Ever been to the R.I.A. Museum?

[tark]

Anyone out there ever been to the Rock Island Arsenal Museum? If not, it is well worth your time to go. They have six guns on display that were picked up after a minor battle during the Indian wars. Some obscure place called "The Little Bighorn".

They have General John Buford's saber (Gettysburg fame) on display. They have Early Garand prototypes, Pedersons, Every prototype from the Garand to the M-14, every U.S. Martial Arm from the flintlock era forward.... I could go on forever. You like Pederson's devices? They have a couple, complete with all accessories. They have about a thousand guns on display.

But three are very special. Yes, the Springfield in the middle is R.I.A. 1903 serial number 1. You can barely see the serial# in the close up. tag # 6797 is serial # 2, a Model Shop Garand.

I don't have a pic of the 1892 Krag carbine, but it is the only one in existence. The army made two, as an experiment, trashed one, and the other one is here. The Holy Grail to Krag collectors.

The most intriguing thing about the place is this....they have several hundred guns in storage, in the basement.

And no one seems to know exactly what is down there....

 

[hso]

Yep

We had a project on the island and I was able to get in and even get a behind the glass tour.

 

[bannockburn]

trk

Never been there but would definitely check out if I'm ever out that way. Would love to see '03 Springfield serial number 1 and that rare Model 1892 Krag carbine!

 

[Kaeto]

Is that Patton's sabre in the pic? I know that it's his design.

 

[tark]

It is a Patton Saber, not sure if it is his personal saber.

 

[PJSprog]

I have a friend from high school who is a machinist at R.I.A. Guess I need to make the drive up there and visit that museum. Very cool.

 

[bearman49709]

I've never been there but in 1980 I had orders to pcs there from Panama.
Born and raised in Michigan I was happy to get so close to home after three years overseas.
It was not to be, I got new orders for FT Irwin CA in the Mohave desert. :banghead:

 

[Missouri Farmer]

Looks like a fun place to spend a day

 

[Hypnogator]

Went there several times when I was attending meetings at RIA on the XM11 project back in '88 and '89. They also have all the firearms surrendered by the Indian tribes during the Indian Wars. Several of them were proven through forensic examination to have been used at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Well worth seeing if you're in the area!

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Just a short drive for us yet somehow....we've never been there!!! Maybe on X-mas break.

 

[tark]

A few more pics from the Museum. A nice Pederson device in pic #1.

All you Krag collectors....Here it is, in pic#4, the Holy grail. The only 1892 carbine in existence.... tag # 6042.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've been there but it's been a few years. Definitely worth another visit.
It's less than an hour drive from me. I like to go in the winter when the Eagles are hanging around the locks.