Which rifles were use to train the canadian soldiers before WW1 and WW2?

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dauph197

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Hi guys,

Just a quick question to verify with you if there are any chances that Canada was using Swiss made rifles for training the soldiers? I saw this statement in a small museum around here.

As I'm not familiar with the Swiss rifles, I would like to know if it was the case or not. The labeled rifles were:

- Vetterli 1881
- Vetterli 1869/71

What you guys think?

Also, is there any military connections with a Springfield 1870?

Thanks.

Martin
 
Martini-Henry's and Sniders. There were some Spencer Carbines(Rifle used by Morgan Freeman in Unforgiven.) used by at least one TO militia Regm't. Case of 'em was dug up by construction guys working where the old University Ave. Armoury stood. Years ago now, but after the FAC was jammed down our collective throats. Rapidly disappeared into the guy's vehicles. Laughed when the TO cops asked for their return.
Vetterli's might have been used by militia in the late 19th Century. Militia units, then, tended to use whatever the CO would/could buy.
An 1870 vintage TrapDoor Springfield? Don't think so.
Where's here?
 
Small Museum along the Highway 20, near Rimouski. A lost place believe me... I just want them to remove the "maybe was use to train soldiers before WW2" which make no sense to me!
 
Martini Henrys and Martini Enfield's most likely as well as early Lee Enfield's I know sniders seen some use during ww1 with countrys armed by the UK but for ww1 the martini platform was the home guard rifle for the most part
 
dauph197 said:
Small Museum along the Highway 20, near Rimouski. A lost place believe me... I just want them to remove the "maybe was use to train soldiers before WW2" which make no sense to me!
Click to expand...

Hey, I was in there a few years back when we were visiting friends in RdL, but I didn't see that else I would have raised a ruckus for sure.

tac
 
The Québec Pontifical Zouaves used a large number of Surplus Swiss Vetterlis Model 1869/71 rifles, along with Gras M1874/80/14 rifles and a small number of US Remington Rolling block New York National Guard rifles purchased on the Surplus Market . Canadian Army or Militia never used them, I think the Museum got the Zouaves and the Canadian Army confused!
 
JP, you may be right and it make lots of sense. Thanks for the info.

tacfoley, this place has almost no budget. I'm not even sure if the people who work there are volunteers or not. Whatever the answer, I will do my best to convince them to change this information.

Thanks again.

Martin
 
sunray said:
Martini-Henry's and Sniders. There were some Spencer Carbines(Rifle used by Morgan Freeman in Unforgiven.) used by at least one TO militia Regm't. Case of 'em was dug up by construction guys working where the old University Ave. Armoury stood. Years ago now, but after the FAC was jammed down our collective throats. Rapidly disappeared into the guy's vehicles. Laughed when the TO cops asked for their return.
Vetterli's might have been used by militia in the late 19th Century. Militia units, then, tended to use whatever the CO would/could buy.
An 1870 vintage TrapDoor Springfield? Don't think so.
Where's here?
Click to expand...
Now I would never be that lucky. Wonder what condition they were in. Bonus if ammo was there too. I would have had a chuckle myself to the cops request.
 
Canada bought some Peabody rifles in the late 1860s. They were made in the States, but the Swiss were also using the Peabody in the same time period. I suspect that's what they were talking about.
 
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