1903 Springfield "BushMaster"

[Rick the Librarian]

This is very interesting. I served in the 158th Infantry in 1958-60 when I transferred to the Regular Army and went to the 6th Infantry, Berlin Brigade.
In those days the 158th was part of the Arizona National Guard (as it was in 1940) They and the Okla Guard were activated together and sent to Panama, Then a number were sent to the Philippines and were part of Mac's force at Corregidor.

The 158th was originally part of the 40th Division, a National Guard unit made up of men from the Southwest, mostly California, Nevada, Utah, etc. The 158th was "peeled off" when the "square" 40th (four infantry regiments) was cut back to a "triangular" shape (three regiments) in 1940.

I was trying to figure out the connection to Corregidor. There was a National Guard unit that was sent to the Philippines in 1941 - the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA). It was made up of troops from (mainly) New Mexico.

[Calif-Steve]

Rick: At Camp Perry they have many newpapers articles about the local National Guard unit. It was sent to the Phillipines and all got captured. They had a really tough time in Japanese POW camps.

[Rick the Librarian]

What unit was it - part of the 192nd Tank Battalion? It was made up of small NG units, mostly from the Midwest.

The 161st Infantry Regiment, another "orphan" NG regiment, based in my home tow of Spokane WA, was on the docks of San Francisco, waiting to be shipped out to the Philippines when war broke out. Ironically, it did make the Philippines in late 1944 ... as part of the 25th Infantry Division.

[karl schmidt]

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[Mike D]

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Thanks for the photo!


I posted this photo of my clone a while back. On another forum a guy responded that his father was in Panama and used one, but his had a C-stock. Man was/is in his 90's but was very positive his "shortened rifle" had a "pistol-gripped stock". He showed his Dad my photo, and he said, "Yeah, just like that one, but with a pistol-grip stock." I thought that was neat.

[Calif-Steve]

The troops at Camp Perry were local Ohio guys. They had those small, post-WWI tanks. All ended up in POW camps.

[karl schmidt]

Heer's a full size cut of my bushmaster photo from the signal corp. Files. Can't really tell is its a P.G. or straight grip stock. I remember seeing some Ord. Dept. Photos of the gun in the archives - next trip to D.C. I'll try to find them. I think they just cut down whatever un assigned rifles they had laying around - it was the barrel length they were after.

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[Promo]

As it has a finger groove, I'd believe it's a straight grip stock. Wouldn't think they would've used a M1922M2 stock and then make a cutout for the rear sight base.

[Mike D]

The Bushmaster in Brophy's book looks to have a C-stock, too. Notice the mans grip. In Canfields book the same photo is larger and much clearer. No finger grooves.

I think I'll look for a chopped C-stock for my carbine.

[ismith]

There was also an experimental 1903 carbine chambered in .45 ACP. Its in Hatcher's notebook as well as Brophy's book.