Manual of Arms - Beyond the Rifle
Date Published: 3/26/2016
Author: Chris Guska
Editor and Model: Lee Mudd, 90th IDPG
Introduction:
After standing in front of reenactors for years performing safety and authenticity inspections, traditionally in a morning formation, it is apparent that men carrying weapons other than the rifle generally have no idea what to do in formation.
I have been told on numerous occasions that the manual of arms for "XYZ" weapon doesn't exist, and whatever action taken by the individual in question was proper. I call BS - it is in the manuals if you read them.
The intent of this article is to bring together illustrations and written excerpts from period manuals what you should do if you are holding a weapon other than a Garand or Springfield while participating in formation for our purposes as reenactors.
We've taken the liberty to "fill in" for completeness of presentation with modern illustrations where the manuals do not have an illustration. Special thanks to Lee Mudd for standing in.
Sources:
FM 21-100 Soldiers Handbook
FM 23-35 Automatic Pistol Caliber .45 M1911 and M1911A1
FM 23-40 Thompson Submachine Gun, Caliber .45, M1928A1 - December 31, 1941
FM 23-41 Submachine Gun Caliber .45, M3 - 30 October 1943
Manual of Arms, Compared:
Position Rifle Carbine Pistol BAR Thompson M3 SMG Attention / Order Arms Parade Rest Rifle Salute (while at Order Arms) Port Arms Inspection Arms Present Arms Right Shoulder Arms Rifle Salute (Shouldered) Sling Arms Trail Arms
Carbine
The M1 Carbine is covered in depth in our "M1 Carbine Manual of Arms" piece from 2010. The Carbine remains slung unless you are inspecting weapons. Salutes are executed as normal hand salutes.
ATTENTION In executing Attention, the carrying position is assumed... Except as otherwise prescribed, the carbine will habitually be carried for drills, ceremonies, and guard duty slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit. The magazine will be inserted in the receiver for ceremonies and guard duty only. PARADE REST Parade rest ... are executed in the normal manner, as without arms, after releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling. REST When troops are at ease, the carbine is kept slung unless otherwise ordered. When troops are at rest, the carbine may be un slung and held in any desired position. SLING ARMS The carbine will habitually be carried for drills, ceremonies, and guard duty slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit. PORT ARMS The carbine being slung, at the command of execution, grasp the sling with the left hand above the right, lifting the piece from the shoulder and at the same time withdrawing the right arm from between the piece and sling. Grasp the small of the stock with the right hand, bringing the piece to a vertical plane parallel to and about 4 inches in front of the center of the body, barrel extending upward to the left at an angle of 45 degrees. With the left hand grasp the hand guard about 3 inches below the upper band. The position of Port Arms is not assumed when the carbine is carried in the holster. Port Arms with the carbine is not executed as part of the manual of arms with the rifle. INSPECTION ARMS Executed at the command: 1. INSPECTION, 2. ARMS; or when other members of the command are executing the manual of the pistol, at the command: 1. INSPECTION, 2. PISTOL. The carbine being slung, at the command of execution, grasp the sling with left hand above the right, lifting the piece from the shoulder and at the same time withdrawing the right arm from between the piece and sling. Grasp the small of the stock with the right hand, resting the butt of the piece just in front of the right hip, barrel elevated at an angle of 45 degrees, muzzle to the front
Press the magazine lock to the left with the forefinger of the right hand and, at the same time, withdraw the magazine from the receiver with the left hand, inserting it between the body and belt in front of the left hip. Assume the position of Port Arms. With the forefinger of the right hand, pull the operating slide all the way back and press down on the operating slide catch with the right thumb, locking the operating slide in its rear position; re grasp the small of the stock and at the same time lower the head and eyes sufficiently to glance into the chamber.
RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS Executed at the command: 1. ORDER (RIGHT SHOULDER), 2. ARMS, or 1. RETURN, 2. PISTOL. At the preparatory command, release the operating slide by pulling the operating handle slightly to the rear with the right forefinger and allowing the slide to go forward; pull the trigger, and replace the magazine. At the command of execution, re sling the carbine over the right shoulder and resume the position of Attention. LEFT SHOULDER ARMS See Sling Arms ORDER ARMS See Sling Arms TRAIL ARMS See Sling Arms PRESENT ARMS ...Right-hand salute are executed in the normal manner, as without arms, after releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling. RIFLE SALUTE ...Right-hand salute are executed in the normal manner, as without arms, after releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling. LOCK PIECES From Inspection Arms - Release slide and bolt forward, apply safety. UNLOCK PIECES From Inspection Arms - Release slide and bolt forward, pull trigger.
Pistol:
There is a separate manual of the pistol. For the circumstances that we encounter as reenactors, the pistol remains holstered unless you are inspecting weapons. The army saw the manual of the pistol as a safety check rather than the modern concept snap and pop drill that we think of as manual of arms.
Excerpt from FM 21-100
ATTENTION As normal, without arms. PARADE REST As normal, without arms. REST As normal, without arms. SLING ARMS Attention PORT ARMS Attention INSPECTION ARMS Withdraw pistol from holster. Remove magazine with left hand. Open slide, hold pistol with barrel up at 30 degree angle. RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS Attention LEFT SHOULDER ARMS Attention ORDER ARMS Attention TRAIL ARMS Attention PRESENT ARMS Hand salute as without arms RIFLE SALUTE Hand salute as without arms LOCK PIECES Attention UNLOCK PIECES Attention
BAR:The BAR remains slung unless weapons are being inspected. Further more, the Automatic Rifleman renders NO SALUTE.
ATTENTION Slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit PARADE REST Parade rest.—If at SLING ARMS, execute as without arms keeping the right hand on the sling. REST When troops are at rest, the automatic rifle may be unslung and the position of ORDER ARMS taken. SLING ARMS Except as otherwise prescribed, the automatic rifle is habitually carried slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit PORT ARMS Slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit INSPECTION ARMS Inspection arms.—At the command of execution, grasp the magazine with the left hand; at the same time press the magazine release with the right hand. Withdraw the magazine with the left hand and place it in the belt. Pull back the operating handle with the left hand. RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS Slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit LEFT SHOULDER ARMS Slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit ORDER ARMS Executed the same as with the Rifle TRAIL ARMS Slung over the right shoulder, butt down, barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of armpit PRESENT ARMS Men armed with the automatic rifle salute with the hand salute when not in ranks. In ranks they do not salute RIFLE SALUTE Men armed with the automatic rifle salute with the hand salute when not in ranks. In ranks they do not salute LOCK PIECES At the command of execution, pull the trigger, replace the magazine, and resume the position of ATTENTION, the automatic rifle being kept slung UNLOCK PIECES At the command of execution, pull the trigger, replace the magazine, and resume the position of ATTENTION, the automatic rifle being kept slung
Thompson:
The Thompson remains slung unless you are inspecting weapons. Salutes are executed like the rifle, in a present arms position.
ATTENTION Slung over the right shoulder, butt down; barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of the armpit. PARADE REST Executed in the normal manner by releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling REST The submachine gun may be unslung and held in any desired position SLING ARMS Slung over the right shoulder, butt down; barrel to the rear, right hand grasping the sling, hand in front of the armpit. PORT ARMS Right Hand grasps the small of the stock. Left hand holds the fore grip and is opposite to and at the same level as the point of the left shoulder. Hold the piece in a vertical plane parallel to and about 4 inches in front of his body, barrel extending upward to the left at an angle of 45 degrees. INSPECTION ARMS The position is the same as PORT except that the actuator has been pulled to the rear, opening the bolt, and the safety has been set at "safe". RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS Sling arms LEFT SHOULDER ARMS Sling arms ORDER ARMS Sling arms TRAIL ARMS Sling arms PRESENT ARMS Standing at attention and grasping the small of the stock lightly with the right hand and the fore grip of the left hand, holds the piece 4 inches in front of the center of his body in such manner that the barrel is vertical and to the rear with the muzzle up. The gunner's arm should be straight without constraint. RIFLE SALUTE Executed in the normal manner by releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling LOCK PIECES Release the bolt, engage the safety UNLOCK PIECES Release the bolt AT EASE The submachine gun is kept slung unless otherwise ordered.
Grease Gun:
The M3 remains slung unless you are inspecting weapons. Salutes are executed like the rifle, in a present arms position.
ATTENTION The submachine gun M3 is habitually carried with the magazine removed, stock telescoped, slung over the right shoulder, butt up, receiver throat to the front, the right hand grasping the sling in front of the armpit. PARADE REST Executed in the normal manner by releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling REST The submachine gun may be unslung and held in any desired position SLING ARMS The submachine gun M3 is habitually carried with the magazine removed, stock telescoped, slung over the right shoulder, butt up, receiver throat to the front, the right hand grasping the sling in front of the armpit. PORT ARMS The gunner, standing at attention, holds the piece in vertical plane, parallel to and about 4 inches in front of his body, barrel extending upward to the left at an angle of 45 degrees. The right hand grasps the butt of the stock. The left hand holds the piece at the housing and is opposite to and at the same level at the point of the left shoulder. INSPECTION ARMS The position is the same as PORT except that the actuator has been pulled to the rear, the chamber examined to see if the gun is loaded, and the gun unloaded if found loaded. RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS Sling arms LEFT SHOULDER ARMS Sling arms ORDER ARMS Sling arms TRAIL ARMS Sling arms PRESENT ARMS The gunner, standing at attention and grasping the stock just above the butt lightly with the right hand and the cover with the left hand, holds the piece 4 inches in the front of the center of his body in such manner that the barrel is vertical, the muzzle up and the housing to the front. The gunner's right arm should be straight without constraint. RIFLE SALUTE Executed in the normal manner by releasing the grasp of the right hand from the sling LOCK PIECES Release the bolt, close the ejection port cover UNLOCK PIECES Release the bolt, close the ejection port cover AT EASE The submachine gun is kept slung unless otherwise ordered.
Crew Served Weapons:
For the 60mm mortar and 1919A4, place it to the front or rear of the formation and retrieve the weapon at the conclusion of the activity.
If you are a member of a crew served weapons squad, you should have a personal weapon which you are participating in the formation with (Carbine or Pistol).
Summary:
If you don't have a Rifle, chances are you should sling it. If you have a Rifle or Submachine Gun, present it - otherwise hand salute. If you are the Automatic Rifleman, sling it and just stand there.
Never ever should I see someone shoulder a 60mm mortar, or present a 1919A4. Unfortunately what has been seen cannot be unseen.
Take a minute with your unit to learn this, practice drill with the rifle, and try not to embarrass yourself. .
