HANTTAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 78 



TO STACK AND TAKE ASITS. 



115. Three rifles only are used to make a stack; rifles not 

 so used are, in this connection, termed loose rifles. 



Being in line at a halt: STACK ARMS. 



At the command stack, No. 3 steps back and covers No. 3, 

 No. 2 raises his rifle with the right hand, grasps it with the 

 left at the upper band and rests the butt between his feet, bar- 

 rel to the front, muzzle inclined slightly to the front and oppo- 

 site the center of the interval on his right, the thumb and 

 forefinger raising the stacking swivel ; No. 3 then passes his 

 rifle, barrel to the rear, to No. 2, who grasps it between the 

 bands with his right hand and throws the butt about 2 feet in 

 advance of that of his own rifle and opposite the right of the 

 interval, the right hand slipping to the upper band, the thumb 

 and forefinger raising the stacking swivel, which he engages 

 with that of his own rifle ; No. 1 raises his rifle with the right 

 hand, carries it well forward, barrel to the front, the left hand 

 guiding the stacking swivel, engages the lower hook of the swivel 

 of his own rifle with. the free hook of that of No. 3; he then 

 turns the barrel outward into the angle formed by the other 

 two rifles and lowers the butt to the ground to the right of 

 and against the toe of his right shoe. No. 2 lays loose rifles 

 on the stack ; No. 3 resumes his place in line. When each 

 man has finished handling rifles, he takes the position of 

 attention. The instructor may then rest or dismiss the squad, 

 leaving the arms stacked. 



On re-forming, the men take their places in rear of the 

 stacks. 



116. Being in line, behind the stacks: TAKE ARMS. 



No. 3 steps back and covers No. 2 ; No. 2 returns the loose 

 rifles, then grasps his own rifle with the left hand, the rifle 

 of No. 3 with his right hand, grasping both between the bands; 

 No. 1 grasps his rifle in the same way with the right hand. 

 No. 1 disengages his rifle by raising the butt from the ground 

 and then turning the rifle to the right, detaches it from the 

 stack ; No. 2 disengages and detaches his rifle by turning it 

 to the left, and then passes the rifle of No. 3 to him, ; No. 3 

 resumes his place in line ; all resume the order. 



