Who is Geronimo?
- Thread starter mikthestick
- Start date
Yes, we are so thankful that they kept Geronimo's firearms so there is no arguments there.. As per Custer.. Not so lucky. The best swag is he did have two pistols...
Over the years I have heard of Several Possible stories..
--Really he was given a Galand & Sommerville Like his brother Tom
--He carried a given Webley RIC and purchased another
--He was given a set of RICs while poor Tom was given one Galand & Sommerville..
--And then the best of all worlds has to be he carried his Webley RIC (which was missing or a gun that looked like it) and then his new Colt 45 SAA.. I like that one the best it has such a cover all bases. A fancy RIC to stand out as a command officer and then an new Colt SAA which he can get ammo in the field for..
And there are more but these are the ones always seemed to have to stand out with some logical arguments behind them..
Over the years I have heard of Several Possible stories..
--Really he was given a Galand & Sommerville Like his brother Tom
--He carried a given Webley RIC and purchased another
--He was given a set of RICs while poor Tom was given one Galand & Sommerville..
--And then the best of all worlds has to be he carried his Webley RIC (which was missing or a gun that looked like it) and then his new Colt 45 SAA.. I like that one the best it has such a cover all bases. A fancy RIC to stand out as a command officer and then an new Colt SAA which he can get ammo in the field for..
And there are more but these are the ones always seemed to have to stand out with some logical arguments behind them..
Lee McNelly
Moderator
REPLY
2nd: General Custer carried a Remington Sporting rifle, octagonal barrel; two Bulldog selfcocking, English, white-handled pistols, with a ring in the butt for a lanyard; a hunting knife, in a beaded fringed scabbard; and a canvas cartridge belt. He wore a whitish gray hat, with broad brim and rather low crown, very similar to the Cowboy hat; buck skin suit, with a fringed welt in outer seams of trousers and arms of blouse; the blouse with double-breasted military buttons, lapels generally open; turn-down collar, and fringe on bottom of shirt. [Note: Here is Peter Thompson's decription of Custer's appearance just before the Custer fight began. Thompson was the last Seventh Cavalry trooper to see Custer alive.]
2nd: General Custer carried a Remington Sporting rifle, octagonal barrel; two Bulldog selfcocking, English, white-handled pistols, with a ring in the butt for a lanyard; a hunting knife, in a beaded fringed scabbard; and a canvas cartridge belt. He wore a whitish gray hat, with broad brim and rather low crown, very similar to the Cowboy hat; buck skin suit, with a fringed welt in outer seams of trousers and arms of blouse; the blouse with double-breasted military buttons, lapels generally open; turn-down collar, and fringe on bottom of shirt. [Note: Here is Peter Thompson's decription of Custer's appearance just before the Custer fight began. Thompson was the last Seventh Cavalry trooper to see Custer alive.]
No one knows for sure what revolvers Custer was armed with at the Little Bighorn. I have heard that he was carrying a pair Webleys, or Colts, or S&W Schofields, or Remingtons. Even survivors of the battle tell different versions of the same thing. Most memoirs were written decades after the fact, and memories can become a "little fuzzy". Even after just a few years. With all the chaos and terror that the survivor experienced, remembering little details about who was armed with what would be a real task for some.
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Regarding the Gatling Gun
I believe that I have read that Custer declined the use of two gatling guns, believing that they would slow his troops in the field.
That decision certainly didn't work out well... with any luck at all they might have slowed him enough to miss the battle at Little Bighorn altogether.
I believe that I have read that Custer declined the use of two gatling guns, believing that they would slow his troops in the field.
That decision certainly didn't work out well... with any luck at all they might have slowed him enough to miss the battle at Little Bighorn altogether.
Yes there is nothing but conflicting Stories on his guns..
You have have Lt Edward Godfrey giving the description about the white handled English bulldogs. And where as that description was made in a time frame very close to the actual battle. The only White handled guns Custer owned (that any one remembers that is ) was a set of Smith & Wessons number 2 pistols.. The RIC that Custer had was not white handled (again that any one remembers).. Peter Thompson's account was written sometime in he early 1910s.. And there are many aspects of his account are not accepted But he was a medal of honor winner. That should cut him some slack.
Another good argument, is to find what were The model of the Gatling guns that Custer turned down. Seems like there are not any concrete records to the model number.
General Terry ended up bringing the Gatlings to the battle of the little Big horn. And Ferrari you are right, Terry was slowed down by the Gatling gun division and was late to the battle because of them.. Maybe Custer would have been saved by taking them and missing the LBH.. Wow .... never thought of it that way.. They would have slowed Custer down and maybe he would have reached the Indians on a more advantages battlefield with Terry Near by. Now that makes you think..
You have have Lt Edward Godfrey giving the description about the white handled English bulldogs. And where as that description was made in a time frame very close to the actual battle. The only White handled guns Custer owned (that any one remembers that is ) was a set of Smith & Wessons number 2 pistols.. The RIC that Custer had was not white handled (again that any one remembers).. Peter Thompson's account was written sometime in he early 1910s.. And there are many aspects of his account are not accepted But he was a medal of honor winner. That should cut him some slack.
Another good argument, is to find what were The model of the Gatling guns that Custer turned down. Seems like there are not any concrete records to the model number.
General Terry ended up bringing the Gatlings to the battle of the little Big horn. And Ferrari you are right, Terry was slowed down by the Gatling gun division and was late to the battle because of them.. Maybe Custer would have been saved by taking them and missing the LBH.. Wow .... never thought of it that way.. They would have slowed Custer down and maybe he would have reached the Indians on a more advantages battlefield with Terry Near by. Now that makes you think..
mikthestick
New member
With regards to Custer's guns he was a General (though perhaps not a good one), his rank would have allowed him to carry whatever he wanted in addition to regular issue.
I blew up Geronimo's picture and I think he is actually carrying two sticks. I think they are to make a rifle rest for his 45-70. He must have seen buffalo hunters do it.
I blew up Geronimo's picture and I think he is actually carrying two sticks. I think they are to make a rifle rest for his 45-70. He must have seen buffalo hunters do it.
Yes. There were survivors of the LBH, just not Custer's group. Custer split his command of about 600 troops into three groups, under himself, Major Marcus Reno, and Captain Fredrick Benteen. The only troops wiped out were the 250 or so troopers with "Ol' Longhair" himself. Some of those under Reno/Benteen were killed too, just not all of them.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"With regards to Custer's guns he was a General..."
Custer had been a brevet Major General of Volunteers during the Civil War.
Once the war ended he was reduced back to his permanent rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Custer had been a brevet Major General of Volunteers during the Civil War.
Once the war ended he was reduced back to his permanent rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In the survivor camp Les not forget almost all the Army Scouts, They tell some of the better accounts of Custer's troops during its ill fated advance.
Now know pretty much any officer could purchase and carry a gun of his desire.... and many did
But does anyone know if a trooper or Sargent could????? Of course at 13 - 15 dollars a month that does not leave a lot of room to purchase and feed your own fire arm
Now know pretty much any officer could purchase and carry a gun of his desire.... and many did
But does anyone know if a trooper or Sargent could????? Of course at 13 - 15 dollars a month that does not leave a lot of room to purchase and feed your own fire arm
mikthestick
New member
The British had and still have a class system (more's the pity). In the British army non-commissioned officers and lower ranks were more likely to spend spare cash on strong drink than weapons. Non-coms and squaddies don't get revolvers if they captured any they would probably have to turn it over to their officer. From a discipline point of view the British were and may still be the most harsh.
These days the soldiers in our armies certainly deserve respect. In the Napoleonic period Brits were forced into the army by poverty. They were trained to be more afraid of their sergent than the enemy. If they were not disciplined they would cause the local population much heartache.
These days the soldiers in our armies certainly deserve respect. In the Napoleonic period Brits were forced into the army by poverty. They were trained to be more afraid of their sergent than the enemy. If they were not disciplined they would cause the local population much heartache.