C96 'Broom-handle' Mauser pistol.

alanint · 09-02-2013, 01:30 PM

Not unusual for 16-17 year olds to be serving at this time.

The sabers and right side crossdraw set up on the group photo certainly identifies them as cavalry. Spurs visible on several of the boots would clinch this.

The holster is the typical leather "harness" which contained a toe cup like a Luger Artillery holster for the attaching iron of the wood stock. The harness also had provisions for a cleaning rod and an extra magazine spring. Some say that the small pouch on the harness is for an extra stripper of ammunition.

All of these men are enlisted and two of them have trench flashlights around their necks.

The second man from the left has a visible canteen with the cup/cover hanging loose, lending creedence to the idea that this is a quickly staged "snapshot" at a rear area barracks or trainig camp.

09-02-2013, 01:30 PM	#6
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Not unusual for 16-17 year olds to be serving at this time. The sabers and right side crossdraw set up on the group photo certainly identifies them as cavalry. Spurs visible on several of the boots would clinch this. The holster is the typical leather "harness" which contained a toe cup like a Luger Artillery holster for the attaching iron of the wood stock. The harness also had provisions for a cleaning rod and an extra magazine spring. Some say that the small pouch on the harness is for an extra stripper of ammunition. All of these men are enlisted and two of them have trench flashlights around their necks. The second man from the left has a visible canteen with the cup/cover hanging loose, lending creedence to the idea that this is a quickly staged "snapshot" at a rear area barracks or trainig camp.