U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1

[shooter13]

This is my rifle

There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

I must fire my rifle true.

I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.

I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...

My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire,

the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.

We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories,
its sights, and its barrel.

I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.

I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.

We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God I swear this creed.

My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.

We are the masters of our enemy.

We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but peace!


-- Maj Gen WH Rupertus
(The Creed of a United States Marine)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY circa NOVEMBER 1944



pictured with original M1905 16" bayonet and repo M7 grenade launcher

So, anyone else here own "The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised"

[ronegg]

I had the creed tacked to the inside lid of a locker box I gave to my son when he went in the Corps. Gorgeous Garand the first military rifle I ever put my hands on.

[shooter13]

Thanks for your ( and your sons) service to our great country...

"Always Faithful"

[cas]

I've had a few come and go. Still have a pair.

"My Springfields"




Okay, okay... one is an Armi-Sport, one an H&R and one a Federal Ordnance, but you get the idea.

[shooter13]

Sweet bunch of rifles there CAS...!! Did you do the paint job on the bottom one ?

[cas]

Yeah... that's the glass GI stock it came in, I just gave it a Krylon spray can job for something different. I use that stock when I shoot it in rifle/3 gun matches.



Most of the time it's in it's "sunday go to meetin' clothes", along with the phony selector.