Commence Fire
Trapdoors and Krags Grievous historical error in the July/August issue. In the article on the CMP, the author states that United States forces were equipped with Trapdoor Springfield .45-70 rifles in the Spanish-American War. While there may have been some Trapdoor Springfields at San Juan Hill, most U.S. troops and volunteers would have carried the .30-40 Krag-Jorgensen (pictured above). The basic fact that the U.S. was ill equipped against the Spanish 7mm Mauser rifles is still quite true! Hugh Scott Yes, they carried Krags, but those ran out and the National Guard troops carried Trapdoor Springfields, so there were soldiers facing 7mm Mausers with .45-70s.—Brad Fitzpatrick Kinda Light, Don’t You Think? Jeff John’s excellent “The Nifty Ballard” article (July/August) says the cast iron and steel model Ballard weighed “a hefty two pounds, 10 ounces.” Surely…