Navy Use of the Shotgun at Vera Cruz 1914

[Charlie Flick]

Gentlemen:

I ran across this photo from the National Archives and found it very interesting. These sailors are members of the Naval Landing Force which took over Vera Cruz, Mexico during the unpleasantness there in 1914. This is the earliest photo I can recall that depicts Navy use of a shotgun in action.

Can anyone identify the pump shotgun? How about that bandolier?

Regards,
Charlie Flick

http://www.thortrains.com/online/navyvera4.jpg

[trenchcrazy]

Thats a nice find Charlie!! I would guess a Remington M10. With that bandolier its for a combat application, interesting its a long barrel?

[Tom Doniphon]

From the look of the forearm and receiver top, I think the shotgun is a Bannerman Model 1896. They were sold from about 1900 to before WWI. Do a Google image search for "Bannerman 1896" and you will see what I mean.

[trenchcrazy]

Tom, I'm sure you are right after looking them up. Thats dead on!!

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Here is one that just sold on GunBroker....imagine how much more the seller may have realized had he known it was "military issue" and had the above picture as provenance??

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=214667565

[NORTEXED]

At first I thought the trigger was in backwards, what is that in the center of the triggergaurd, the slide release OUCH ?

[Charlie Flick]

Tom:

Nice job on identifying the shotgun as the Bannerman-Spencer Model 1896. Is anyone aware of Navy purchases of the Model 1896?

Regards,
Charlie

[Griff Murphey]

Wonder if that sailor is wearing whites "converted" to Khaki by soaking in coffee!?

[Nick Riviezzo]

I don't know about his "whites" but he is going to have trouble keeping both "cheeks" out of the line of fire with that canteen in front of his hip! Nick

[JBinIll]

Wonder if that sailor is wearing whites "converted" to Khaki by soaking in coffee!?

It talks about dying with coffee in this article I posted on the Militaria Forum http://www.thortrains.com/online/veracruz1.htm

[45B20]

I think the only real way to identify that shotgun as a Bannerman’s in the Vera Cruz photo is by the shape of the pump handle, and that longer narrow style is identified as a Bannerman’s. However that still could be a M1886 Spencer fitted with a Bannerman’s pump handle.

The US Military purchased 354 Spencer Shotguns between 1886 and 1893. In 1890 Bannerman’s took over all tools and parts from Spencer and started producing the M1890 Bannerman’s Spencer. In 1893 Springfield reports purchasing 70 Spencer Shotguns, it would appear most likely those 70 came from Bannerman’s. The shotgun in the photo could be one of those 70.

In 1892/93 fiscal, Springfield also reports purchasing Spencer Shotgun parts, those also most likely came from Bannerman’s. That shotgun in the Vera Cruz photo could be a Spencer M1886 or M1887 purchased from Spencer by the US and then refitted with a Bannerman’s pump handle.

As the Army began receiving Win. M1897, they could have passed their Spencer/Bannerman’s on to the Navy.

OR the Navy purchased the shotgun from Bannerman’s.

OR: those sailors could have just picked up that shotgun from who knows where?? The man in the door???

All of these ‘ifs’ and or ‘maybes’ came from Brophy, Canfield and Marcot.

45B20