Winchester rifle

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt encloses the revised lists of supplies for Frederick Courteney Selous. He discusses his reasoning behind the revisions and provides Selous with his travel itinerary. Gerrit Forbes recently visited Roosevelt and recounted his recent hunt in Africa. Roosevelt is reluctant to hire a white man for the trip but will do so if Selous suggests it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Letter from Alexander Lambert to Theodore Roosevelt

Dr. Lambert writes to President Roosevelt about arrangements for an upcoming bear hunt in Colorado. He also talks about the weapons he plans to use.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-25

Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester rifle

Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester Model 1876, 40-60 cal. (Serial Number 45520), on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1969-11-15

Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s saddle and rifle

Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s saddle and Winchester Model 1876 rifle, museum exhibit #36 in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1967-03-30

Theodore Roosevelt’s firearms

Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester Model 1876, 40-60 cal. (Serial Number 45520) and L.C. Smith 10 grain shotgun with a rifle barrel, on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1969-11-15

Photograph of engraving on Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester rifle

Close up photograph of an engraving of a bear and bison on the left side of Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester Model 1876, 40-60 cal. (Serial Number 45520), on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1969-11-15

Photograph of engraving on Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester rifle

Close up photograph of an engraving of elk and bighorn sheep on the right side of Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester Model 1876, 40-60 cal. (Serial Number 45520), on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1969-11-15

Photograph of engraving on rifle buttplate

Photograph of the initials “TR” on the buttplate of Arthur William Merrifeld’s Winchester Model 1876 rifle—given to him by Theodore Roosevelt—on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-1970

Photograph of plaque on Arthur William Merrifeld’s Winchester rifle

Close up photograph of the plaque on the stock of Arthur William Merrifield’s Winchester Model 1876 rifle—given to him by Theodore Roosevelt on September 13, 1884—on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-1970

Arthur William Merrifield’s Winchester rifle

Close-up photograph of Arthur William Merrifield’s Winchester Model 1876 rifle—given to him by Theodore Roosevelt—on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Photograph shows the rifle’s stock and trigger mechanism.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-1970

Two Winchester rifles

Photograph of two Winchester Model 1876 (40-60 cal.) rifles—one given by Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur William Merrifield—on display in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-1970

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells his son, Kermit Roosevelt, that he has tried the double-barreled Holland elephant rifle and is very impressed. However, the rifle’s recoil is powerful and he wants Kermit to practice shooting it in Africa before they begin hunting. It will be the best weapon for large game. W. S. Rainsford has warned him that hunting lions, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos is particularly dangerous and they should “take every precaution.” Roosevelt takes this advice seriously.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to Kermit Roosevelt about life at Harvard. Roosevelt mentions finalizing speaking assignments, upcoming safari trip, and target practice with a Winchester rifle. He discusses difficulties with Congress, mentions appealing to California to avoid trouble, and details a showdown he had with the Senate. The Judiciary Committee had Herbert Knox Smith stand before the Senate to divulge confidential information. Roosevelt had to intervene and tell Chairman Clarence D. Clark they would not be told any information unless they impeached him. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company

President Roosevelt spoke last night with Gerrit Forbes and Theodore Lyman, two men who have hunted big game in Africa. Both took the .405 Winchester and reported problems with it jamming. Roosevelt asks the Winchester Repeating Arms Company to be extremely careful with his and Kermit’s rifles, and to run a lot of shells through them to be sure they do not jam.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. S. Rainsford

President Roosevelt tells Reverend Rainsford that he intends to take only American rifles on his hunting trip to Africa. However, if Rainsford would like to lend him the Rigby and Mannlicher rifles with telescopic sites, he can send them to Frederick John Jackson, to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch, or leave them with Smith, Mackenzie & Company at Mombasa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Crozier

President Roosevelt has sent his Winchester rifle so that a new Springfield carbine can be made for him along similar lines. The sights should be reduced and the butt made one inch shorter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Hart Merriam

Theodore Roosevelt has sent the missing mountain lion skull to C. Hart Merriam. This was the only cougar Roosevelt shot in the head, “I hung over a cliff by moonlight and brained it as it lay on a ledge below me.” Roosevelt used a 30-30 Winchester to shoot the mountain lion. He fears it will be of little use except for the teeth. Roosevelt asks Merriam for any pamphlets about deer in the U.S.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-05-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Bird Grinnell

Theodore Roosevelt questions the accuracy of the character sketch written by Ernest Thompson Seton. Roosevelt will send his article about his trip on the Little Missouri River to George Bird Grinnell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-05-05

Letter from George Bird Grinnell to Theodore Roosevelt

George Bird Grinnell gives Theodore Roosevelt information about telescopic rifle sights. Grinnell has never used a telescope rifle sight and does not recall any big game hunter of his acquaintance using one.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-09-07

Letter from Alexander Lambert to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander Lambert writes to President Roosevelt about various subjects. Lambert inquires whether he should fix Roosevelt’s damaged rifle and talks about a medical article he is writing. Lambert discusses the concerns of several physicians about Congress’s failure to pass the act concerning “food and drug adulterations.” Harvey Washington Wiley, the Agricultural Department’s chief chemist, aggressively supported the act, but Lambert thinks Roosevelt’s involvement is important for the bill to pass.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-23