Old Photos of Guns Thread

[NinerMaine]

I am stuck at home sick today and am having fun with my computer. Came across some old photos of guns and thought it would make a good thread. If you know of any on the web of have some old vintage photos of your own lets post them up. For web photos please provide the link.

Old School C&R 22 Target Rifles of the Drexil Institute's Women's Rifle Team c. 1925

I came across this pic while perusing the web this morning. I love old photos and and I love this one of the Drexel Institute's Rifle team from 1925. The photo shows the manner in which gun ownership and the knowledge of their use was seen as normal and even fashionable.

I love even more their hardware. I was able to find a website with a description of the guns as I was real curious what they were.



A Description of the guns they are holding can be found here: http://www.firearmstalk.com/The-Drexel-Shooting-Team-of-1925.html

These well-equipped and stylish young women are armed with what appear to be (from left to right) a Springfield Armory 1922 NRA Target rifle with Lyman 48 Receiver sight, a Winchester Model 52 Target Rifle, another Model 52 with a wrapped stock, a Winchester 1885 Low Wall single shot, 1922 Springfield again, and finally in the great coat another Low wall. Any one of these pieces were known to hold sub-MOA groups if the user did their part.

Although I do not know enough to know if it is correct.

Link for photo being used: http://www.shorpy.com/node/5392

 

[NinerMaine]

Found a nice milsurp photo on the same website. This time a M1917 WWI vintage.


http://www.shorpy.com/node/12702

My Father taken December 1918 in Homewood, Maryland. The Johns Hopkins campus was located there. This was before the City of Baltimore expanded its borders to include the campus. He was a member of the Student Army Training Corps (a cross between ROTC and a 90 day wonder). He was a corporal in this picture (they didn't wear the chevrons on the great coat), but was mustered out within a few weeks of this picture.I have been told that he is holding an Enfield riffle. He graduated Hopkins with the Class of 1921 (Mo Udall was a classmate of his).

 

[NinerMaine]

Here is a nice 1903.



http://www.shorpy.com/node/12976

 

[NinerMaine]

Here is one that has me stumped. A Korean War Mosin Nagant. Based on the wood, I first thought a T53, But noticed a comment about the bayonet and so took a closer look. The bayonet does not appear to be a folding type and the housing for such a bayonet seems missing. The bayonet looks short as well. So could it be a M38 with a bayonet just thrown on it? Would a 91/30 bayonet fit a M38? My memory is that they do not but I could be wrong. Any ideas from the Mosin experts. A high resolution photo can be found on the shorpy site by clicking on the photo there.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/11433

 

[USMA-82]

I guess this fits better here than in the "Milsurps of the Month" thread:

U.S. Cavalry - 1920 vintage

Here is a picture of my Grandfather - Charles Sinclair Kennedy - during a demonstration at Fort Ethan Allen in Winooski, VT sometime in the 1920's.

While he was demonstrating his skill in horsemanship, his squad was demonstrating their fearlessness as he jumped over them. Notice the 1903 Springfields being held behind their heads to protect against a dragging hoof.



Those were the days!

*

 

[SKS Ray]

Man would I love to dig through this crate!

This one was from the SKS boards:

I'm not sure if it was ever determined that those were Chinese type 63 rifles or not. I can only think they must be.

 

[Come and take]

 

[TFLeader]

Danvers Fish and Game - Mass State Police Firearms Display 1960



Recognize 2 Thompson SMG's, a Winchester 94 and a grenade launcher.

 

[NinerMaine]

Pulled this off the web a while ago. A photo go some gang back in the day. I can ID most of the guns, but not all. There is the gang favorite the Tommy Gun, a Krag, a Winchester or two and some pump shotguns and revolvers I cannot pin down and of course, there is a 1911.

 

[USMA-82]

The fellow in the left rear (bib overalls, between the two Thompsons) has what appears to be a Winchester Model 1907, which was chambered in .351 wsl (Winchester Self Loading) caliber.

Sent from my DROID with fumble fingers

 

[NinerMaine]

The fellow in the left rear (bib overalls, between the two Thompsons) has what appears to be a Winchester Model 1907, which was chambered in .351 wsl (Winchester Self Loading) caliber.

Sent from my DROID with fumble fingers

Thanks for that info. That narrows it down. I did not think that picture would be clear enough to ID that rifle. I think the the revolvers will be hard to ID as they are just not clear enough. I am not sure what the pump action shotguns are but they are clear so I am sure some one will be able to tell us.

I just googled the Birger gang and it is a very interesting story. Birger was a bootlegger who went to war against the KKK in his county. The KKK it seems was in favor of prohibition and decided to fight against the bootleggers. The KKK even went so far as storming into people's houses and searching for booze. It is a very interesting story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Birger Birger was hung in 1928. I also found one other picture. This one is just as good.

 

[cemorse]

View attachment 97993

Here is one that has me stumped. A Korean War Mosin Nagant. Based on the wood, I first thought a T53, But noticed a comment about the bayonet and so took a closer look. The bayonet does not appear to be a folding type and the housing for such a bayonet seems missing. The bayonet looks short as well. So could it be a M38 with a bayonet just thrown on it? Would a 91/30 bayonet fit a M38? My memory is that they do not but I could be wrong. Any ideas from the Mosin experts. A high resolution photo can be found on the shorpy site by clicking on the photo there.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/11433

I just stumbled on this thread and this picture piqued my interest. The rifle is either an M44 or a T53. Neither an M91 nor an M91/30 bayonet will fit an M38 without quite a bit of work. The outside diameter of the barrel is much larger than the bore of the bayonet. The slot on the bayo that fits over the front sight base is also too small and would also have to be enlarged. Finally, the bayonet on this rifle is the right length for an M44. The M91/30 and M91 bayonets are longer (about 5" more). If you look closely, the lower band is out of position. It has been pushed toward the muzzle and is touching the sling escutcheon. Thanks for posting the picture.

 

[NinerMaine]

It is the Korean War, so a 91/59 is out of the question. It has me stumped which is why I posted it. I guess it remains a mystery.

I guess there are 3 theories I can come up with.

1. There is a model of Mosin Nagant that is yet to be discovered... LOL
2. The North Korean's altered or made bayonets to fit the M38.
3. The picture was not taken during the Korean War but Viet Nam and that is a 91/59, which took a bayonet. But that does not look like Viet Name.

 

[SKS Ray]

3. The picture was not taken during the Korean War but Viet Nam and that is a 91/59, which took a bayonet. But that does not look like Viet Name.

My father's unit in VietNam was scheduled to go to Korea when their tour was winding down but were told they wouldn't be going and he came home instead. According to him some of his friends did go.

 

[NinerMaine]

My father's unit in VietNam was scheduled to go to Korea when their tour was winding down but were told they wouldn't be going and he came home instead. According to him some of his friends did go.

That would explain it if that Mosin is indeed a M59.

 

[NinerMaine]

Pulled this from the web... something about El Salvado Civil War..... nice Garand and early M16's.