diary of alvin york

[5MadFarmers]

National Army divisions never saw '03s. So why he'd have any preference for a rifle he likely never fired is a mystery. There is no evidence he ever held an '03 until after WW1 ended. All evidence points to the '17. I have issue records of the Krags and '17s to his division. As posted I have evidence they had them in France. I have nice pictures of them parading with '17s in Paris.

The likelyhood of York having an '03 is marginally less than him having an SMLE. At least we have a record of him being issued an SMLE - something absolutely lacking for the '03.

The best known American Marksman of WW1 used the M-1917.

If you want to make a case for an alternate, the SMLE and Krag are the only other choices.....

[Beachbumbob]

You missed my poor attempt at humor. I agree 100% that he used a M1917. That was what the Army issued then. However, after his feat and fame, I was trying to be funny and say that if he wanted to use a Civil War era 3 band musket and wear a butternut gray Confederate Army uniform he could probably have gotten away with it. Bad joke on my part.

I mentioned the M1903 only because that is what Hollywood portrayed him using in the movie. There are a lot of "experts" that contend he used this based on the fact that he was paid as the "technical advisor" for the movie and should have known the difference between a M1917 and a M1903. I AM NOT one of those.

[5MadFarmers]

You missed my poor attempt at humor.

My apologies, I should have quoted what I was responding to - wasn't your post:

I think he managed to snag himself an 03

That. Why on earth he'd want an '03 is a mystery given he was unfamiliar with one and had, as most do, likely bonded with his rifle - the '17 from Eddystone.

Bad joke on my part.

There is no such thing as a bad joke - just jokes some don't appreciate. That said I don't think your post bothered anyone.

[free1954]

it's posts like these that i'd missed so much from the old csp. thanks all for posting.
no matter what sgt york carried, it shows what a man who was raised in a gun culture can do as opposed to those that were not. it has always been the greatest strength of american servicemen.

[androck14]

The last time we had this discussion, which has been several years, I came away convinced that Alvin did his deeds with a Springfield. As I recall his sons went on record saying that's what he told them. No doubt the above photo will finally put the question to rest.

[Rodd Knox]

.As I recall his sons went on record saying that's what he told them..

My uncle was a Marine in VN and swears that the NVA used 7.62NATO rounds captured from the US in their AK47s. So much for memories.

[androck14]

I bet your uncle remembers what kind of rifle he carried.

[Rodd Knox]

I bet your uncle remembers what kind of rifle he carried.

At the point in time he was in VN the only M16s he saw were in the hands of army SF .Since the only possible choice is the M14 I guess he would remember.
The only proof that York used a 1903 seems to be the memory of his son vs documentation of what was issued to the 82 nd division. People can belive what they want. I can now say that I have seen a photo on the internet of York armed with an M14. For all I know it could have been a Marlin 336C in .30-30 with a Tasco scope he bought at K Mart in Hoboken on the way to the troopship.
It doesn't matter what he used does it?

[androck14]

We spend a lot of time on here discussing things that Don't Really Matter. I learn stuff by showing up willing to hear what someone else thinks. Reading this thread leaves little doubt that York used an M1917. In the other discussion I mentioned included some pretty strong evidence to the contrary. Including the statements of his two sons who said he owned a Springfield after the war and told them it was the same type he had carried in France. My intention here was never to set myself up as a proponent of the M1903 story, I remember the other thread and thought someone else might too.
I will say this, my father's favorite car was a '49 Hudson Hornet that burned up before I was born, I never saw the car and he hasn't mentioned it in many years, but I know it was a Hornet. Not a Merc.
As for your uncle's notion about the ammunition, I met a fellow once who had visited France in June of '44 and he told me that the Germans used wooden bullets to cause horrific wounds. He saw one in my collection. I don't think that was poor memory, just GI Scuttlebutt.
Apparently WWI M14s had the sling swivels on the side. I would be interested in one of those early stocks for my M1A.

[PhillipM]

I've since lost it but I had a photo of York firing an M1 with a US Army sergeant looking on. The caption is York likes the new rifle.

Prior to October 18, 1918 York was "Corporal, Infantry, 1 each, nondescript and expendable".

Not accurate, he was well known for his marksmanship and was tasked by his Captain to train others. I think it is plausible that the marksmanship expert of the unit could carry whatever he liked and the 1903 was the official rifle. One account mentions he had six rounds in his rifle and therefore it must have been an M1917. The M1903 holds five in the mag and one in the spout makes six. That's exactly how I'd have carried a rifle in combat back then... well now too! Some will also comment on the statue of York in Nashville, the construction under the auspices of his family, that shows him firing a 1903. 5mad, just playing a little devil's advocate, I'm not going to get into a peeing contest ;-) I suspect York could have pulled off his achievement with any rifle in use at that time. The 1911 is what saved his bacon after all.