A "Legitimate" Air Service M1903 ...

[jaie5070]

Thanks for the great pics. Were the magazines preloaded or was the rifle loaded after the magazine was installed.
John

[Fred]

Actually, there was only need for one magazine per rifle because they had to be installed on the rifle empty and then have five stripper clips loaded. I was just wanting a picture or two of both magazines and so I mounted both on a belt for the fun of it.

[emmagee1917]

No feed lips on the mags . Nothing to keep the rounds in place when removed from the rifle .
Chris

[BudT]

Somewhere in a box here or at the storage locker I have one of those OMO 1917 pouches. Didn't know what they were for until now.

[tom gray]

Rick
I think it is great this rifle has surfaced. It is good the owner wants to keep it. I hope he allows
guys like you, John Beard, chuckindenver to check it out & further our knowledge of this rifle.
I want to learn all I can.
Tom

[JBinIll]

Somewhere in a box here or at the storage locker I have one of those OMO 1917 pouches. Didn't know what they were for until now.

Those are one of the most misidentified pouches there is.That is the Model 1916 General Purpose Pouch. It also goes by various names- squad leader pouch, pouch for small articles. It was meant to be worn on the haversack under the meatcan pouch in place of the intrenching tool. One man in a squad would use the pouch which would carry various small supplies which could be easily acessed. This would include first aid items such as adhesive tape, footpowder, and also a sewing kit.There are 5 or 6 of them on e-bay right now.I've seen one or two pictures of them being worn on the pistol or cartridge belt.

http://www.aef-doughboys.com/otherfieldgear.html

[Fred]

That's interesting JB. Thanks for sharing that. I'd read a description of one by a seller on ebay that said it was meant for the 25 round extension magazine and so I just used them for that. The magazines do fit into them perfectly and so I figured that they must be indeed for the magazine as well as the rifle floor plate and spring and follower when the magazine is being used.
Appreciate the information JB. Thanks again!

[JBinIll]

There use came about because of the difficulty of getting anything out of the M1910 pack without totally undoing the whole pack like getting foot powder out on the march.Since the Air Service rifle magazine is not really a detachable magazine in the sense of a BAR magazine is and given who and where the intended use of the rifle was for it is doubtful it was ever used for that purpose.But then it does say "General Purpose" doesn't it. LOL

[JBinIll]

Here's another often mis-identified piece of web gear.It was a grenade carrier but for the Vivien-Bessiere rifle grenade not hand grenades.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Great find Rick! Nice to find a real one.

[Fred]

That's an interesting device. How does it work?

[JBinIll]

That's an interesting device. How does it work?