Name that weapon- Serious

[Tom Houlihan]

I just looked again, and a small buzzer went off waaaaayyy back in the recesses of my mind (shut up, Paul!).

I'm suddenly thinking 'recoilless weapon,' but I'm not sure. Remember, it doesn't have to be US issue. It's that "lip" around the bottom of whatever we're looking at. Anybody see any merit to that thought, or am I just over-tired?

[Commander Waffle]

Originally Posted by gi-rene

Possibly. For awhile we thought it was an Italian rifle of sorts. But that odd buttplate says thats not possible (For me anyway). A shotgun or civilian rifle could be it too, they tend to have fancier furniture.

I remeber a story of a an Army Sargeant who had to ditch his jeep an dhead for cover during a mortar attack. A few minutes after the attakc he fgot back into his jeep and found a double barrel shotgun that wasn't there before. And it had personale engravings on it. Ask you're guys about that one.

[Commander Waffle]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

I just looked again, and a small buzzer went off waaaaayyy back in the recesses of my mind (shut up, Paul!).

I'm suddenly thinking 'recoilless weapon,' but I'm not sure. Remember, it doesn't have to be US issue. It's that "lip" around the bottom of whatever we're looking at. Anybody see any merit to that thought, or am I just over-tired?

You're just sleep dprevied.

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

I just looked again, and a small buzzer went off waaaaayyy back in the recesses of my mind (shut up, Paul!).

I'm suddenly thinking 'recoilless weapon,' but I'm not sure. Remember, it doesn't have to be US issue. It's that "lip" around the bottom of whatever we're looking at. Anybody see any merit to that thought, or am I just over-tired?

Funny, the same thought crossed my mind but I had two issues with the idea so I never mentioned it. First, it's kinda small and second, my ignorance. I don't know when recoilless weapons started to appear and in my head, they're more of a modern thing. I'm thinking Vietnam onwards but that can't be right...no, now that I think about it, Tamiya had a US weapons set out for WW2 period and it had a recoilless 'rifle' in it that was mounted on a huge tripod and about twice as long as a man. Thoughts?

[Tom Houlihan]

I sort of agree, Nick, but just because I'm not totally certain, either!

Wait... Are we abso-tively positive it's a WWII photo, not Korea? How about the "advisors" in Greece, circa 1947-48? Immediate post-war China?

[Holly6]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

I sort of agree, Nick, but just because I'm not totally certain, either!

Wait... Are we abso-tively positive it's a WWII photo, not Korea? How about the "advisors" in Greece, circa 1947-48? Immediate post-war China?

I think you're right Tom. So many experts have looked at this, is it possible that their examination have been "tainted" by given "information".

Besides date and location, look at the picture. We all know the propensity of soldiers posing with weapons. Do we all agree that the strap on the left shoulder belongs to the item? If so, it would seem that the breech would be to the back. But if that is a weapon, I would be hard pressed to think it would be a shoulder-fired device with that stock configuration.
Query: What else would a soldier pose with that might have a shoulder strap either originally or added? Map case? Other type of headquarters gear? You guys know the possibilities much better than I.

Even if it is WWII, I might run this through some Korean War sites. The equipment used then was, in the majority, from the last War.

I'm not trying to answer the question, just trying to jog those minds here so much better to eventually get to the answer. I'm going to print a copy of the pic and show it to a couple of K. War Vets I know. Can't hurt.

Man! I love a mystery!!

[Geek44]

Excellent points. Now US uniforms and equipment aren't my forte, but now that you mention Korea...his uniform has me wondering. Especially that insignia on his helmet.

[Jason G]

US stuff is one of my hobbies. I'd have to say WWII period, because of the "Star in a circle" insignia on the Jeep. This, as best I can recall, wasn't used in later periods. Helmet insignia aside (divisional and other insignia was used on helmet liners until helmet liners were no longer used....), this one is on the 'pot' part of the helmet. Outer markings pretty much (there are exceptions as always..) went away after WWII.

Thus, based on those factors, I'd have to say it's a WWII period photo. Giving it a closer look, I'd also have to say 'later' period, it looks like our soldier is wearing his metal Combat Infantry Badge over his left pocket. That tells me he's a grunt, but not much else.

The more I look at the thing slung over his left arm, the more it looks like something OTHER than a weapon. The army has thousands of pieces of equipment that came in 'rifle looking' cases, including bazookas (case too small for that), signal gear, including antennas, (possible), stretchers (possible but unlikely as he has a CIB), and a zillion other items. Without being able to blow up the photo, this one is going to be a 'too close to call', in my opinion, piece of gear. But it was fun to look at the picture!

[gi-rene]

Originally Posted by Jason G

US stuff is one of my hobbies. I'd have to say WWII period, because of the "Star in a circle" insignia on the Jeep. This, as best I can recall, wasn't used in later periods. Helmet insignia aside (divisional and other insignia was used on helmet liners until helmet liners were no longer used....), this one is on the 'pot' part of the helmet. Outer markings pretty much (there are exceptions as always..) went away after WWII.

Thus, based on those factors, I'd have to say it's a WWII period photo. Giving it a closer look, I'd also have to say 'later' period, it looks like our soldier is wearing his metal Combat Infantry Badge over his left pocket. That tells me he's a grunt, but not much else.

The more I look at the thing slung over his left arm, the more it looks like something OTHER than a weapon. The army has thousands of pieces of equipment that came in 'rifle looking' cases, including bazookas (case too small for that), signal gear, including antennas, (possible), stretchers (possible but unlikely as he has a CIB), and a zillion other items. Without being able to blow up the photo, this one is going to be a 'too close to call', in my opinion, piece of gear. But it was fun to look at the picture!

Its for certain WW2 Gents... Its my unit leaders FATHER. Who obviously is Nisei and served in the 442. Some interesting theories, and actually there was a recoiless rifle (M18 57mm and the M20 75mm saw service late war, most certainly neither considering their lengths and the M20 is 117 pounds) in WW2, but they got in to see service during Operation Varsity. Most certainly late war he's wearing double bucks methinks. Let me see if I can drudge up a date from my unit leader.

[gi-rene]

And for some fun here is a collage one of our guys did up with pictures (I think) of our unit Leader's dad's photos and momentos...





EDIT: Think I may post in the roll of honor.