Cabinet Photograph
Unknown Photographer
Russian Empire
c. 1900

While in a somewhat deplorable condition - a feature shared by very many Russian images from this period - this cabinet photograph still provides an outstanding view of two Russian infantrymen from the time of the Boxer Rebellion in China(1900) or the Russo-Japanese War (1905).

Both men are armed and outfitted in a stereotypically popular view of what a Russian soldier from the period should look like. Both are wearing summer service uniforms with the very distinctively Russian loose-fitting white blouse (kittle) with yellow shoulder boards bearing regimental number (here obscured with gold paint). White peaked service caps were worn. A peakless version of this cap, similar to the German feldmützen cap was also worn. Their trousers would have been of a
very dark green color and were worn tucked into black leather high topped boots. Normally two back leather ammunition boxes would have been worn on their black leather waist belts though these men only wear one possibly because they were troops performing garrison duty at the time.

 

Both are armed with the Russian 3-line rifle, Model 1891 which is more commonly but apparently not correctly referred to as the Mosin-Nagant Rifle.