SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, CIRCA 1897, 10th BATTALION, MARKSMAN BUTTON, MILITIA, HALLMARKED Both tines are intact. Unknown Hallmark. Most likely a New York State Militia unit. The US Army introduced marksman buttons, shown at the left, in 1881. Before 1881 the army had no standard weapons qualification program. When the army created the term ?marksman,? with its standard criteria and standard insignia, this was the army?s first step that leads directly to today?s badges. Exact qualification to become a marksman varied during 1881-1897, the period when the Regular Army issued marksman buttons, but generally soldiers shot at 200, 300, and 500 or 600 yards, with the closest targets fired standing, the intermediate range fired sitting and or kneeling, and the longest range ?lying down,? which was not the current prone position. Shooters fired lying on their backs. Sharpshooter qualification was at longer ranges, out to 1,000 yards, for soldiers who had already qualified as a marksman. A soldier who qualified as a marksman could wear a button on each collar tip during the year he qualified. If the soldier failed to qualify in a given year, he had to remove the buttons. Starting in 1883 men who qualified for two consecutive years wore two pairs of buttons in their second year. Rules for the buttons, and for the marksman bar, changed every few years. In general, most state militias had marksman buttons that were different from those of the Regular Army. Some state militia buttons were similar to the Federal award, but militia awards were colored differently from the US Army awards. Most militia buttons have two tines (prongs) that soldiers inserted through the collar and then bent over. The National Guard of New York allowed each regiment or separate battalion or company to design their shooting awards. As a result a great many New York marksman buttons exist. New York was the first state to recognize rifle and carbine qualification. Even before the US Army, New York?s militia introduced a marksman qualification in 1875, although the New York?s 7th Regiment gave shooting prizes in the form of pistols and muskets as early as 1826. State marksman buttons have not been well studied and many exist that cannot be firmly identified. Reference: Marksmanship in the U.S. Army, A History of Medals, Shooting Programs, and Training, William K. Emerson International Buyers Please Note: We do not ship outside of the United States! No Exceptions. In addition, we will not ship to third party shippers or any other international shipping hubs such as International Shipping (EIS), EIS 110 INTERNATIONALE BLVD, GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL 60139-2080. If you place a bid, or make a purchase, we will cancel your bid, and or cancel your purchase! If you wish to make a purchase, you will have to find someone located within the United States to make the purchase for you. They would be responsible to send the package to you.