SRS check, please?

[IditarodJoe]

My three Model 1898s - 167594, 406078, and 418930. I'm afraid none is anything to brag about but I'm curious to know if any of them has any history. Thanks.

[JOHN42768]

Hi Joe, Sorry, but no hits in the SRS. Closest is 167606 CO K 32nd USV INF. John

[IditarodJoe]

Thank you, John. My curiosity is satisfied. It was very nice of you to check for me.

[IditarodJoe]

In his masters thesis for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1993, Major James R. Craig provides in interesting look at the 32nd US Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the war. This short-lived regiment, under the leadership of Colonel Louis A. Craig, was formed at Fort Leavenworth, KS in the summer of 1899.

Relevant to these rifles, Major Craig notes that formal recruiting for the regiment began on 22 July 1899 and that Colonel Craig declared the regiment to be "full" - apparently with 1609 men comprising 12 companies - on 10 August 1899. He also notes that "as companies were formed, soldiers were issued the remainder of their uniforms, field gear, and the .308 caliber, Krag-Jorgenson rifle".

According to Joe Poyer's book, s/n 167606 was manufactured toward the end of January 1899. I have to wonder if the rifle was initially issued elsewhere and then, within six months of production, was returned and reissued to the 32nd USV. Alternatively, could the rifle have remained, unissued, in inventory for that long a period before being issued "new" to the 32nd?

I'm certain we'll never know, but it's an interesting point to ponder . . . particularly when my rifle was made only a dozen rifles earlier.

ETA link to Major Craig's thesis: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA451795