https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nEngland-1.jpg
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That carbine appears to have a 1903-style front sight. Also, the trigger guard does not appear to look like a Krag's. Is that a reflection I'm seeing on the stock below the trigger guard or actually part of the guard itself? What's the story behind this photo?
AF Medic,
That doesn't really look like a Krag to me. Maybe a Snyder? or a trapdoor that got lost somehow? The front sight doesn't look right, either.
jn
1877 Springfield built for a soldier with short legs?
It looks like a trapdoor to me. You can see the top of the hammer spur. In front of that, the breech hinge??
1884 Trap Door carbine w/issue front sight cover. Ray
I had been about to say it looked like a Trapdoor in my first post, but I wasn't sure about the front sight. I didn't think about the possibility of a sight cover. I'd still like to know the story behind the photo if anyone knows. Can anyone ID the medal he's wearing?
I took the medal to be a marksman's shooting badge. My great Uncle was a Marine in 1919-1922 and his was VERY similar if not identical.
That's what I was wondering.
So, guys, is that a US Cavalryman? And if so, what is he doing in uniform with his service arm, getting a picture taken in England. Where is Salford? Is it close to one of those rifle ranges?
jn
Can anyone give a approx year for the pic ?
Salford is Just outside Manchester
The original Address is long gone but, the name (The crescent is still there would of been built on or close to the original crescent) had a look at an old 1800,s map of the area , and would say the address would of been there possibly up to 1920,s
Regarding ranges in the area at the time, the nearest would have been Diggle and then Altcar near formby.
I've tried to think through the possibilities... an errant Cavalry unit on joint exercises with the Horse Guards? The U.S. Cavalry presaged Marine Embassy guards??? Along more likely lines, I can only suggest that the Cavalryman is possibly a Brit who had served in the U.S. Cavalry and came home with his uniform, having made off with the trapdoor, or a U.S. trooper who emigrated. A variation on this would be a U.K. collector who had the outfit and had his picture made... or a partygoer in - as you Brits say: "fancy dress..."
Photographers in those days often toured areas, took pictures, and later made up pictures and postcards for sale. Possibly the British photographer toured the States and took some shots of people and places for his library of photo cards for sale.
Here's a possible. Trooper X is a Brit serving in the U.S> Cavalry somewhere. He wants to send photos of himself to all his relatives, but he has a very large family. He's thrifty - what's he making, $18 a month? So instead of sending 20 or 30 pictures, he has an American photographer take his portrait and mails the negative back home. His mother takes it to the local photographer and orders up 20 prints. If that's the scenario there may still be a few prints kicking around. Someone in England could possibly flush them out with a newspaper local interest story: "Does anyone recognize this man?"
Just a thought.
jn