Here is a U.S. military issue M1903 rifle that I picked up at a local gunshow yesterday. I believe the rifle to be of WWI-era production, reworked at Springfield Arsenal c. 1942 (possibly seeing use in WWII and/or the Korean Conflict), then supplied by the U.S. as military aid to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam ("ARVN"). Based on the "Capture Papers" that came with the rifle, I assume that North Vietnamese forces must have captured it from ARVN forces, with the U.S. military (and/or ARVN) later re-capturing it from the North Vietnamese. Finally, the rifle came back to the U.S. c. 1973 as a trophy of a U.S. soldier's service in the Vietnam conflict.
Particularly with the help of the Capture Papers, coupled with the history of the rifle that can be ascertained from its physical characteristics, I think this rifle really speaks to us in terms of having been part of and/or related to all of the major conflicts during the 20th Century.
Given the WWII connection, I thought it appropriate to post the M1903 rifle in this section. I have, however, recently become interested in the Vietnam Conflict and you may have seen the Chinese Type 56 rifle (AK-47 type) that I posted in the Indochina Wars section not long ago.
Any thoughts on how to interpret the rifle and/or paperwork would be appreciated.
Particularly with the help of the Capture Papers, coupled with the history of the rifle that can be ascertained from its physical characteristics, I think this rifle really speaks to us in terms of having been part of and/or related to all of the major conflicts during the 20th Century.
Given the WWII connection, I thought it appropriate to post the M1903 rifle in this section. I have, however, recently become interested in the Vietnam Conflict and you may have seen the Chinese Type 56 rifle (AK-47 type) that I posted in the Indochina Wars section not long ago.
Any thoughts on how to interpret the rifle and/or paperwork would be appreciated.
Comment