03/17/1945 WWII: Europe: Germany; "U.S. First Army at Remagen Bridge before four hours before it collapsed into the Rhine"

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coaldigger55

In the picture of the new Winchesters, those may be Garands, look at the lenght of the boxes and also the lenght of the wood crates. I can't read what is stamped on the end of the boxes. Have the wife /girlfriend/boyfriend hold there arms out at a natural carry position and lay a carbine across then, then lay a Garand across them and you will see what I am talking about. No matter what they are i'm happy you posted the pics. and like the other guy said,I would love to have a crate of them, or just 1 or 2 or 3 or!!!!!

I believe they are Carbines. M1 Garands weigh 9.5 lbs, x 5 = 45 lbs. Doesn't look like any strain on the girls faces of carrying this much weight at one time. Also... judging the length across these two females waist lines, as noted in the photo.. a Garand would be much longer as well as the box in this photo. In addition... the size of the crates would not make any difference, depending on how many guns were stacked side by side and end to end into each crate.

Bolo-7

They have to be carbines. The box is too thin and the crates are stacked three to the row.

Absolutely Rog....what's next......... Winchester M97 Trench guns??? Boxes are too small for those too!

Bill Ricca

At risk of changing the subject, I have a short story to tell. A fellow in Connecticut showed me pictures of a crate of 10 Winchester Garands. He had purchased them from a former employee who had been sitting on them for years. I had heard about that crate years earlier and finally saw two of the rifles at a gunshow, with pictures of the rest.

The rifles were never delivered to the Army and when the war ended the employee was owed a small fortune in back pay (reason unknown). He asked for the crate and management said yes.

The guy who showed them to me purchased them and paid $18,000 in the mid 1980's. The rifles naturally were mint with grease only on the follower mechanism, everything else was not preserved. There was a barried on the inside of the box to prevent moisture.

It was a treat to have seen the rifles and fantasize about owning the crate.

I heard something about this Bill, back in the late 1970's, early 1980's, at a California Gun Show.. but at that time, did not pay much attention as Garand's were not my interest at the time. However, I did carry one in the Marine Corps, in 1961. We were the last platoon to get Garands, as the Marine Corps were in process of adopting the M-14 Rifle. We took classes on the M14 during Boot Training. I thought at the time it looked like a glorified Garand with a box magazine, less the selector. We were also the last series to be issued the brown shoes, brown boondockers, brown socks, Ike jackets, and brown barricks cover visors. The Corps were phasing all issues out and adopting the black personal issues. Some received the comingling of brown and black personal items, also. Just a little history here..thanks for the post, great trivia for the new kids.

janitorjim

Great post!!!!! Great pictures! Oh, and I'll take the babe that's makin' the pup-tents.........what a doll!

OnTargetFL

Grand-parents?
That's a low shot....

Shouldn't that be pictures of M1903's and maybe M1917s for our
grandparents?....

I'm just glad there are still kids interested in shooting:

Best,

Gerry

Right you are Gerry...should read "Great" Grand-Parents!! Thanks for the update.

Kevin Gibson

I'm a freelance writer for some of the popular gun magazines and I'm always looking for good quality wartime photos (all wars).

Are there any places on the internet where I can find such photos?

Thanks

GunGeek

Gun Geek, please check your PM messages.

P2

Look here for some more original WWII photos....
http://www.archives.gov/research_room/r ... hotos.html

Javlin

P2 appreciate the site you listed my father was a radio operator on a B-17.I have some of his records starting in 1936 and you can maybe apply for info on relatives there thanks alot.

AussieM1A

janitorjim
You may have a fight on your hands she is stunning.i would take living in the 40,s era any day.the best of both worlds guns and girls

ltcboy

Notice on the picture of the Thompsons--- the stock doesn't have the reinforcement crossbolt! That was implemented in the war because the vibration from the .45acp round shooting out a 600rpm caused stress on the stock and would shatter it.


MIke

wolf04

Im 19 (shot my first M1 Garand and Carbine last year) and needless to say i after shooting my friends i went and got certified and got me a Garand (still lookin for my carbine!! hehe) and i never regret a single moment (or should i say spending a single dollar) with/on my garand!

TommyGunn

Those were 1928 Thompsons the British were receiving, with the vertical forends. They did not have that crossbolt. I believe that was done primarily on the M1A1 Thompsons, though it seems to me I remember seeing it on a few 1928 models (with horzontal forends) that Amereican soldiers were carrying in photos.

bearcat6

If you got one of those in the box some expert would find something that was incorrect about it.