This reproduction handbook covers one of the more specialized corners of U.S. heavy artillery history: the gun carriages, limbers, transport wagons, and associated guns used with the 5-inch and 6-inch Model of 1917 mobile artillery system. For collectors, historians, restorers, and museums, it is an excellent reference piece that brings together carriage and gun information from the period in one practical volume.
The title alone makes clear how broad this handbook is. Rather than covering a single component, it addresses the Model of 1917 gun carriages, the 6-inch Model of 1917 Type A gun carriage, the Model of 1917 limbers and transport wagons, the 5-inch Model of 1897 gun, and the 6-inch guns Models of 1900, 1903, and 1905. That makes it especially useful for anyone researching or displaying the U.S. Army’s early twentieth-century heavy mobile artillery equipment.
What This Handbook Covers
This reproduction is based on the original military handbook for the following equipment:
In practical terms, that means this handbook is relevant not only to the guns themselves, but also to the carriage and transport equipment that made them mobile and serviceable in the field. For artillery researchers, that is important. The gun is only part of the story. The carriage, limber, and transport wagon are what turn a heavy gun into a complete fielded system.
Historical Context
The Model of 1917 designation places this material squarely in the World War I-era modernization of U.S. heavy artillery. These systems reflect the Army’s effort to field heavier mobile guns and their supporting transport equipment in an era when mobility, towing arrangements, and carriage design were increasingly important.
Because this handbook also covers the 5-inch Model of 1897 and 6-inch guns Models of 1900, 1903, and 1905, it bridges multiple generations of U.S. artillery design. That makes it especially useful for collectors and historians who want to understand how these older gun tubes were adapted to later carriage and transport systems.
About This Reproduction Manual
This listing is for a reproduction manual, not an original government-issued copy. That makes it ideal for collectors and researchers who want the historical information and display value of the handbook without exposing an original to wear, shop use, or handling damage.
It is especially useful for:
Because it is a reproduction, it can be handled, referenced, and displayed more freely than an original period manual.
Why This Manual Matters
Manuals like this are often harder to find than the equipment they describe. Even when guns, carriage parts, or transport components survive, the documentation that explains how those systems were intended to be assembled, operated, and maintained is often missing.
That is what makes this handbook valuable. It helps complete the picture by documenting not just the gun, but the broader system around it:
For a serious collector or museum, that kind of documentation adds depth and context that hardware alone cannot provide.
Ideal For
This reproduction handbook is a strong fit for:
Approx length 9", Approx width 6", Approx height .1", Approx weight .2lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item's general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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