Who has the oldest military manual?

SN Kyle Carpenter — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:14:46 -0500

Im not sure how clear the picture is, but it is me with my grandfather's Bluejackets' Manual from 1943.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2015 8:19 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:19:30 -0500

I can't beat that, SN Kyle Carpenter, but I do have (somewhere) my father's guard post booklet from the mid-50s, when he was serving in Korea.

Response by SN Kyle Carpenter made Feb 27 at 2015 8:56 PM

SN Kyle Carpenter — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:56:28 -0500

He also wrote every duty station he had, on the inside cover. This book is amazing

Response by SPC William Weedman made Nov 18 at 2015 1:47 PM

SPC William Weedman — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 13:47:41 -0500

I will have to find my grandfathers Bluejackets Manual from WWII, it's next to my father's Bluejackets Manual from the 1960s, which is next to my Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks from the 1980s...(yes I broke the "tradition"...lol)

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Apr 4 at 2016 6:03 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 18:03:47 -0400

Don't have a picture of it handy but my grandmother was in the first class of the Army Nurses' Corp and her book from 1916 (I think) is pretty cool.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 24 at 2017 2:36 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:36:32 -0400

Well, SN Kyle Carpenter, I'm kind of late to this party, but I thought you still might be interested in this response. My wife's great, great grandfather, Joseph Ignatius Sindelar, served as a corporal in the 32nd United States Volunteers during the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902).

Pictured here is the cover of The Soldiers' Pocket Companion. by N. Hershler, published in 1899. Joseph's handwritten inscription at the bottom of the pamphlet reads, "Joseph Sindelar, Corporal, Band - 32nd U.S.V." [United States Volunteers]. He enlisted on July 17, 1899 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa and arrived with the 32nd U.S.V. in the Philippine Islands in October, 1899. The 32nd departed the Philippines in March, 1901 and the unit was inactivated in April, 1901.

Corporal Sindelar played the euphonium in the 32nd Infantry Band. Corporal Sindelar is shown to the left front in the second photo and his euphonium appears above him and to the left of his bayonet and rifle, which may be the Springfield Model 1892-99 Krag-Jørgensen.

We were the custodians of his Army footlocker (shown in the photo) and the photos and pamphlets until we passed them down to my wife's nephew last year.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 24 at 2017 3:33 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:33:53 -0400

I realize this discussion is focused on US Military manuals SN Kyle Carpenter. The USA is one of the longest-lasting continual government nations in the world now.
However, there are some older military manuals. Most ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian manuals are relegated to manuscript form in libraries.
However, Sun Tzu's "Art of War" has been around for 2,500 years and is still part of many military strategists' library.
More recently Carl Von Clausewitz's "On Strategy" from the early 19th century is still useful. Additional Erwin Rommel's Attacks is a great book especially for infantry.
Thanks for alerting me LTC Stephen C.
"Sun Tzu's The Art of War (Sunzi Bingfa, 孙子兵法) is one of those rare texts that transcend time and space. Though it was written 2,500 years ago in China, it is arguably the most important work on the subject of strategy in the world today.
Written by a gifted and experienced Chinese general named Sun Wu, The Art of War was intended only for royalty and the military elite of his time period. However, this treatise would later be treasured and studied by others of influence -- from the fearless samurai in feudal Japan to the shrewd business leaders of the 21st century."

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2017 3:45 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:45:40 -0400

Someplace I have one from the 40s as well that belonged to my father.

Response by SGT Robert George made Apr 24 at 2017 4:14 PM

SGT Robert George — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:14:05 -0400

What a neat piece of memorabilia !!!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 24 at 2017 4:31 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:31:43 -0400

@SN Kykle Carpenter, I'll have to check the Date on Mine CTOSN, Can't remember if it was Korea or WWII. Courtesy of a Book Collector, Another CTO1 that sent it to me in Trade for a Copy of CTO3&2.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2022 3:40 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:40:03 -0500

Not a old military book, but the pages are old, I have in CAD drawings of the original drawings, design by John Browning, of the 1911.
I have it in PDF if you want a copy of it, email me.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Nov 8 at 2022 1:52 AM

SPC James Neidig — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 01:52:34 -0500

I Have An Army Issue Coleman Stove From 1942 With The Manual .The Lid Has The Army Medical Insignia On It.
Does That Count ?

Response by MSG Lonnie Averkamp made Dec 2 at 2022 9:01 PM

MSG Lonnie Averkamp — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 21:01:54 -0500

Not the oldest, but I picked up a 1951 copy of FM 22-5 (Drill & Ceremonies). Reason being that I am commander of a funeral Honor Guard Detail. We use bolt-action rifles, and it is more pertinent to our rendering Rifle Salutes than the modern stuff.

Response by CPT Earl George made Apr 27 at 2023 12:58 PM

CPT Earl George — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 12:58:55 -0400

I kept every manual I could get my hands on when I was in the Army when I saw how few each of the units I served with had. When i got out I threw away over 1,000 pounds of manuals and only kept about a dozen . The FM 21-76 was the only one I could find quickly and take a picture for you to all see.