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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]
2.0 Blankets, Tentage and Waterproofs
3.0 Accoutrements and Camp Equipage
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