 A few years back I really developed an interest in WWI. In particular, the US train-up and deployment of the AEF in an incredibly condensed period of time. One thing that led to was some obsolete and non-standard rifles being pressed into service (mostly stateside) in order to properly arm American soldiers. Check out my article on that in American Rifleman via the button below!
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I decided to switch it up a bit and try my hand at a quick video instead of a "wall of text" history post (Although never fear, I will continue to bludgeon you with those as well!).
Not quite all the way back to 1776, and with a handful of clones (curse you NFA and general governmental unwillingness to sell me surplus machine guns), but suitably star spangled for the day brought to you by heavily armed Americans!  
On the 28th of June, 1918 Laura Hughes sat down in her Chicago, Illinois home and drafted a letter to the United States Secretary of War. Hughes had become aware of the fact that the US had taken delivery of some 20,000 straight-pull bolt action Ross rifles from Canada in order to get functional and somewhat modern rifles into the hands of military organizations. In response to this information Hughes condemned the use of these rifles by the U.S. Government, and claimed to have evidence that they "did not prove to be of any value in the field" -- a contention that was forwarded to the Chief of Ordnance, Brigadier General William Crozier, for disposition. (For this and other historic weapons documentation check out
Archival Research Group!) Click below to read more! On this day in history, June 18th 1916, National Guard units were mobilized for service along the Mexican border. While the whole Pancho Villa Punitive Expedition is extremely fascinating in its own right, what makes it even cooler to me is that the pictured rifle was actually there in the Texas scrub.
Click below to read more! On this day in history, June 1st 1918, a battle began that inspired two of the most Marine-like catch phrases ever uttered. This was the Battle of Belleau Wood, which not only quickly became significant in Marine Corps lore, but also drove home the point that the US was willing to pull its share of the fight -- even if we had a lot to learn.
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The Request for the American Enfield -- And a Tangential Personal Connection to History (Model 1917)4/19/2020 April 19th, 1917. Less than two weeks after the US declaration of war on Germany, General Crozier -- the US Army's Chief of Ordnance -- clarified his request for authority to secure additional small arms for the war effort. Weapons produced outside of the national armories were desperately needed to make up for the dramatic shortage of m1903 rifles and m1911 pistols. The goal was to put serviceable, and somewhat standardized, weapons in the hands of the AEF Soldiers and Marines that would soon be sent overseas to join the fight.
Click below to read more! On April 16th 1865, Easter Sunday, the last large scale engagement of the American Civil War was fought in Columbus, GA. Columbus is known to most current service members as the town immediately outside the gates of Fort Benning. US Army Fort Benning itself is the home of the Infantry branch, and more recently has become home to the Armor Branch, morphing into the Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE).
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Jon K.Weapons collector, history buff, Army officer, Pug enthusiast. Archives
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