Re: [MV] WW2 leather rifle scabbards - ROTC Manual
F. Brian Mead (jeepsoup@mindspring.com)
Fri, 02 Jul 1999 09:00:20 -0400
Howdy List,
Sorry for the delay on this response, but I just moved into my new house.
WAHOO! Actually, I finally found my copy of "The R.O.T.C. Manual, Cavalry"
Sixth Edition 1935. I knew it was in a box somewhere.
Page 511 notes in regards to the "Organization of Cavalry Machine-Rifle
Units": Each squad consists of two machine-rifle crews, with the pack
animals necessary for the transport of the machine rifles and their
ammunition. The squad leader is also the gunner of gun crew No. 1, and a
selected private is gunner of crew No. 2. In addition to its gunner, each
crew has an ammunition carrier (who is also trained as an air scout), one
horseholder, and one pack horse carrying the machine rifle and ammunition.
The remaining trooper in the squad is a horseholder for the entire squad.
One additional pack horse is provided for the use of the squad.
Page 631 shows a series of photos of both sides of the pack saddle (the MV
vehicle for this email) and also the different firing positions for the
caliber .30 air-cooled machine gun. The ammo case is attached to the left
(near side) of the horse, rather high up, to center the weight over the
horse's back. The right (off side) of the saddle holds the machine gun
mounted 2/3 of the way up the side of the horse, barrel forward. Below the
gun is the folded tripod. The saddle seems to be custom configured with
essentially a gun rack on the right side and a flat panel on the left.
Footman loops are used to secure the ammunition to the saddle. The saddle
is made of russet leather with a breast strap and crupper. The saddle is
double girthed using the standard M1904 McClellan girth strap.
On the topic of the rifle scabbards, I bought a reproduction M1859
McClellan saddle from F. Burgess & Co. a couple of years ago. The do
AMAZING work. Better than any other repro saddle I've ever seen. The also
offer a restored M1904 on an original tree with all original hardware.
They reproduce the rifle scabbard also. I will probably get one sometime,
but have other more important jeep stuff to buy right now. One warning, he
sometimes takes a REALLY LONG TIME to get stuff to you. It is however,
worth the wait. When you place the order, he will ask when you want it by.
I've only had him miss that date once, but he missed it by 3 months. His
address is http://www.fburgess.com/
Hope this helps & sorry for the long email
Brian Mead
1944 MB
1944 MB
194? GPW
1859 McClellan Saddle (repro)
>>The BAR, otherwise known as the Model 1918, came out in that year. In
>>between then and the advent of the jeep and other motor transport, the Army
>>owned a horse or two. I imagine they probably had a scabbard to fit the
>>BAR, since the cavalry squad was equipped with them according to the 1941
>>tactics manual. Whether or not they made it into WWII use as a vehicle
>>accessory, I couldn't say. Does anybody out there have a pre-1930 Cavalry
>>manual with any illustrations on the stowing of the BAR on a Horse?
>>
>>>Boy, this is going to start a fight. There is a disputed scabord whuich
>is
>>>more like a box htat I think that was used on a vechicle or pack horse. I
>>>had one and sold it. It was made out of leather and was reinforced with
>>>blued metal. Very large and heavy. Some people say it isn't BAR, but one
>>>fits nice in it. Thanks Howard--------
>>>>
>>>> Hi lists, I know there are 3 kinds of leather rifle scabbard in US force
>>>> during WW2...the scabbards for M1 Garand,M1 Carbine,Thompson SMG...Did
>>>> the scabbard for BAR machine gun exist? The leather rifle scabbard was
>>>> popular in European theaters...I hear American families gave the rifle
>>>> scabbards to the soldiers for good luck,this is true? And is there any
>>>> mannual on the leather rifle scabbards?? Mori
===
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