Sailors with 1903s

[JimF]

Whenever I see this particular scene in "The Sand Pebbles", I cringe . . . . .

Just after Steve makes his shot, he THROWS the RIFLE OVERBOARD!!

Oh, the INHUMANITY!! --Jim

[Fred]

Me too! But then I remember that the rifle was no doubt actually tossed off camera onto a cushion.

[remus]

Boy oh boy, I'll bet that sailor shooting prone in his whites had a cleaning job. White's ain't for shooting prone on the bare ground.

[pmclaine]

Man I think the old Navy uniforms looked professional. Those blueberry sea cammies are a joke. They should bring back denims for a work uniform.

[Fred]

Boy oh boy, I'll bet that sailor shooting prone in his whites had a cleaning job. White's ain't for shooting prone on the bare ground.

Yea, I wish that I'd have asked gramps about that. Being a carpenter, mason, machinist etc., he actually helped build that rifle range. It could be that he wore his whites that day because of some screw up with the laundry or something. Who knows? I'll ask him when I get to the great beyond.

[Fred]

More photo's from The Sand Pebbles...











Here he's not even using his sights...

[M1Garandy]

Maybe it is just the angle of the pictures but it almost looks like the middle two pictures show a M1917/P14 or other Enfield type offset stacking swivel on that '03.

[Fred]

Yep. The front sight cover is a USMC type too.

[Vern Humphrey]

Thanks Liam, not sure of the bayonet drill. Are they trying to stick over a barricade

The bayonet was a substitute for the pike, and that's pike drill you're seeing. Pikes are used collectively, not as individual weapons. Those men would be in the second rank, stabbing over the shoulders of the first rank. The men in the first rank would be holding their weapons lower.