- scab-1.jpg (40.58 KiB) Viewed 1686 times
The Krag carbine was the end of the line for the "boots." I have a letter from Rock Island Arsenal asking the Chief of Ordnance if the "rough riders" should get scabbards as they had Krag carbines. The other "volunteers" of various types had trapdoor carbines, I'll assume. Those get boots.
Top in the photo is the 1890s scabbard for the Krag carbine. It was in a basement for decades and dried out quite thoroughly. So it goes. Below that is the "carbine scabbard." No model. Just "carbine scabbard." Those have the brass throat reinforcement.
Next up was the M-1904. Originally, it didn't have that nomenclature. "Scabbard, U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model of 1903. U.S. Magazine Carbines, Models of 1896 and 1899." What of the M-1898 carbine? Assume they were upgraded to M-1899 status. In any event, it later received the M-1904 nomenclature. This scabbard has no brass reinforce at the throat, it does have leather one, and no drain hole.
Then it's on to the M-1918. Nomenclature included the M-1903 and M-1917 rifles. No carbines. This had a drain hole.
That makes for 4 total. Anything other than those 4 aren't my issue.
"Does that mean anything else would be fake?"
No, it means it wouldn't be my problem. They claim 4 for these purposes. Look at it another way. When Ford makes a car, it gets sold. They're not done with it. It'll need support. Spare parts and such. The military stuff is the same way. Scabbards are in the system, sometimes for ages. When they're in the system, they're part of the "highway of support." Oddities off on side roads aren't something I'm going to deal with here.
Let's say they made one of the brass throat ones. Without the brass throat. Given the highway of support, it would receive that piece if turned in. It'd get it as that is what that model has.
- surplus.jpg (59.47 KiB) Viewed 1686 times
Never used M-1904 scabbards being sold surplus after WW2. Yes, WW2. Stuff can be in the system for ages. On the main highway of support.