Standards of the Columbia Rifles
 

4.0 WEAPONS

4.1 Firearms
A. Model 1861 Springfield Rifle-musket, .58 caliber.  The Springfield was the most common weapon in the hands of Union troops, and as such should be given preference in Members’ choice of weapons.
B. Model 1853 Enfield Rifle-musket, .577 caliber: The Enfield was the second-most prevalent long-arm in the Federal Army.  Preferred that Enfields are marked “Tower” (instead of “London Armory”).  Enfield rifle-muskets shall be properly “defarbed” (top swivel replaced, first two bands replaced, modern markings removed, period inspector’s stamps added, correct escutcheons, etc.).  Although documentation exists to support the use of both blued and bright Enfields, the Columbia Rifles prefers all Enfields to be struck bright, chiefly to facilitate a more uniform appearance in the ranks.   Members are advised to purchase ArmiSport (reproduction manufacturer) rifle-muskets because they are more authentic with respect to the musket bands. [EOG/US page 38]
C. Model 1863 Springfield Rifle-musket: These weapons are also acceptable but are not encouraged.  Their use began rather late in the war and therefore is anachronistic at pre-1863 events.
D. Long-arms other than a .58 caliber Enfield or Springfield will be considered on a case-by-case basis as required by the scenario portrayed.  Model 1842 .69 caliber Springfield smoothbores may be carried only when appropriate for the scenario.  No two-band rifles, no modern black-powder rifles, no Confederate rifles, etc. shall be carried at any time.
E. Any original (period) muskets must look new and be in proper working order.
F. All rifle-muskets in the ranks of the Company shall have a functioning half-cock and shall be capable of bearing the full weight of the musket when supported only by the trigger.
G. Each time the company falls in, each Member must have a ramrod in his rifle-musket and a bayonet properly sheathed.
H. All muskets shall be cleaned after firing.  A weapons inspection shall be held prior to each firing demonstration and/or battle reenactment.  Unsafe and/or excessively unclean weapons shall not be allowed in the ranks due to the safety hazard they represent.

4.2 Ammunition (Blank Cartridges)
A. Each man will have a full 40 rounds of cartridges in his cartridge box when the Company falls in at each and at every uniformed event that the Columbia Rifles attends.  Each man will have enough percussion caps in his cap box to fire the required 40 rounds in his cartridge box.  The only exception to this rule is when the Rifles participates in an event where carrying of ammunition and caps is prohibited, such as on National Park Service property.
B. Each cartridge will contain no more that 60 grains of FF black powder.
C. Blank cartridges shall not be carried loose in cartridge boxes; all cartridge boxes will have the proper cartridge box tins.  For safety reasons, Members are discouraged from carrying cartridges in their pockets.
D. Cartridges must be made of proper paper material.  Newspaper, notepad paper, and other inauthentic materials shall not be used.  Cartridges must be properly constructed and tied at the end.
E. Cartridges should be properly packaged (bundle of ten cartridges plus twelve caps in a paper tube, wrapped in paper tied with a string).  Cartridge packages should not be labeled.

4.3 Prohibitions
A. Long knives shall never be carried at any time.
B. Only officers may carry pistols.
C. Live ammunition shall never be carried by any member at any event, with the sole exception of live-fire competitions.

4.4 Commissioned Officer Weapons
A. Sword and Scabbard: All officers on duty shall always carry a sword.  Sword may be the standard, 1850 United States Army foot officer’s sword, with brass guard and leather grip.  Plain or engraved blades are acceptable.  The hilt of the sword (where the blade meets the guard) should have a piece of leather of the same size as the head of the scabbard to act as a ‘seal’ when the sword is sheathed.  Note that swords that have a “nut” on the end of the pommel are unacceptable.  Use of officer’s sword knot is at the discretion of the officer.  Scabbards shall have a brass throat with a brass loop to attach to the swivel snap on the sword belt, and a brass drag with a second brass loop approximately one-third of the way down the scabbard.  Scabbard for the Model 1850 foot officer’s sword should be black glazed leather.  [EOG/US pages 74-75] Another extremely common sword used by foot officers was the import sword known today as the “Petersen 75”, which were imported from Germany and had steel fittings and steel scabbards.
B. Side-arm: Use of a side-arm by commissioned officers is optional.  Choice of side-arm is at the discretion of the officer.  Company-grade officers were usually reluctant to carry the full-sized ‘horse pistols’ more typically found in the cavalry.  The most common handguns appear to have been the smaller .32 caliber ‘pocket’ pistols, small cartridge revolvers, and the occasional .36 Colt’s Navy.  [EOG/US pages 64-69]


0.0 Standards Home

1.0 Uniforms

2.0 Blankets, Tentage and Waterproofs

3.0 Accoutrements and Camp Equipage

4.0 Weapons

5.0 Rations and Cooking

6.0 Camping

7.0 Drill



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