the most common WWII shotgun encountered today. The long barrel version was commonly used for target practice in training aerial gunners and keeping officers occupied as clay sport shooting had become very popular during this time frame. It is worth noting that there are arsenal refurbished parkerized versions of the Model 11 Riot and Target versions out there but they are rare, most of them appear to have had the arsenal markings added to the left side of the receiver, these arsenal marked rebuilds are rarer than the factory originals and would be a great addition to any collection.

Model US44 Mossberg .22LR caliber 8 shot bolt action magazine fed target rifle.
This rifle is marked “US Property” and was used during the WWII Era as a US Army competition rifle.
I purchased it for $75.00 from the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program), formerly the DCM.
The 44US was designed exclusively for the war department as a target trainer, intended solely for use by U.S. troops. It was adapted from the pre-war 44B model, and included adaptations like those made to the 42MB -- made mostly to keep costs down. The war department wanted an accurate, dependable, heavy-barreled trainer, and was willing to sacrifice cosmetic detail to make it affordable. While the 44B featured a deluxe, genuine walnut stock with long beavertail and cheek piece, the 44US stock was plain, usually birch with walnut finish. The four-position (adjustable) front swivel plate was removed, and both front and rear swivels were fixed, on the 44US. The hooded front sight was replaced by a plain post, the rear sight was the S-100, originally adjustable forward and back through four sets of screw positions (later reduced to three and then two). The first batch was shipped with Lyman 57MS receiver peep hole sights.


M14 caliber .308 (7.62mm x 51) full or semi-auto magazine fed rifle.
This rifle was standard issue for the Viet Nam war soldiers. Mine was built by me as a semi-auto only
Civilian M1A version with a Sako national match barrel and a Springfield Armory receiver. It was glass
bedded into a military walnut stock by a NCNG Match armorer. I used it in many civilian National
Matches. Later, I topped it with an original Leatherwood ART II scope and an original bipod to use it in
the NCNG Sniper competitions as a M21 SWS (Sniper Weapon System). It shot well (1 minute of
angle), but did not hold its zero when the scope was taken off and re-attached ( mandatory for sniper
matches). I have the AN/PVS-2 Night Vision Scope that was used on this rifle during the Viet Nam
Era.

The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970.[5] The M14 was used for U.S. Army and Marine Corps basic and advanced individual training, and was the standard issue infantry rifle in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea, until replaced by the M16 rifle in 1970. It remains in limited front line service with the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and remains in use as a ceremonial weapon. The M14 also provides the basis for the M21 and M25 sniper rifles. It was the last so-called "battle rifle" (a term applied to weapons firing full-power rifle ammunition) issued in quantity to U.S. troops.
The United States Army wanted an accurate sniper rifle during the Vietnam War. The M14 was selected because of its accuracy, reliability, and the ability for a quick second shot. As a result, in 1969, the Rock Island Arsenal converted 1,435 National Match (target grade) M14s by adding a Leatherwood 3–9x Adjustable Ranging Telescope and providing National Match grade ammunition. It was designated the M21 in 1975. The M21 remained the Army's primary sniper rifle until 1988, when it was replaced by the M24 Sniper Weapon System.

AN/PVS-2 NIGHT VIISION SIGHT
Development started in 1964 and by 1967 these were reaching units in the field, and by 1969 they were very widely used in Vietnam. Improvements included elimination of “blooming” where a bright light would temporarily “white out” the scope. Battery life increased to about 100 hours. It could be mounted quickly on any standard M14 or M16 rifle with no modifications required.

M16 caliber .223 (5.56mm) full or semi-auto magazine fed rifle.
The original issue was designated as the M16A1 and replaced the M14 during Viet Nam. It fired a 55
Grain FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) projectile (M193) in a standard weight 1 in 12 twist barrel select fire.
Later on after the war it was redesigned as the M16A2 which fired a heavier 62 grain projectile (M855)
For greater distance with a hardened steel insert (green tip) for greater penetration on harder targets.
The barrel was changed to a heavier 1 in 7 twist to stabilize the longer projectile. The sights were
Changed to allow adjustment of the rear sight by thumbscrews for windage and elevation marked
From 300 to 800 meters. Select fire was changed from semi-auto to burst (3 rounds). I built my gun on
the M16A2 configuration using GI parts and using a Bushmaster receiver (Semi-auto only). My barrel
has a 1 in 9 twist (Quality Parts). I also have the later M4 version that has a collapsible stock, made by
Smith & Wesson (M&P) I also have the current Army issued AN/PVS-4 Night Vision Scope for it.

The M16 (more formally Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 rifle fires the 5.56x45mm cartridge and can produce massive wounding and hydrostatic shock effects when the bullet impacts at high velocity and yaws in tissue leading to fragmentation and rapid transfer of energy.[4][5][6] However, terminal effects can be unimpressive when the bullet fails to yaw or fragment in tissue.
The M16 entered United States Army service as the M16 and was put into action for jungle warfare in South Vietnam in 1963,[7] becoming the standard U.S. rifle of the Vietnam War by 1969,[8] replacing the M14 rifle in that role. The U.S. Army retained the M14 in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea until 1970. Since the Vietnam War, the M16 rifle family has been the primary infantry rifle of the U.S. military. With its variants, it has been in use by 15 NATO countries, and is the most produced firearm in its caliber.
AN/PVS-4 (more formally Night Vision Sight, Individual Served Weapon, AN/PVS-4) is the U.S. military designation for a specification of the first second generation passive Night vision device.
The AN/PVS-4 first saw widespread use during the Gulf War and later some deployment in the Iraq War and has since been replaced by modern third-generation weaponsights.
Although passive night vision technology capable of allowing vision under ambient starlight conditions has existed since the 1950s, it was not until the AN/PVS-4 was developed that a practical, high quality device that met military requirements was first made available.
Unlike earlier passive starlight weaponscopes the AN/PVS4 provided a high quality image without significant distortion, could adjust to changing ambient light conditions, was able to take multiple reticles to operate in many roles and had protective features allowing it to shut down in the event of exposure to bright light, but still recover in time after a muzzle flash for the operator to see the round hit the target.
Using the MX-9644 Image Intensifier tube the AN/PVS-4 became one of the most widely used night vision scopes and has been in active use for more than a quarter of a century.


M9 Beretta Model 92FS 9mm 15 shot semi auto pistol.
This is the current issued sidearm that replaced the M1911. Mine is a M92FS Beretta Desert Storm
limited edition that I purchased in 1992 just after the Gulf War ended (Operation Desert Storm). I
used this every year in the NCNG Adjutant General’s pistol matches until I was discharged in 2003.
Nick used it once hunting with me to kill a deer.

The Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9x19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is basically a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS.
It won a competition in the 1980s to replace the M1911A1 as the primary handgun of the U.S. military, beating out many other contenders. It officially entered service in 1990.[1] Some other models have been adopted to a lesser extent, namely the M11 pistol, and older, or different, models remain in use in certain niches. The M9 was scheduled to be replaced under an Army program, the Future Handgun System (FHS), which was merged with the SOF Combat Pistol program to create the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP). In early 2006, the JCP was renamed Combat Pistol (CP), and the number of pistols to be bought was drastically cut back.


I also have the military issued AN/PVS-5B and the AN/PVS-7B Night Vision Goggles, Bell and Howell
M19 binoculars and the Steiner M22 Binoculars and M49 Spotting scope.

The AN PVS-5 Night vision goggles entered US military service as a top of the line night vision device in the 1980s and were rumored to be in use with the CIA and outfits like Delta force as early as 1979. They were most widely distributed during the 1990 Gulf War and the invasion of Panama although many special operations forces had then upgraded to the PVS-7. Some variants of the PVS-5 are still in use with units primarily serving a training function in addition to several National Guard and reserve units. They have been provided to many friendly governments and law enforcement agencies in addition to limited commercial sales since the early 1990s. Now eclipsed by the cheaper and better performing PVS-7 and PVS-14 night vision devices, many PVS-5s have been hitting the surplus market, but not very consistently. Part of this is that many organizations consider the various upgraded PVS-5s to still be current technology even though no brand new models are being produced. Existing supplies of component parts and surplus units can easily serve the market for another decade. This makes the PVS-5 a pretty good candidate for the survivalist and they can be found in the hands of a lot of preparedness minded people. No small part of this is due to one sizeable batch that was re-imported to the US for the last minute Y2K market and sold at very reasonable prices. Too bad that supply has now pretty much dried up, but a lot of people got smart and picked some up on the cheap.
The great majority of PVS-5s currently on the market have Generation 2+ tubes in them by the pair, with some very rare versions, usually for use by pilots, upgraded to generation three tubes. The PVS-5s were very costly to produce, and when first available on the commercial market, they were usually commanding prices in excess of $5500 per copy. Government prices were probably never below $4000 per copy and most military unit commanders who had them to issue treated them like they were worth their weight in gold; heck, they practically cost that much on the original contracts. Only the availability of used surplus units has forced the prices down, but on the side of new production, the manufacturers opted to cease making new ones and concentrate on cheaper and more efficient third generation equipment.

PVS-7


The AN/PVS-7B/D night vision goggle is the current military issue night vision goggle for the US armed forces. It is also the preferred choice of many foreign (NATO) forces. Built to withstand the rigors of battlefield use, the PVS-7B/D was designed to withstand water immersion and be hands free.

Originally built around a generation two image tube, the introduction of the generation three image tube increased the system performance by more than 50 percent and the tube lifespan by more than 300 percent.

Features include an infrared LED (for use in complete darkness and assist in reading maps), an LED warning light (which is built into the unit to remind the user that the infrared LED can be seen by others who are using night vision devices), a low battery warning light (built into the unit), and there a high light cutoff (which will turn the unit off if it is left on during daylight conditions).
The M19 is a 7X50 binocular equipped with the horizontal and vertical mil scale reticle in the left telescope for range finding and fire control. These binoculars are in very good condition, and all movements are smooth. The plastic carrying case is in very good condition. The straps on the case and binoculars are in great shape, and snap closures work fine.

BACKGROUND: The M19 is an evolution of the T14E1 binocular that was originally developed at Frankford Arsenal beginning in 1956, through the 1960s. It was adopted with a few changes and manufactured as the M19, beginning in 1975, as a replacement for the M17. Bell & Howell in Chicago was selected as the contractor for production of the M19.


Slightly like the Bell and Howell M19, developed so that the objectives and eyepieces and the bodies could be replaced in the field while still maintaining acceptable collimation. Light transmission stated on the specs at 70%!
Regards, John[/QUOTE]

Ah, the M19

http://fantao.home.att.net/m19.htm

That comment reminded me of this paper I read a while ago (from the UArizona optics papers collection) from 1981

http://www.optics.arizona.edu/optom...rsar%201981.pdf

Summary report is here for a quick read:

http://www.optics.arizona.edu/optom.../KazReport1.pdf

Introduction in the Army in 1977 (along with that new fangled Bradley that didn't have a name yet!) is shown here

http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1977...PAGES_44_46.pdf

Interesting evolution from WW2 and the civilian derived M17 7x50 which stayed in service for a long, long time despite a consideration of a redesign in the late 1950s which lead to the T14 7X50 (which never made it into service but acted as a test bed) then to the M19 7x50 and most recently to the M22.

It's interesting how the design requirement has changed especially as regards reliability and maintenance (either field maintenance, army maintenance or contractor maintenance). The paper outlines the three approaches that came up with the T14: piece part maintenance (the M17 approach); modular maintenance (the T14/M19 approach) and "no field maintenance" (the M22 approach now in service).

There is a potentially interesting history of technology paper/book waiting to be written about this interaction between technology and culture of the DoD.

I also find it interesting that the T14 ended up a 0.3 kg (10.5 ounces!) lighter and rather smaller than either the M19 or M22. But it wasn't rugged enough so revised version the T14E1 was design that worked (a little larger than the T14) and that eventually mutated into the M19.

The prisms were minimized in size and glued in place. That seems very modern (perhaps even better than the M22 or modern commercial porros not 1950s US civilian bins!).

The M19 has some similar interesting features shared with the T14. The asymmetric sized prisms with the "eyepiece side prism being smaller than the objective side prism to reduce weight could be used in modern porros (if anyone was making them!). All the items are made with no adjustments so the objective lens when mounted in the objective tube is aligned. So it can be interchangeably with any other similar part. Same with all the other modules. The bin is almost "edge to edge" sharp because it has a field flattener (in the prism housing) with the reticle marked on the flat EP side of the lens (see Fan Tao's photos).

The lack of baffling in the M19 I guess is another modern trend

An interesting read if you are interested in the design of bins and perhaps in the "resurrection" of a modern porro for birders.

Kevin,

Thanks for posting the information on the M19. I have a pair. I know it sounds very interesting on paper, but optically it just isn't a very good binocular. I think the Achilles heel is the super fast f/3 objective. Even though it's a triplet the aberrations are not well controlled. It doesn't produce what any of us civilian optics enthusiasts would consider to be a high quality image.

Still the modular idea does set the mind to work, doesn't it? Imagine a binocular system with interchangeable objectives and eyepieces of different apertures and focal lengths. Just mix and match to make everything from a 6x30 to a 10x50 depending on your requirements of the moment.
A Closer Look at M22 Binoculars


Print article

Refer to a friend
2008-05-04 09:56:33 - One of the three different binoculars brought about by the decision of the US Army to meet the unique needs of individual warfighters, the M22 binoculars are considered the primary field binocular for both the Army and the Marine Corps.


M22 binoculars replaced the old metal M19. Having almost the same features, M22 binoculars are considered better than the M19 binoculars since they have better range pickup. M22 binoculars are equipped with a 7x50 magnification, which enable them to deliver high light transmission, a precise, horizontal and vertical, mil-radian reticle for location and distance determination. Aside from these qualities, M22


binoculars have a field of view of 130 meters at 1, 000 meters, thus, they are best used for field observation and fire direction.

Another feature that makes the M22 binoculars stand out is its resistance to temperature (hot and cold). They can withstand temperatures up to 170 Fahrenheit. Thus, people, particularly warfighters, can use these binoculars in any climate throughout the world.

The M22 binoculars measure 7.1 inches x 7.4 inches and weigh 2.7 pounds. These binoculars are also equipped with fold-down eyepiece cups for personnel who wear glasses to lessen the distance between the eyes and the eyepiece lenses.

A black rubber-coated housing covers the system of the binoculars, providing a non-slip and non-reflective outer surface while also protecting the unit from minor bumps and shocks. These features make the M22 binoculars fog-proof and water-proof. In fact, they are submersible to a depth of 15 feet.

The M22 binoculars also contain laser protection filters on the surface of the lens located behind the objective lens, as well as protective covers for the objective and eyepiece lenses. The laser filters prevent harmful eye damage from rangefinders and other combat measuring/targeting devices.

The reticle pattern of the M22 binoculars is different than the M19 binocular reticle. A reticle, graduated with a horizontal scale depicting 5-meter increments at a range of 1, 000 meters, is provided in the left eyepiece. The vertical scale is graduated, depicting 30-meter increments at 1, 000 meters below the horizontal line and 5-meter increments at 1, 000 meters above the horizontal line. This is because one of the telescopes of the M22 binoculars includes a horizontal and vertical reticle graduated in 10-mil increments.

If direct sunlight enters the M22 binoculars, a portion of this light will be reflected back, producing a glint which may be detectable at positions in the general target field. The binocular body must be replaced if it breaks, since it is not repairable.

Although tagged as the Reference Standard in Light Weight, Portable Military Binoculars, the M22 binoculars were found to be too large to meet the needs of all warfighters. Since they can't afford to hamper their military operations,

Neither the PVS-4 or PVS-7B are 'current' issue any more.

The -7B is still in substitute-standard issue for rear area type units in some cases, or in deep war reserve storage. My unit had all PVS-14s with a few 7B's still hanging about for when everything else had been issued. Most guys below sergeant had never even seen one outside school.

The -4 series still hides out in armories in places, but has long since been replaced by the PVS-14, 15, and ANVIS series.

The last time I saw one was on an M60, also in 'war reserve' status, to be used only if absolutely everything else was already issued. That was six years ago, and most were surprised to find them still around.

PVS-14s are restricted military technology banned from import, the -7 series is all a lot of friendly countries can get, and it's still far better than anything else out there.

The Model 1909 Revolver was never adopted as the official sidearm of the U.S. military. The Model 1909 was an interim sidearm until an official sidearm was adopted. While the cartridge was very similar to the .45 Colt cartridge, the Model of 1909 cartridge had a larger rim diameter for more positive extraction in the swing out cylinder of the Model 1909 pistol.

The 1911 pistol produced in 1924 was initially the Improved Model of 1911, but it was not until 1926 that the designation was changed to Model 1911A1 U.S. Army. At that time it was decided that any 1911 style pistol under serial number 700000 would remain a Model of 1911, and any serial number over 700000 would become a Model 1911A1. The Model of 1911 U.S. Army remained on the slides through 1937 production. In 1938 the M1911A1 U.S. Army was move to the right side of the receiver ahead of the serial number.

The M03A3 was not manufactured or issued during WWi, nor did Remington manufacture the 03A3 or th M1903 until WWII. WWI M1903's were manufactured by either Springfield or Rock Island.

YES IT WAS ADOPTED

Due to the slow going and drawn out Service Pistol Trials(1906-1910) by the Ordnance Board, the War Department would place an order with Colt for 6,000 revolvers in caliber .45 on December 17, 1908. These revolvers were to be an intermediate solution to the requests for more .45 pistols in the Philippine islands from the results of insufficient stopping power of the issued Colt .38 revolvers, as well as replacement to the dated and aged 1873 SAA Colt .45 revolvers that were put back in to service during the Philippine campaigns(1899-1913). These newer issued revolvers were adopted and issued as Model 1909[M1909] US Army .45 Revolvers. They would be marked with serial numbers 30001 to 49503; a grand total of 19,502 pistols. Springfield Armory would receive the other 350 remaining pistols. All-in-all 19,152 revolvers were received at the Manila Ordnance Depot[MOD] located in Intrumurous Manila, Philippines, and would be issued out to all service men through out the islands

If the 1909 had been officially adopted it would have become standard issue to all US troops which it was not. It was used by the military as a supplemental sidearm but never officially adopted. Later it became a supplemental firearm in WW1 just like the 1917 S&W N frames were. They were not the official sidearm as that was the 1911.

The Colt New Service was a double-action revolver made by Colt from 1898 until c.1946. It was adopted by the U.S. Armed Forces in .45 Colt as the Model 1909 U.S. Army, Marine Corps Model 1909, Model 1909 U.S. Navy and in .45 ACP as the Model 1917 U.S. Army.[1] The Model 1917 was created to supplement inadequate stocks of M1911 pistols during World War One.[2]