SMLE

When starting this blog, I was reluctant to post "modern" weapons, meaning basically centerfire rifles and pistols. However, it would seem that I've already violated that principle in several posts (this one, this one, and this one), so it now seems like not such a bad idea. This is especially so since I've posted a number of WWI, WWII, and even Vietnam items, making my previous decision to shy away from centerfire weapons kind of moot. Thus, I'm going to post some of the "real" guns from my collection.

This rifle is a Britsh Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) rifle, Mk 4. It is chambered in .308 (the NATO cartridge) rather than the original .303 British. It's a good, robust shooter - not as accurate as the German Gewehr Mauser '98 due to the way the action functions, but the SMLE is rugged and field worthy. This example appears all original, and has not been sporterized or otherwise altered. SMLE's are still used in places formerly occupied by British forces, and I suspect that somewhere in Afghanistan, someone is still taking pot shots at our troops with a venerable SMLE.

Incidently, the SMLE was used as the basis for the blasters used by the Jawas in the original Star Wars movie (now called "Episode IV"). Also, Han Solos's blaster is basically a relatively unaltered "broom handle" C 96 Mauser pistol. How's that for trivia?

Flintlock's Flintlock

Here's an old British flintlock pistol. The lock plate has the traditional stamp of the TOWER arsenal as well as the Seal of King George (with G.R. for George Rex) stamped under it. The puts it in the late 1700's or early 1800's. There are a few replacement parts on this piece - one of the lockplate screws has been replaced, as has the plate on the left side of the pistol - it's now brass sheet stock that is not original. Otherwise, the pistol is in pretty good shape with a functioning action, frizzen, and ramrod.

Might this have been a pirate's pistol? A fella can dream, right?

Flintlock's Arsenal is here

The purpose of this blog is to document one unusual, unique, antique, or otherwise interesting weapon or weapon-like item from my personal collection per day, for as long as i can. I reserve the right to miss a few days here and there with the promise to catch up!

My initail a priori assumption was that I'd have enough goodies to do this for a year...but after a count, I don't think it'll happen. So I'll go as long as long as I can keep coming up with interesting pieces, or longer if I hit the lottery and go into acquisition mode!

In the process, I will tell you what I know (or think I know) about each piece. I'd love to have viewer comments correcting or augmenting what I think I know about these pieces...and I sincerely hope that this becomes a two-way learning street.

Additionally, many (if not all) of the pieces shown here could be available for purchase if you contact me with heartfelt interest and we can agree upon terms and conditions. I don't part with my treasures lightly, so please don't contact me about buying unless you are serious.

Lastly, and by way of preview, this blog will feature knives, guns, swords, axes, and other military or related equipment ranging in age for hundreds of years. However, my first piece (today's in fact) is neither particularly old or unique: it's a World War II era, British Fairbairn-Sykes style fighting knife (see picture) with a Sheffield stamp above the hilt. The handle is brass, and the double-edged blade shows signs of repeated sharpening.

The reason it is my favorite is two-fold. First, it was given to me by my late grandfather, a Pacific theater veteran and my number-one personal hero (I sure do miss him). He and I actually made the pictured replacement sheath out of one of his old belts - it took hours.

Second, the knife comes with a (probably apocryphal) story of how he acquired it. According to legend, when my grandfather was stationed in New Guinea, he and his mates from his PBY 5A Catalina crew (Black Cats) got pretty chopped up in a local watering hole. Supposedly, this British soldier was at the bar, and Grandpa's mates got the limey passed-out drunk. Legend has it that they dragged the poor slob down to the local tattoo parlor and got an American Flag and the phrase "God Bless America" tattooed on this poor bastard's chest. Then they rolled him for valuables.

This is probably a made-up story, but I so associate it with the knife that I consider it true for sentimental reasons.

By the way, if you're a British WWII vet with a similar tattoo and a missing knife - I am a fiction writer living in California and this story never really happened ;-)