My favorite milsurps

[#1oilman]

Thought I would post some photos of my favorite milsurps! These model 1876 Winchester Saddle Ring Carbines were all Northwest Mounted Police and Canadian Militia issued pieces during the 1885 Northwest Rebellion. They are chambered for the 45-75 cartridge and saw service with the NWMP from 1882 until replaced by the Model 1905 Ross rifle. They were later reissued due to problems with the Ross and later replaced with the long Lee Enfield. These guns saw hard service in all types of weather travelling in scabbards on horseback and are seldom found in fine condition. After the Lee Enfield was adopted many Winchesters were sold to the Alberta Provincial Police and Legion of Frontiersmen. The background photos are blow ups of photos in my collection and show NWMP scouts and constables at Fort Macleod, Northwest Territories circa 1885. The gentleman in front of the tepee is half breed scout Jerry Potts who led the NWMP on there march west in 1873. The medals are Northwest Rebellion service medals. The cartridges are Winchester and Dominion Cartridge Co. loadings, you will see the Dominion shells bear the 00 head stamp denoting loading in 1900, The NWMP thought the Dominion Cartridge loadings were unreliable and preferred the Winchester shells. The Dominion Cartridge Company was formed by A H (Gat) Howard the only American to serve with Canadian forces during the 1885 Rebellion operating Gatling guns purchased for the conflict. Howard died leading a Canadian Mounted Cavalry force during the Boer War.

These guys were hard working hard living individuals, check out the whiskey bottle in the two photos!

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