What Is The History Of My Military Firearm And/Or Who Was It Issued To?
Documented history has been found on only a small percentage of U.S. Military arms, we know of no source of information or documentation for arms issued by countries other than the USA Even with U.S. firearms documentation is likely only a mention of being issued, damaged, stolen, or transferred on a specific date by a specific unit. Previous and subsequent events are usually unknown, and only rarely do records link the serial number with a specific person. It is pretty neat when you can find something. We once found two .45-70 trapdoor rifles used in the Spanish American War by soldiers in the same Company of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The rifles were found about five years apart, one in Utah and the other in Missouri, and were reunited nearly 100 years after last being used together. Another Span-Am era trapdoor was documented to a Kansas Volunteer who served in the Philippines, and was not a very good soldier and got court martialed, but also saw some action. U.S. match rifles and
