Circumstances surrounding first USMC use of M1903.

[Ketoujin]

Hello all,

I am writing an article for a militaria magazine on USMC use of the M1903 and am interested in what anyone can tell me regarding the specific circumstances in which Marines were first issued the rifle. I have read that the Navy and USMC did not use the M1903 until around 1910 and that the rifle was used by Marines deployed to Nicaragua during the first US intervention there that same year. Can anyone tell me the first Marine units to use the '03 and anything else like unit size, name of CO, geographical disposition, shipboard or land-based, etc?

It would be interesting to know if there is such info available.

Best,

Gunnar

[Dan Shapiro]

Contact these folks:

http://www.usmcmuseum.com/exhibits_IconicArtifacts.asp

[Ketoujin]

Contact these folks:

http://www.usmcmuseum.com/exhibits_IconicArtifacts.asp

Dan,

Thanks for the link.

Best,

Gunnar

[Marine A5 Sniper]

Most likely, the first use was of the 1903 by the Marines would have been by the 2nd Regiment in the Philippines, as the 2nd Regiment clashed with guerrillas from 1901 to 1912. No idea when they were issued 1903's.

I believe the first time the Marines Used the 1903 in actual combat was 19 September 1912 at Masaya when Smedley Butler's train was attacked by General Zeledon. I don't recall any combat in the 1910 invasion, but maybe a better historian can correct me.

jt

[Ketoujin]

Most likely, the first use was of the 1903 by the Marines would have been by the 2nd Regiment in the Philippines, as the 2nd Regiment clashed with guerrillas from 1901 to 1912. No idea when they were issued 1903's.

I believe the first time the Marines Used the 1903 in actual combat was 19 September 1912 at Masaya when Smedley Butler's train was attacked by General Zeledon. I don't recall any combat in the 1910 invasion, but maybe a better historian can correct me.

jt

JT,

Thanks for the educated guess on the first Marine outfit armed with '03's and the first USMC combat use of the rifle. I am going to e-mail the people at the USMC Museum and see if they can pin the exact circumstances surrounding first issuance down at all. Otherwise, it might be advisable to query the people at NARA.

Thanks for your time and your input. I appreciate it.

Best,

Gunnar

[John Beard]

Seasons' Greetings!

According to Clark Campbell, the Navy and USMC adopted the M1903 rifle in 1911. The USMC, no doubt, had a few rifles prior to that time for test and evaluation. Some of the rifles they initially received were alteration rifles manufactured prior to 1907 that were drawn from Ordnance Stores.

Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

J.B.

[Ketoujin]

Seasons' Greetings!

According to Clark Campbell, the Navy and USMC adopted the M1903 rifle in 1911. The USMC, no doubt, had a few rifles prior to that time for test and evaluation. Some of the rifles they initially received were alteration rifles manufactured prior to 1907 that were drawn from Ordnance Stores.

Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

J.B.

J.B.,

Thank you very much! I appreciate it.

Best,

Gunnar