An interesting stock 'marker'

[butlersrangers]

A cut-down model 1898 Krag rifle stock sold on eBay, yesterday.
It had an interesting KEYSTONE 'marker', attached to the right side of the butt, with brads.

It signified that the rifle was presented to a Pennsylvania National Guardsman, James G. Burton, in 1902,
(by his Company "K" of the 6th Regiment, NG of Penn).

Likely it was a prize/trophy for Marksmanship?

(It is a shame the stock was separated from the metal and the rifle's provenance was lost).

[scottz63]

That is pretty cool. Yes, too bad it is not complete with the rifle.

[butlersrangers]

I browsed through 600-plus pages of the 1902-03 Adjutant-General's Report for the Pennsylvania N.G.
These reports are pretty much like watching paint dry, but there were some interesting tidbits.

In 1902 the N.G.P. had a large encampment at Gettysburg. The N.G.P. had just gotten word in April 1902, that they would be receiving .30 caliber Magazine rifles during the summer, so the National Guard shooting matches were delayed, until August and September.

The Pennsylvania Coal Fields were a 'tinderbox' with a general strike and the dynamiting of some homes of non-striking miners.
The National Guard was pressed into service, to keep the peace and support local sheriffs.

A major constitutional case unfolded, when a guardsman-sentry shot and killed a citizen, who entered a restricted area and refused commands to "halt".
The Guardsman was charged with Murder, but acquitted by the courts.

I did not find a specific mention of a "Trophy Krag", but some S&W revolvers and a .30-30 Winchester rifle were prizes in some N.G.P. matches.

I did find mention of Private J.G.Burton, 6th N.G.P., Company K, in several August and September 1902 match results. He performed well with the new Krag rifle and had the classification of First-Class Shooter.
He was selected to go to the NRA matches at Sea Girt, N.J., in 1902.

[butlersrangers]

More of Private James G. Burton's 1902 shooting results: