I wrote this post a couple years ago for the Krag Collector's Association Forum and am reprinting it here because there is always interest in checking SRS Records for some military firearm or another that might be covered in these records. Many people ask "What are SRS records" and others don't know much about them or how they were compiled. I thought this would be good to share here. Enjoy.
Since there have always been and will continue to be requests for SRS "hits" by guests and members, I thought that I'd put together a little summary of the 4 volumes of the Springfield Research Service collection of serial number research information. I had spent a long time searching for reasonably priced copies of these 4 volumes and have had them for quite a while to enjoy and use extensively in collecting and learning about Krags and other military firearms. Many have requested searches for their serial numbers but a lot of people don't know what these research documents really are or what they contain.
I will summarize some interesting information about them which will require a good bit of detail.
I also want to be extremely clear that I am summarizing researched and documented information from other authors. I am not the origin of this info and I give ALL credit to Frank Mallory who initiated these records and was instrumental in helping all of us understand and enjoy our wonderful Krags (and other military firearms) to the degree we do today. The introduction to these volumes is credited to Ron Hickox.
Summarizing Ron Hickox in the introduction used for all 4 volumes, the Springfield Research Service started in 1975 when Frank Mallory was researching military weapons and came across a large collection of serial numbers and data of U. S. Military arms. He published the data in a small booklet called Summary of DCM Rifle Sales, 1922-1942.
Frank started to furnish readers with authentication letters based on his research findings for $5 a copy.
(contd)
![3837965]( "3837965")
Frank started, because he had so much interest in research information on Springfield Armory military arms, a quarterly newsletter called the Springfield Research Newsletter. These newsletters contained many listings, pictures and data on Krag rifles and carbines. Readers would send in questions that Frank would answer as well as information they had obtained on personally owned firearms that would be included in the newsletters.
Frank Mallory published The Krag Rifle Story book in 1980 after compiling so much research information and historic data on Krags.
The Springfield Research Service Serial Numbers of Martial Arms was published in 4 volumes. The 4th and final volume stated that there would be no further volumes of the SRS forthcoming since the newsletters included so much further collected data.
The information in the SRS manuals was compiled from U. S. military sources including direct Springfield Armory records, Office of Chief of Ordnance, National Archives and other sources.
The SRS manuals contain records on Civil War rifles, Colt firearms, Remington firearms, Sharps, S&W firearms, Trapdoors, Krags, Model 1903s, Model 1922s, M1 rifles, M1 carbines and Model 1917 rifles.
Volume 1 (Actually called 1st Edition) was printed in 1983 and contains individual records on 46,500 of many of the above military firearms. The Krag section (of course most interesting to us!) has 7,878 individual entries on rifles and carbines. This encompasses M1892 - M1899. Many of the entries are for firearms used in the Spanish American War by the 1st USV Cavalry known as the Rough Riders.
Volume 2 was printed in 1986 and has new data on 33,800 individual firearms. There are 2,572 new Krag entries again that supplements the previous edition.
Volume 3 was printed in 1990 and contains 33,800 new individual entries (same number as Volume 2-not a typo). There are 903 new Krag entries in this volume including M1892 Krag rifles used by the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps.
![3837966]( "3837966")
Volume 4 was printed in 1995 with, again, all new information on 72,000 individual firearms in 41 categories. There are new entries for 1,232 Krags including a group of Krag rifles and carbines that were slated for destruction at the New Cumberland Ordnance Depot.
The 4 volumes contain information on 12,000 Krags total.
There is a note that says that information is not guaranteed due to so many chances for errors in recording and copying this kind of data. Just as many people may make a mistake in reading a "3" for an "8", historical records may be ripe with errors as well as typing and publication errors. Historic letters provided by SRS for a fee are checked and double checked against original records to try to get the most correct information to the collector possible.
Each volume of the SRS manuals includes the chart of serial numbers and dates of production copied below. We know that there are often disagreements about dates of productions of Krags since they were not always produced and accepted into use in chronological order.
I use these manuals constantly when I'm looking at Krags at auction sights, on Gun Broker and other sights where Krags are sold as well as when trying to answer questions on KCA. They are paperback and show wear after a while, so, I am being careful with handling them.
I have tried to accurately summarize the Springfield Research Records manuals correctly. I, again, give credit to others for compiling this information for us to use. Many well known collectors of Springfield firearms and other military collectibles have contributed to these records such as Dick Hosmer, who many of you may be familiar with. Thanks Dick for helping us all get the most from these great research records.
![3837967]( "3837967")
Since there have always been and will continue to be requests for SRS "hits" by guests and members, I thought that I'd put together a little summary of the 4 volumes of the Springfield Research Service collection of serial number research information. I had spent a long time searching for reasonably priced copies of these 4 volumes and have had them for quite a while to enjoy and use extensively in collecting and learning about Krags and other military firearms. Many have requested searches for their serial numbers but a lot of people don't know what these research documents really are or what they contain.
I will summarize some interesting information about them which will require a good bit of detail.
I also want to be extremely clear that I am summarizing researched and documented information from other authors. I am not the origin of this info and I give ALL credit to Frank Mallory who initiated these records and was instrumental in helping all of us understand and enjoy our wonderful Krags (and other military firearms) to the degree we do today. The introduction to these volumes is credited to Ron Hickox.
Summarizing Ron Hickox in the introduction used for all 4 volumes, the Springfield Research Service started in 1975 when Frank Mallory was researching military weapons and came across a large collection of serial numbers and data of U. S. Military arms. He published the data in a small booklet called Summary of DCM Rifle Sales, 1922-1942.
Frank started to furnish readers with authentication letters based on his research findings for $5 a copy.
(contd)
Frank started, because he had so much interest in research information on Springfield Armory military arms, a quarterly newsletter called the Springfield Research Newsletter. These newsletters contained many listings, pictures and data on Krag rifles and carbines. Readers would send in questions that Frank would answer as well as information they had obtained on personally owned firearms that would be included in the newsletters.
Frank Mallory published The Krag Rifle Story book in 1980 after compiling so much research information and historic data on Krags.
The Springfield Research Service Serial Numbers of Martial Arms was published in 4 volumes. The 4th and final volume stated that there would be no further volumes of the SRS forthcoming since the newsletters included so much further collected data.
The information in the SRS manuals was compiled from U. S. military sources including direct Springfield Armory records, Office of Chief of Ordnance, National Archives and other sources.
The SRS manuals contain records on Civil War rifles, Colt firearms, Remington firearms, Sharps, S&W firearms, Trapdoors, Krags, Model 1903s, Model 1922s, M1 rifles, M1 carbines and Model 1917 rifles.
Volume 1 (Actually called 1st Edition) was printed in 1983 and contains individual records on 46,500 of many of the above military firearms. The Krag section (of course most interesting to us!) has 7,878 individual entries on rifles and carbines. This encompasses M1892 - M1899. Many of the entries are for firearms used in the Spanish American War by the 1st USV Cavalry known as the Rough Riders.
Volume 2 was printed in 1986 and has new data on 33,800 individual firearms. There are 2,572 new Krag entries again that supplements the previous edition.
Volume 3 was printed in 1990 and contains 33,800 new individual entries (same number as Volume 2-not a typo). There are 903 new Krag entries in this volume including M1892 Krag rifles used by the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps.
Volume 4 was printed in 1995 with, again, all new information on 72,000 individual firearms in 41 categories. There are new entries for 1,232 Krags including a group of Krag rifles and carbines that were slated for destruction at the New Cumberland Ordnance Depot.
The 4 volumes contain information on 12,000 Krags total.
There is a note that says that information is not guaranteed due to so many chances for errors in recording and copying this kind of data. Just as many people may make a mistake in reading a "3" for an "8", historical records may be ripe with errors as well as typing and publication errors. Historic letters provided by SRS for a fee are checked and double checked against original records to try to get the most correct information to the collector possible.
Each volume of the SRS manuals includes the chart of serial numbers and dates of production copied below. We know that there are often disagreements about dates of productions of Krags since they were not always produced and accepted into use in chronological order.
I use these manuals constantly when I'm looking at Krags at auction sights, on Gun Broker and other sights where Krags are sold as well as when trying to answer questions on KCA. They are paperback and show wear after a while, so, I am being careful with handling them.
I have tried to accurately summarize the Springfield Research Records manuals correctly. I, again, give credit to others for compiling this information for us to use. Many well known collectors of Springfield firearms and other military collectibles have contributed to these records such as Dick Hosmer, who many of you may be familiar with. Thanks Dick for helping us all get the most from these great research records.
