Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army / of the United States 1917. To be also used by Engineer Companies (Mounted) for Cavalry Instruction and Training

by United States. War Department

149. 1. Return, 2. PISTOL.

(a) Being at raise pistol; lock the pistol, if not locked; lower the pistol to the holster, reversing it, muzzle down, back of the hand to the right; raise the flap of the holster with the right thumb; insert the pistol in the holster and thrust it home; button the flap of the holster with the right hand.

(b) Being at inspection pistol; (with a magazine in the pistol) lower the pistol to the left hand and grasp the slide as prescribed for inspection pistol without magazine (par. 148b, fig. [22]); thrust downward and to the left front with the right hand, thus relieving the pressure on the slide stop, and at the same time disengage the slide stop with the right thumb; release the slide; reverse and lock the pistol; place it in holster as prescribed in (a). If there is no magazine in the pistol, lower it to the bridle hand as in load (par. 151); draw back the slide and release it; lock the pistol and place it In the holster.

When the last shot is fired the slide stop engages automatically. Return pistol is then executed as from inspection pistol (b).

150. Being at raise pistol, to insert a magazine in the pistol: 1. Insert, 2. MAGAZINE, or 2. LOADED MAGAZINE.

(a) When a magazine is in the pistol: Lower the pistol into the left hand, rotating it so that the sights move to the left; grasp the slide with the left hand, back of the hand down, barrel pointing downward to the left front, stock pointing upward to the right front; release the magazine catch with the middle finger of the left hand; withdraw the magazine with the right hand; insert the designated magazine and resume raise pistol. If there be no empty space in the magazine pocket when the magazine is withdrawn from the pistol, the magazine may be held between the left thumb and the stock of the pistol until the magazine has been taken from the pocket and inserted; the magazine withdrawn from the pistol is then inserted in the magazine pocket.

Whenever the magazine catch is released, the right hand should be so placed as to limit the motion of the magazine and prevent its falling out.

(b) When no magazine is in the pistol: Lower the pistol into the left hand and grasp it as before; insert the designated magazine and resume raise pistol.

A loaded magazine will never be inserted without specific command.