Does a Drill Rifle Type Matter?

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Commentary, Drill Teams, Honor Guard, Instructional 8 Comments

Hypothetical situation (yet common):

“Well we use M1 Grands and ours weigh 15lbs.”

Oh. Really?

That would be Garand, named after the man who created the rifle, Canadian-born, John Cantius Garand.

For some reason some Drillers think that the heavier the rifle is, the better a Driller you are. This is simply not true. All rifles, including 2lb color guard rifles, require training, skill, finesse and strength, just to name a few qualities. A lighter rifle can be used very effectively if the Driller actually uses the lighter weight to his/her advantage.

There are three types of M1 rifles: the Garand, carbine and tanker model. The latter two are not used for drilling since they are quite short. The Garand weighs around 8.5lbs if it is demilitarized well. If it is demil’d poorly, it will be heavier and will not be a very good drill rifle.

The M1903 comes in a couple of different models. The difference is in the butt stock and the A3 version is the best to drill with since the small of the stock is smooth and tapered. It also weighs around 8.5lbs if demilitarized well.

The M14 is the heaviest of the drill rifles coming in at a hair over 10lbs. It is a Marine Corps standard and has been for decades.

Don’t get hung up on weight. It’s about how the equipment is used.

“Stand Still Laddy!”

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That’s a line from Pink Floyd’s song, The Wall. And it fits perfectly.

Judges: stop moving around the drill pad!

Why?

  1. It’s distracting to the audience- which is not a main concern, but is part of the consideration.
  2. There are macro and micro moves a Driller can perform and if you are constantly moving around, you will miss those subtleties.
  3. Staying in one place also forces Drillers to consider what they do and when- not just how.
  4. By moving around you are probably missing the visual dynamics of a routine.
  5. Moving also can distract you from doing your job which is to keep your eyes on the performance the whole time.

Especially the Head Judge! Your moving around only leads to a possible timing penalty when you have to race around to return the salute for the report-out.

Think of the drill area as a stage (which it is). The drill area is a square or rectangle and where the head judge stands is what I call the “perform-to side.”

Argument: “But I need to see the Driller’s (or Drillers’) alignment.”

There is no need to move around; you cannot be everywhere at once. What you need to do is see what you can see from your stationary vantage point and judge from there. Moving around doesn’t change things nor give you a better view. Plus, if the judges are elevated (see below), moving around isn’t necessary.

There is also an issue of “fairness.” Drillers should expect a certain standardization and if you’re moving around wherever you want and not moving exactly to the same place at the same time for each performance, then you are not seeing each performance from the same vantage point which is not an acceptable standard.

In the WDA Manual the Overall Effect and Composition Analysis judges should be elevated (like bleachers in a gym) to be able to view the whole floor, 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up, and the Movement and Equipment judges should be right next to the drill area- they can be slightly elevated: one or two rows above. The T&P judge is the one who receives the salutes.All judges can actually sit and judge (!).

A History of Drill and Training Rifles Part 21

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LONG BRANCH TRAINING RIFLE

The Long Branch Training Rifle was produced at the Long Branch Arsenal near Toronto, Canada in 1943 and 1944. There is no evidence that these training rifles were used anywhere other than in Canada. They were used for preliminary rifle training of all forces requiring ground defense training. There was only one model but they were marked either 1943 or 1944 depending on the year that they were produced. A total of about 4000 training rifles were produced during that period. They continued in use until about 1950.

They worked on the same principle as the Swift Training Rifle but had a much simplified mechanism. They were also patterned after the SMLE service rifle and actually used a SMLE bolt body. Although there were those who questioned the value of such a training rifle, the Long Branch had distinct advantages over the Swift. The simplified mechanism was equally effective and it was much cheaper to produce. In most aspects it was a closer replica of the SMLE service rifle.

From the paper, Non-Firing Drill and Training Rifles, by By Malcolm MacPherson

The next installment: British Drill Rifles

The Six-Man Flag Fold Part 2

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Note: “man” does not mean “male”

The standard six-man flag fold is accomplished with either 6 or 8 honor guard members

The positions are, from top left:

HandOff, CrossMark, (Dead CrossMark*), Fold

Carry, Mark, (Dead Mark*), Commander of the Pall Bearers

*There is no pun intended as these positions do the same thing as their center counterparts for a flag fold.

An idea that has entered mainstream when honor guard units are, due to time, forced to use only two members trained in flag folding to actually fold the flag while the other 4 or 6 members support the fag during the folding process. This is a great last-minute idea, but I’d rather have a whole team trained in flag folding. Being knowledgeable and creative and yet rendering honors properly should be a staple of all honor guard units.

For complete information on the six-man flag fold, please see The Honor Guard Manual in hardback or spiral bound.

 

A History of Drill and Training Rifles Part 20

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SWIFT TRAINING RIFLE

The Swift Training Rifle system was developed in Great Britain in 1941. At the start of WWII there was a severe shortage of usable firearms both by the military and the general population. This was due to the policy of disarming the population following World War I. American hunters and shooters contributed sporting rifles to arm the British citizens when it was feared that Germany was going to invade England. The Swift Training Rifle is one of the most complex training rifles ever produced. In principle it had two needles that moved forward when the trigger was released and they pierced a paper target that was held in a frame near the muzzle. This allowed the instructor to evaluate the sight picture and whether the rifle was being canted. Viewing the sectional drawing of the Swift shows clearly the complexity of working parts. Before the Swift was ever produced, the military had serious concerns about the practicality of such a device. Under the stress of severe shortages of weapons the Swift went into production late in 1941.

The Swift Training Rifle was used by the British Home Guard. This was a group of approximately 1.5 million older civilian men who were being organized to defend the British shoreline. The RAF also formally adopted the Swift and the ground crews started training with them early in 1942. There were approximately 16000 Swift training Rifles produce from 1941-1943. There were four different configurations of the Swift which were designate MK I, MK II, MK III and MK IV. The MK I and MK II are generally patterned after the Pattern 14 Enfield rifle. There were some modifications made in the MK III and the MKIV to make them look and feel more like the SMLE rifle which was the primary rifle of the British Army. All of these training rifles have a one piece stock and function in the same manner. There is a spring loaded mechanism in the butt stock that requires that the rifle be pulled firmly against the shooters shoulder in order to make the trigger function. You will notice a small ring located at the base of the butt stock that holds the mechanism in the locked position. This ring must be removed in order to use the training rifle.

Since this was a complete system, the training rifles and a sight testing frame were packaged in a very well made wooden transit case. A separate target frame was included with a shipment of rifles. These training rifles are extremely well made and were expensive to produce. One has to wonder why their efforts were not directed toward producing functional rifles.

From the paper, Non-Firing Drill and Training Rifles, by By Malcolm MacPherson

The next installment: The Long Branch Training Rifle

A History of Drill and Training Rifles Part 19

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BAYONET FENCING RIFLES

The following are examples of fencing rifles that were used by the United States and Great Britain. The first two illustrations show examples that are the same length and weight as the 1903 Springfield. The second illustration is a close replica of the SMLE used by Great Britain.

This bayonet drill rifle has no markings but is probably Eastern European and possibly East German. The design of the sling mounting seems to be similar to the Russian Mosin. The end of the barrel has a padded knob and the shaft is spring loaded.

The bayonet fencing rifle shown below was made by the English firm of Webley & Scott in 1914. It has Canadian markings on the barrel assembly. The long forward extension is spring loaded and retracts into the barrel assembly on impact.

M14 Training Rifle

Very little information has surfaced relative to this training rifle. This skeletonized rifle is made of aluminum and closely resembles the M 14 military rifle. A photograph exists that shows these rifles being used by Marines for bayonet drill practice. It has no moving parts but can carry the standard M6 service bayonet. It seems unusual that it was not supplied with a special padded bayonet if it was specifically designed for bayonet drill. The rifle is unmarked but was probably made between 1957 and 1963 when the M 14 was being used by the US military. Since this training rifle is made of aluminum, I would suspect that it was also used in situations where the rifle would be subjected to wet conditions. It is also possible that an aluminum casting was the most economical way of producing a training rifle for whatever the need might have been. There is an additional rod below the barrel that is not typical of the M14 rifle. I suspect that this rod was designed to reinforce the rather slender aluminum barrel which would have been susceptible to bending. The cut outs in the aluminum stock appear to have been made and located to replicate the weight and balance of the M14 military rifle.

Although this rifle does not meet the general requirements of a training rifle, it may have met very specialized training needs. I will classify it as a bayonet drill rifle rather than a training rifle until further information surfaces.

From the paper, Non-Firing Drill and Training Rifles, by By Malcolm MacPherson

The next installment: The Swift Training Rifle

How to Execute Carry Arms

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This is the safest way to carry an unloaded or replica rifle. Everyone needs to adopt this carry right away- Port Arms is not the way to transport a rifle unless you are in formation and there isn’t anyone around.

Carry Arms is a move executed while carrying a a rifle, fire axe or pike pole. This is the safest way to travel with any piece of equipment, especially a rifle. When traveling to and from your practice area, at a drill meet, etc., this is the safest way to carry your rifle, axe or pole.

Pictured below are the movements for the rifle.

The command is, Carry, ARMS, and is given while at Attention and at Order Arms. The command is executed at quick time in 3 counts.

 

Begin, Attention/Order Arms

Count 1

Count 2A
(immediately assume the next position, 2B, below)

Count 2B

Count 3

For a complete description of this move and all other drill movements for the flag, rifle, sword/saber, ceremonial pike pole and ceremonial fire axe, get your copy of The Honor Guard Manual.

 

 

Drill Move Levels and Move Definitions

DrillMasterCommentary, Drill Teams, Instructional 2 Comments

One of the subjects that the World Drill Association Adjudication Manual and Rule Book teaches Drillers, instructors and judges about drill is performance levels: Basic/Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced and Standard-Setting. To achieve these levels a Driller’s or team’s drill must be described using these terms as well. What does basic, Intermediate or advanced drill look like? It’s mostly a mater of opinion and depends on a Driller’s abilities, but I will attempt a loose definition. Some friends of mine have helped me with this over the last year and I appreciate their efforts- I’m finally getting to publish it!

On a side note: for my book, Exhibition Drill For The Military Drill Team, Vol. II, I created a visual language called XDNotation©. XDNotation lists many unarmed and armed moves and positions and matches them with symbols like the one on the right. This symbol is for the Front Aerial, the “X” is where the number of rotations of the rifle goes.

Basic Unarmed and Armed Drill

  • Standing Manual (all unarmed positions)
  • The Manual of Arms

Basic Unarmed Exhibition Drill

  • Any single movement (arms only, etc.)

Intermediate Unarmed Exhibition Drill

  • Any multiple-appendage movement at the same time (arms with legs, etc.)

Advanced Unarmed Exhibition Drill

  • Any multiple-appendage and body movement at the same time (arms with legs, head and body movement)

 

Basic Armed Exhibition Drill Moves

  • Behind-the-Back drop: from Left/Right Shoulder, the rifle is brought to horizontal across the shoulders, dropped behind the back and caught with the free hand.
  • Exchange, Left/Right Shoulder Falling: Two Drillers at Right Shoulder allow the barrels of their rifle to fall forward into the other Driller’s free hand.
  • Roll, Shoulder: From right shoulder, the rifle will fall back from the shoulder to be caught by the right hand and repositioned at Order Arms.
  • Spin, Front: Any spin to the front that does not go higher than the head.
  • Spin, Port: A move that rotates the rifle a full 360 degrees. Starting and finishing positions are Port Arms. AKA: Half Spin
  • Spin, Side: Any spin to either side that does not go higher than the head.
  • Spins, Left-/Right-Hand Front: the Driller continuously spins the rifle in either hand.
  • Tick Tocks:

Intermediate Armed Exhibition Drill Moves

  • Aerial, Front: A move that involves a full release of the weapon, oftentimes including more than one full rotation of the rifle while in midair. For example, a “Triple Aerial” would involve 3 rotations. The starting position is Port Arms; ending can vary depending on the desired effect. Spins go higher than the head.
  • Aerial, Side: Any spin on either side that goes higher than the head.
  • Arm Rollover: While spinning the rifle, allowing it to literally roll over the forearm.
  • Exchange, Order Arms: An under-handed toss to the Driller in front of you. The rifle usually make a half or 1 ½ rotation.
  • Port Exchange:
  • Power Stop: A move involving the stop of a spinning rifle with any variations of hand placements or movements. The rifle must stop where the hands first touched the rifle, and no excess movements or follow-through.
  • Roll, Reverse Shoulder: The rifle will be taken to the fore of a Drillers shoulder from behind by using the forward momentum of the rifle to rotate it over the shoulder. The driller usually bends at the waist to achieve full effect.
  • Skips: A movement in which an extra spin is added when performing two handers. Variations of skips can include: Left to Left, Left to Right, Right to Right, and Right to Left.
  • Spin, Two-Handed Front: A two handed spin that involves both hands exchanging the rifle to create a “hopping” effect. The rifle can spin as many full rotations as the driller wishes, and can be stopped in multiple ways. Starting positions and ending positions vary by how the move is used in a routine.
  • Stop, “X”: (where “X” is “foot,” “leg,” “thigh,” forearm,” etc.) A move involving a stop of a spinning rifle by extending the body part to stop the rifle.
  • Toss, Shoulder: A toss from the right or left shoulder vertically that ends with the arm fully extended, the weapon fully vertical and being held by the upper hand guard, and oriented with the barrel pointing towards the ground. AKA: Liberty
  • UTL: Under the Leg, any rifle movement involving the manipulating of the rifle under the leg.

Advanced Armed Exhibition Drill Moves

  • Catch, Behind the Back (BTB): A movement thrown from the wrist as if performing the first half of the Fire Knife. Upon catching, use both hands to halt the rifle parallel to the ground.
  • Crucifix: Pose with rifle rested on arm and exchanged to other arm
  • Cut Throat: Created by Andres Ryan,
  • Eclipse: A Rising Sun, with an aerial included when the rifle is positioned behind the head.
  • Exchange, Left/Right Shoulder Launch: From either shoulder, the rifle is tossed into the air and caught by the recipient at approximately shoulder level.
  • Exchange, OTH:
  • Fire Knife: While the Driller is at Port Arms, with both hands on the rifle, the rifle is twisted to make a figure 8.
  • Flyin’ Hawaiian: any aerial where the driller spins around 360 degrees before catching.
  • Hawaiian Punch: Behind the Head parallel stop
  • Hesus*: Move where the Driller takes a cross-like pose while the rifle is tossed overhead.
  • J-Hook: Created by Jake Spears, the rifle is tossed so as to remain horizontal throughout the entire move. It is caught behind the back at the barrel.
  • Joker: UTL throw to UTL Catch
  • Lockjaw: Created by Constantine H. Wilson,
  • Mogadoa:
  • Ninja, Full A Rising Sun, with an aerial included when the rifle is positioned behind the head.
  • Ninja: A move which involves a catch of the rifle, generally with the left hand extended over the head and right hand curled behind the back, which is usually caught behind the back or to the side. Can be performed one-handed.
  • OTH Skips: Same as Single- or Double-Handed, but allowing the rifle to rotate on its own in between manipulating it with either or both hands.
  • OTH: Over-The-Head, the rifle is tossed above the head while it remains horizontal.
  • OTH, Single- or Double-Handed: Same as the OTH, but using one of both hands to keep the rifle in the air.
  • Roll, Back: Created by Matthew Wendling, Moving the body to create multiple rotations of a rifle on the Driller’s back
  • Roll, Rattler: Behind the head thumb roll
  • Roll, Thumb:
  • Spin, Bent-Over Flat: (with/without body rotation):
  • Spin, Double, Pound (DSP):
  • Spin, Palm: the rifle rotates on the palm of the hand while horizontal
  • Sun, Falling:
  • Sun, Rising: The rifle is spun in one full rotation behind the head from right to left.
  • Throw, DW:
  • Throw, Liscomb:
  • Toss, Scorpion: A movement in which the rifle is thrown under-handed behind the Driller to the front.
  • Veyran Grab:

*I cannot bring myself to dishonor our Lord by using the letter “J”.

This is where you come in. Obviously, there are descriptions that need to be created and I need your help with that. Also, if I have left anything out, please let me know.

A History of Drill and Training Rifles Part 18

DrillMasterHistory 4 Comments

Steyr M. 95 Drill Rifle

The Steyr rifles were the primary rifle of Austrian-Hungary during WWI and they were also used by Bulgaria and Greece. Rifles surrendered to Italy after WWI were used by Italy during WWII. The work done on this drill rifle appears to have been an arsenal conversion. There is a large well finished slot in chamber area of the barrel. This is really the only visual way of identifying that the rifle has been altered. It is uncertain if the bolt has been altered in any way. Due to the design of the action it is very unlikely that the firing pin has been removed. In all probability all that was altered was to remove the tip of the firing pin. There are no marks to identify when or where this work was done. These rifles have been on the surplus market since WWII so the work could have been done anywhere in the world. I doubt that anyone would have used this approach to produce drill rifles for the civilian market. If I were to guess, I would likely identify it with the Italian military.

Unidentified

This drill rifle is a very close replica of the 1903 Springfield. Although it has no moving parts, the receiver and bolt are more like the Springfield than any other replica that I have seen to date. It has all of the features of the Springfield and they appear to be the appropriate size and in the correct location. All of the metal parts are made of cast iron and they have not been polished to a smooth finish. The stock appears to be made of pine and stained to look like walnut. It is unfortunate that it has no identifying marks.

From the paper, Non-Firing Drill and Training Rifles, by By Malcolm MacPherson

The next installment: Bayonet Fencing Rifles

Amazing, Wonderful, Fantastic!

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During Creation Week, our Lord said each day’s work was “good.” He then said that the whole of creation was, “very good.” We however, have to dream up all kinds of words to describe how well we or others do. When one describes a volunteer staff and the drill team’s performance both as “amazing” when there is enormous room for improvement, what do you say when the staff and team learn, grow and get better?

Constructive criticism, not platitudes.

One of the reasons this happens is because there isn’t a standardized system for training and judging drill teams- wait a minute, there is a standardized system for training and judging drill teams!

Yes, volunteers and drill teams can be amazing and in order to do the best job you can, educate yourself! There is more to a routine than precision, timing or accuracy. There is more to a routine than its overall effectiveness (which is the usual for the majority of people to see in a performance) and only through educating one’s self can one begin to understand the other aspects of routine creation, performance and adjudication.

Happy and effective drilling to you!