crossed rifles

[puckettkh]

I have a trivia question I was wondering if someone could answer. When I was in boot camp the knowledge instructor asked us a question that no one knew the answer to (resulting in a pitting of course). What type of rifle is represented on the Marine Corps cheverons. He never told us the answer. It's been 9 years and I'm still wondering. I've asked alot of my Marine budies, looked on the web but haven't found anything definitive. I've been told most often that it is the 1903 springfield, but have also heard M1, and Krag. I know it's not the M1. The M1 has a magazine for one also it's too new. The Springfield '03 doesn't look right. To me the rifle almost looks to be a carbine of some kind but they never made a carbine for the '03. If someone could answer this for me and let me know where they found the answer so I can settle this debate I have started with my friends I would appreciate it.

[SGT7477]

Fill out your profile.

[kbs95125]

There was a carbine for the 1903.


Considering the high usage of 1903's by the Marine Corps and the Navy the safest bet would be 1903. If you find out what year the crossed rifles were added to chevrons, then look at the dates and cross that with the service rifles used you could have some pretty solid ground with an educated guess.

[bertramj]

Hope im not breaking the rules but i believe it is the 1906 Brescia.

[bertramj]

Hope im not breaking the rules but i believe it is the 1906 Brescia.

Thats what I found on the net any way.

[silverdollar]

The M1 did not have a magazine, it had a clip.

[capmarine]

m-14 has a mag

[ecfree]

Thats correct Silverdollar,a clip for the M1..
Inspection arms on the M1 could give you a thumb you'd never forget.
And Capmarine,M14, a beautiful weapon,20 round mag.and all.

[MotivatorOfTheGuard]

I believe the weapon used for the "crossed rifles" on our rank, is indeed the M1 Garand. Bertramj, you are correct, you are breaking many rules. You are authorized only to post in the Poolee/recruit forums. Correct Yourself.

[bertramj]

Retracting my statement and shuting up. No disrespect ment.

[RLeon]

Yup, the crossed rifles are M1 Garands, just like the rifles used for the expert marksmanship badge.

[RLeon]

To expand:
The crossed rifles have been used at least as early as 1912 for Gunnery Sgt only, with a bursting bomb over them. That rifle might have been based on a Krag or '03 Springfield.

Our current insignia originated in 1959, by this time the M1 Garand was the established service weapon.

Looking at one of my khaki shirt's insignia I can clearly see characteristics unmistakingly defining the rifles as M1 Garands; Pistol grip like stock, high rear sights on a substantial reciever and two sections on the muzzle end signifying the barrel and gas tube.

Consequently I beleive the rifles on the expert marksmanship badge used to be the Springfield 1903 until the Corps changed them to the M1 Garands.

[Scott Carl]

Hello Marines. 1st post here. I know this is an old post, but I was trying to find the answer to this question as a side note to a FB post about pre-crossed rifle chevrons. Most of the comments say M1 Garand but I distinctly remember this question from boot camp even though its been 40 + years. And I also remember the answer to be the '03 Springfield. So that's all I got but I would love to find an absolute answer. BTW, someone ask when the change took place. I believe it was 1959

Semper Fi
Scott

[cpllawson]

Yep the year was 1959 and E3 cpl were when next promoted E4 Cpls and etc was a good time to bid ado.

[Rocky C]

The year was 1939.


The rank of gunnery sergeant ('gunny') was created in 1898. By World War I it was used as the platoon sergeant rank, and was identified in 1939 by crossed rifles and a flaming bomb and the crossed rifles are the Garand M1 Rifle.