When World War I was brewing, public interest in assembling Boy Scout Troops into mini-military groups, to dress up in uniform and practice drilling with .22rf rifles which looked like miniature Army rifles, quickly became all the rage in the US.
Parents enrolled their young sons into "Military Academies" for their schooling and these too had their uniforms and .22 cal. "drill rifles." Following the Armistice at war's end, Winchester sold off thousands of returning surplus Army issued .22rf "training rifles."
"Military" .22s were a VERY popular Boy Toy for almost two decades with the youthful shooters of early 1900.
Below are pictured some of my boys rifles made to mimic the "military" look so popular with many shooters of the day. This first little "musket" was made by a company in Connecticut formed by Richard Sears to furnish Sears & Roebuck with rifles when Winchester refused to sell to them because they were a discount house.
MERIDEN ARMS CO. .22rf "CADET"
In 1912 Remington entered the market with their .22rf single-shot full-wood rifle, a Model No.4-S they too used the name "CADET." In 1913 three various Boy Scout organizations operating in the US vied with each other to name
that years production of the 4-S. Only an estimated 1500 were made.
REMINGTON NO.4-S, "AMERICAN BOY SCOUT" .22rf SHORTS.
From 1914 to 1924 Remington continued to market the 4-S under a new name. It's guesstimated that from 1912 to 1924 a total of 15,000 of these rifles were made.
REMINGTON NO. 4-S, "MILITARY MODEL" .22 S-L-LR.
Below is one of the last training rifles contracted from Winchester for WW I troops. The contract was signed in1918 just one month before the signing of the Armistice!
85 WINCHESTER WINDER LOW-WALL MUSKET, .22 SHORT.
I'm always looking for more...
Best regards ~ ~ ~ FFF