Excellent presentation, Evan, as usual. This series on Springfield firearms is spellbinding. 👍

My first gun was an 1873 carbine when I was eight years old. That was back in 1953 and I still shoot it today. Thanks for the presentation.

I enjoy the history that accompanies the rifles you share with us.

Thank you Evan, another interesting and informative video. I just ordered the book “archaeological…little big horn”. I would interested if the museum had enough examples to do a presentation of Savage model 1899 and 99s. My late father collected them and I even got a fat cow elk with one in .300 Savage. Thank you, keep up the good work!

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

Over the years, I personally owned two Savage 99s, both in .250-3000. Excellent rifles for deer and coyotes. A bit light for larger game. We have one .303 Savage Model 1895 in the collection that was owned by a local woman and used for big game in the state. It's currently on display in a new exhibit, but I can schedule it for a future video. I think the older Savages with the schnabel fore end are handsome guns.

I just acquired an original 1873 trapdoor rifle in fine shooting condition. The cool thing about these rifles was that they were crated up and moth balled until the mid 20th century, then they surplussed them out to the public. This means that these rifles are out there in good condition and reasonably priced for now at least.

Those trapdoor carbines were work horses for whoever was using them they were so popular the Texas rangers frontier bought 150 of them from the us government and they were given out to each of the companies and they served all the way up until the 1910s in some cases.

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

And were, in both rifle and carbine form, used by State Militias in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars, 1898-1899. I suspect some remained in state armories well into the 20th Century.

Very good video I appreciate you pointing out that the archaeological evidence didn't necessarily bring up a whole lot of jammed springfield cartridges

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

Those who blamed jammed firearms for the defeat ignore Custer's tactical mistakes in splitting his command and underestimating the strength of his adversaries.

Thanks fo da kno ledge my g!!! And merry Christmas I hope all yo holiday wishes come tru an you gets lots mo guns!!!! And come visit us in da hood sometime ninja !!!!!

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

Thanks, Bigone! Spending Christmas with my grandkids, so all is good. I appreciate the invitation to your turf, means a lot to me. Merry Christmas to you and your crew.

@thebigone6071

7 ай бұрын

@@wsmvolunteers8588 yo big up yo self Evan u a real one fr fr tho thanks ninja an u go love da hood wen u come visit pow pow pow 💥💥💥🙏🏿👍🏿🐐💯💯💯

Thank you Evan this was very interesting. Regarding the cartridge or bullet that was found at Last stand & at the Reno location, how do the historians account for that? Was there a soldier that left Custers column after the Last Stand battle started and fled to Reno' position ??? Or was there a soldier at Reno's position that fled to Last Stand Hill?? Would certainly be an interesting situation..

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

The U.S. Troops at the Last Stand were armed with .45-70 Springfield Trapdoor Carbines and 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolvers, caliber .45 Colt. Some civilian packers and scouts had other firearms. Some sources say Custer had a pair of British Bulldog revolvers instead of the issue Colts. The Native Americans were armed with a variety of firearms in addition to traditional weapons. At the Fetterman Fight in December 1866, 81 men from Fort Phil Kearney in north central Wyoming were lured over Lodge Trail Ridge and wiped out by Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Two civilians had Henry lever action repeaters. Grummond's mounted troops had Spencer carbines holding seven rounds. Those firearms ended up in the hands of Native Americans. Winchester and Henry repeating lever action rifles and carbines were obtained by warriors through trade, seizure, or in some cases, were given the arms by reservation agents. Consequently, while records show that many Native Americans at the Little Big Horn were armed with traditional weapons - bows, lances, tomahawks, etc. - many had repeating firearms. To the best of my knowledge, no white men escaped from Last Stand Hill, although some reports say there was a survivor but he didn't join Reno and escaped to the southwest. Veracity is open to question. So my assumption based on research and reports, is that the warriors moved from Last Stand hill to Reno's position and artifacts not matching government issue were used by Native Americans. Including cartridge cases that were fired from either an 1860 Henry or the 1866 Winchester. Both used a .44 caliber rimfire cartridge with dual firing pins.

@ronh5422

7 ай бұрын

@@wsmvolunteers8588 It is conceivable that a warrior participating in the Last Stand Hill battle either possessed or obtained a firearm from a deceased soldier then left Last Stand Hill and participated in the Reno battle. That could explain how a bullet or spent cartridge fired from the same firearm could have been found in both locations.

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

@@ronh5422 Certainly possible. The book Archeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn lists over 30 different cartridges, bullets, and empty cases that were recovered in 1984 and 1985. The predominant cartridges for the 7th Cavalry would have been .45-55 (.45-70 with a lighter load for the Springfield Trapdoor carbines) and .45 caliber for the Colt Single Action Army revolvers. The presence of so many other firearms assumed to be carried by the Native American warriors indicates they were well armed. Warriors definitely salvaged firearms from battle grounds. The evidence of firearms used at both sites are for the most part not .45-55 or .45 Colt. Over 200 empty .44 Henry Flat cartridges fired from either an 1860 Henry or an 1866 Winchester were found (the dual firing pin marks are identical between these two rifles.). Some .44 Henry cartridges with a single firing pin indentation were also found and assumed to be fired from a Colt 1871 Open Top revolver with one firing pin. It's late at night and I can't find the reference about evidence of one or more firearms used at both the Last Stand and Reno Hill. I think they were .44 Henry which would indicate warriors had them before the battle started. That's clearly an assumption on my part. Historians have spent their careers studying this fight. I'm just an enthusiastic amateur. Thanks for your question. Keeps my mind working.

@ronh5422

7 ай бұрын

@@wsmvolunteers8588 - Thank you Evan. I also have been fascinated with the Battle of Greasy Grass for over 70 years !! I will purchase the book Archeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Have watched all of your presentations and find them to be informative and down right a pleasure to watch. Keep up the good work.. I grew up in Clinton, Okla. ( Custer County ) and went to school with many Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho. Remember in very early 50's many of the Indian's, with blankets wrapped over their shoulders, would sit on wooden benches next to the store fronts along main street on Saturdays. I even remember seeing a barker peddling his snake oil from the back of a horse drawn wooden wagon while his pretty assistant wandered the crowd. Had a talkin crow also.. lol A lot of the Indians gathered around to listen.

Would you know the cost of a Model 1873 carbine back then Evan?

Wish you would include the cartridge so viewers can see the size of it. Evan have you ever been to the Smithsonian in DC to view their display of firearms? I've read that it the largest in the world.

@wsmvolunteers8588

7 ай бұрын

That's an excellent idea. I'm sorry I didn't think of it. We are reluctant to have live ammunition on the table, but I could have used empty cases, or pictures with a scale. I will try to remember to show cartridges in the future. I was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia in 1969-70 and spent a lot of time at free museums in D.C. I don't remember seeing firearms, maybe not on exhibit at the time. I have spent time at the Buffalo Bill Museum of the West in Cody, Wyoming. They have over 8000 firearms and amazing exhibits.

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