I feel like it's a city boy dressed as a cowboyIt’s a picture of a cowboy. What do I win?
Well, I don't know anything about pictures from that time period, so my impressions are probably all wrong.
But it looks like a "dress up" photo. Neither the knife nor the cross draw pistol make any sense on a dude wearing riding boots.
I feel like it's a city boy dressed as a cowboy
Trapdoors were still in use by National Guard troops in the Spanish American War, only the regular Army got Krags as they were in short supply.That photo has anachronisms galore. The knife is an M1849 Ames Rifleman's Knife, while the cartridge belt, revolver, and holster appear to be of Spanish-American War vintage. The Trapdoor carbine looks as though it's from the 1870's. I would say all these items were photographer's props. Especially the knife. It has no relation to the other items.
The more I think about it, I tend to agree. It's a studio portrait of a Spanish-American War era Guardsman or Volunteer. The main thing that was throwing us off was the Ames Rifleman's Knife thrust through the belt.IMO, its a legit picture of a Guardsman about to ship out for Cuba, c.1898.