Final configuration, though I continue to welcome advice and suggestions. This is placed to provide information for those interested in using these weapons in a GAF format.
I would like to point out that this is NOT always a class in and of itself, but a set of standards for the use of these type weapons in a GAF match, outside of the usual Cowboy style classes. This may be broken up by action or powder type at the descretion of the Match director. Or it could be run as a single class if numbers so warrent.
-Milspec weapons of the late Victorian era, 1865-1901
-RIfles will be MAIN BATTLE RIFLES and CARBINES, utilizing CAS spec ammunition. Lead bullets of weight no more than 405 grains, velocity less than 1400 FPS. Calilbers greater than .501 may use up to a 480 grain bullet. Rifle calibers of .32 or less may use gas checks at the match directors discretion. (Call ahead!) Examples would be, but not limited to: Krags, Spencers, Trapdoors, Sniders, Enfields, early Mausers. Handguns would be milspec, or of demonstrated military use, related in period to the rifle used. The rifle is the determing factor here.
-NOTE- Handguns are related IN PERIOD to the rifle used. It is understood that some handgun/rifle combinations may be difficult to impossible to achieve. Reasonable substitutions are allowed. Officers of the period often purchased their own sidearms. (Notice I say "Handguns"? Thats right. Broomhandle fanatics be warned: NO stripper clips. You ain't outrunnin' anybody. For you DA revolver types, no loading aids of any type.)
-Rifles/carbines must be in a military configuration, military caliber. Example: the 1895 Winchester is allowed, if in military configuration, chambered in .30 US (.30-40 Krag) Lever action rifles with tubular underbarrel magazines are specificaly not allowed. There will be other classes for them.
(reasonable caliber subsitiution may be allowed on a case by case basis.)
-Dress must Attempt to be military, matching the weapon used. Don't show up dressed for the Rough Riders carrying a Mauser. Full or partial uniforms are fine, Scouts, field expediencey, and irregulars are recognized. (caveat: you want to be an irregular, you better have some provenance that shows you to be a fair representation.) Ladies may adhere to the above, or perhaps better to dress appropriate to the period, with some military "accessories". Perhaps a Kepi, corded Slouch, or officers sash. For ladies wishing to really go all out, I would suggest watching John Fords "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon".
-Era single shots, ie trapdoors, Martini Henrys, Rolling blocks, are encouraged, loaded to spec. Course of fire may be different from that of the repeaters at the match directors discretion.
-As a technical limitation, No stripper clips/loading aids allowed. All repeating weapons(rifles AND handguns) will start with no more than 5 rounds. Reloads have no limit. All reloads will be of loose ammo, from appropriate belts/pouchs/pockets, no aids of any kind. Loading aids may be used to charge the weapon prior to stage start, but none will be used in the stage itself.
-Modifications allowed: None. Springs may be replaced/lightened, existing parts polished to improve trigger pull, thats it. Parts may be replaced only to repair/return to Milspec.
-Don't come to me about the Turks using 1866s at Plevna. Know it, don't care, plenty other venues for those. This is for Main Battle rifles. Henrys and 66s were the submachine guns of their era.
EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTABLE RIFLES.
Not final, research ongoing. South American variations on the Comblain are endless! Where not mentioned, it is expected that these will be in military configuration. Please submit weapon suggestions by PM for evaluation. If it was accepted for military service prior to 1902 I'd like to know about it. Weapons must use a self contained cartridge with integral primer. IE no muzzleloaders, or breechloaders requiring a seperate percussion cap.
Milspec replicas, such as the various Trapdoor Springfield replicas from H&R and Pedersoli, are recognized.
CARCANO 1891
COMBLAIN-VARIOUS FROM 1870
ENFIELD .303 MAGAZINE LEE-ENFIELD
ENFIELD .303 MAGAZINE LEE-METFORD MARK 1
ENFIELD .303 MAGAZINE LEE-METFORD MARK 1*
ENFIELD .303 MAGAZINE LEE-METFORD MARK 2
ENFIELD .303 MAGAZINE LEE-METFORD MARK 2*
ENFIELD .450 MARTINI-HENRY
ENFIELD .577 SNIDER-ENFIELD RIFLE/CARBINE
FRENCH MILITARY MODEL 1886 LEBEL
FRENCH "BERTHIER" CARBINE, early 3 round magazine models.
FRENCH "CHASSPOTT"
GRAS MODEL 1874 INFANTRY RIFLE AND CARBINE
SWISS VETTERLI M1867-71 M1878, M1881
ITALIAN VETTERLI M1870, M1870/78
DREYSE "NEEDLE GUN"
MAUSER MODEL 1871 SHORT RIFLE
MAUSER 71
MAUSER 78/80
MAUSER 84
MAUSER 85
MAUSER 86
MAUSER 87
MAUSER 88
MAUSER 89
MAUSER 90
MAUSER 91
MAUSER 92
MAUSER 93
MAUSER 94
MAUSER 95
MAUSER 96
MANNLICHER M1888
STEYR M1895
MOISEN-NAGANT M1891
RUSSIAN BERDAN SINGLE SHOT 1ST AND 2ND MODEL.
PEABODY 1871
REMINGTON U.S. NAVY M1867 ROLLING BLOCK CARBINE
REMINGTON REMINGTON KEENE MAGAZINE BOLT RIFLE
REMINGTON REMINGTON LEE MAGAZINE BOLT RIFLE
REMINGTON U.S. NAVY "ANNAPOLIS CADET" MILITARY RIFLE
REMINGTON U.S. ARMY MODEL 1870 "EXPERIMENTAL" CARBINE
REMINGTON U.S. ARMY MODEL 1870 "EXPERIMENTAL" MILITARY RIFLE
REMINGTON U.S. NAVY MODEL 1870 (TYPES 1 & 2) MILITARY RIFLE
REMINGTON U.S. ARMY MODEL 1871 MILITARY RIFLE
REMINGTON ANY ROLLING BLOCK IN MILSPEC CONFIGURATION
SCHMIDT-RUBIN M1889, M1896, M1897, M1900
SHARPS .50/70 CARBINES
SHARPS .50/70 RIFLES
SHARPS SPRINGFIELD/SHARPS MODEL 1870-1871
SHARPS MODEL 1874
SHARPS MODEL 1878 SHARPS-BORCHARDT
SNIDER Various INFANTRY RIFLE/CARBINE
SPENCER MODEL 1860 ARMY RIFLES
SPENCER MODEL 1860 CARBINES
SPENCER MODEL 1860 NAVY RIFLES
SPENCER MODEL 1865 ARMY RIFLES
SPENCER MODEL 1865 CARBINES
SPENCER MODEL 1867 ARMY RIFLES AND CARBINES
SPENCER NEW MODEL ARMY RIFLES AND CARBINES
SPENCER SMALL-FRAME MILITARY CARBINES
SPENCER SPRINGFIELD ARMORY RIFLE MUSKET CONVERSION OF SPENCER CARBINES
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1870 ROLLING-BLOCK RIFLE, U.S.N.
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1871 ROLLING-BLOCK RIFLE, U.S.A.
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODELS 1866, 1868 RIFLES
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1870 RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1873 CADET RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1873 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1873 RIFLE "TRAPDOOR"
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1875 OFFICER?S RIFLE FIRST TYPE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1877 CADET RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1877 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1877 RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1879 CADET RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1879 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1879 RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1880
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1884 RIFLE "TRAPDOOR"
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY MODEL 1888 RIFLE "TRAPDOOR"
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) ARSENAL-ALTERED TO M1896 STYLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1892-DATED 1894
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1895 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1896
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1896 CADET RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1896 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1898 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1898 NRA CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1898 RIFLE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1899 CARBINE
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY (KRAG) M1899 PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY CARBINE
DANISH KRAG M1889
NORWIEGIAN KRAG M1894, 95, 97
WINCHESTER HOTCHKISS RIFLE
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 NRA MUSKET
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 RUSSIAN MUSKET
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 CARBINE
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 FLATSIDE MUSKET
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 MUSKET
WINCHESTER MODEL 1883 (HOTCHKISS REPEATER)
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 LEE STRAIGHT PULL RIFLE
The above lists most of the major issue small arms of the period. For those of you determined to field the rare and exotic, you can find just about everything here:
http://www.militaryrifles.com/MAINIndx.htm Please remember that lever action rifles with tubular underbarrel magazines are NOT allowed in this concept. There are other venues for those. IE once again, I know the Turks used 1866s at Plevna, don't care, not allowed.
Why no Mauser 98? True statement "The Mauser 98 is the definitive bolt action of the 20th century." Nuff said.
The Lee Enfield is NOT the SMLE, but the first, longer version. The SMLE was developed in response to the Boer war, and fielded after 1903.