US Army lever actions

[C.R.Sam]

The big letters match the big heart. He helps all.

Sam

 

[Ledbetter]

Why are French Army surplus rifles so much in demand?

They've only been dropped once.

Hey, it's a joke.

 

[4V50 Gary]

The Henry rifle was carried by some members of Birge's Western Sharpshooters (aka: 14 Missouri Vol. Infantry, then renamed as the 66 Ohio Volunteer Infantry Unit). These men bought the Henry out of their own funds (accounts vary from $40 to $50). The ammunition was supplied by the gubmint. They used the Henrys to effect and once drove off an attack in which the Confederates suffered about 700 casulties.

BTW, the Henry was known as that "damned Yankee rifle that you load on Sunday and shoot all week."

 

[faraway]

Henry's purchased by state troops serving in the Northern Army during the Civil War. The Spencer during and after the Civil War. As noted, the Spencer was dropped due to lack of range and power. Another reason it was retired was that, if a user slammed the butt of a Spencer downward with too much force, it tended to set off the cartridges in the tube. On the whole the Springfield wasn't a bad replacement. Custer's biggest problem was bad tactics and a unit which was torn by internal conflicts. (That and about 2,000 some Sioux and Cheyenne) Another possible USA lever action was the '95 Winchester. It's possible that some of the US Troops during the Vladivostok (sp) incursion into Russia might have used them, these rifles likely being part of White Russian stocks. Those munitions and supplies etc were used to partially equip that particular AEF.