Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
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You do have to wonder what Francis,The Talking Mule, would have said about this contraption.
One good point is when the "operator" kicks it in the a$$ (pun intended) it doesn't bite or kick back.Mules were used extensively as pack animals in the Italian mountains and Burmese jungles during WW2. The Canadians had to scramble to improvise a pack mule company in Sicily which was later employed in Italy. They were about the only way to get supplies up to the troops in places and, sadly, about the only way to bring down the dead. Mules were surgically "de-voiced" in Burma to avoid giving away positions to the Japanese, thus creating the first "stealth mule".
Mules are generally superior to a horse as a pack animal as they incorporate the best features of their donkey and horse parents and are lower maintenance than a horse. If we ever had to get into this again it would be a hoot to see the city boys learning how to be mule skinners.
curious gauntlets ... but the only weapon they might change barrels on then would have been a Bren ... and that barrel had a handle... I wonder if they are standard dispatch riders gauntlets that are a lot worse for wear ... the 48th were always called the "Glamour boys" by the RCR ,,, apparently for good reason!
Didn't know Monty had a sense of humour!!!!!
Monty was a pretty dour character who frowned on drinking and smoking and wouldn't even allow coughing or sneezing in his briefings. He did travel with a small menagerie in his field caravan which included some pet birds and a small dog named "Rommel". But he was realistic enough to tolerate approved brothels for the troops in Italy which aroused the sensitivities of the Chaplain Corps.
He was quite an egotist and craved publicity, but he did try to bond with the troops as he believed that they should identify with their commander on a personal basis. He admired the fighting abilities of his Canadian troops, but wasn't too big on the Canadian generals under his command. He tried to fire Harry Crerar, but was prevented from doing so by political considerations. He rated Chris Vokes as a capable Div Comd, but no higher. He was very big on Guy Simonds who he thought was the best Canadian general in the field.
His rival publicity seeker and egotist, Patton, even had some nice things to say about the Canadian troops under Monty's command. He paid them a somewhat backhanded complement stating that, "they are the best troops the British have, and they are American".
F' cking gas!^
It's great this thread is still going, has the OP been around?
It's great this thread is still going, has the OP been around?
Still here plink !! Just doing a lot more reading then posting thanks to the guys that post pics on a regular basis, and thanks to the guys that respond on said pics, this thread ( and forum ) is full of very knowledgable people and I think everyone has learned at least one thing they didn't know. I know I have !!
Cheers
Joe
thanks to the guys that post pics on a regular basis, and thanks to the guys that respond on said pics, this thread ( and forum ) is full of very knowledgable people and I think everyone has learned at least one thing they didn't know. I know I have !! Cheers
Joe
On the military Tommy, the cocking handle is on the right. Why not the left? That is where the mag release and select switch is. If the right hand is holding the pistol grip, the left hand should do everything.
The M1 and M1A1 Thompsons were simplified for cheaper and more rapid production and used a straight blowback bolt rather than the more complicated bolt lock system of the earlier M1928A1. Who knows why they decided to put the cocking handle on the right side, but that is not surprising given that all other US small arms, except the BAR, had the bolt/cocking handle on the right side.
Dark Alley Dan
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If the purpose was to simplify production, perhaps cutting a single slot on the same side as the ejection port was simpler somehow that cutting a second slot on the left side?
Savage Arms produced the majority of Thompson SMGs during WW2 and they, rather than the parent Auto Ordnance Company, re-engineered the gun to make the simplified M1 and M1A1 models. Ease/speed of production and cheapness were the big drivers. Savage focussed on cheapness to keep costs down and make sure that future contracts would be forthcoming. No doubt this led them to do what they did with the cocking handle. The US Govt had expressed concern over the costs of the more complex M1928A1 which drove the whole re-engineering exercise.
Savage built the M1 for $36.37 a unit and made a profit of $12.93 on each one. Auto Ordnance charged the Govt $43 per M1 and $42.94 per M1A1. For comparison the final contract cost of the M1928A1 was $70 per unit. For more about this read, "American Thunder, The Military Thompson Submachine Guns" by frank Iannamico.
Savage built the M1 for $36.37 a unit and made a profit of $12.93 on each one. Auto Ordnance charged the Govt $43 per M1 and $42.94 per M1A1. For comparison the final contract cost of the M1928A1 was $70 per unit. For more about this read, "American Thunder, The Military Thompson Submachine Guns" by frank Iannamico.
Or maybe also because it was very much a "right hand" world?? i.e. most important functions were delegated to the majority of shooters' (right hand) preferences.
Just speculating. Purple's probably right.
Just speculating. Purple's probably right.
I suspect machining cost is the answer. With a pistol grip rifle, it is easiest to #### the gun with the left hand. I #### the ARs with my left hand.
My CZ 858s all have a cocking handle on each side. I almost always use the left one.
My CZ 858s all have a cocking handle on each side. I almost always use the left one.
^^I also think too it depends on the era, and what was the "in" thing at the time. A tactical officer handled an MP 44 I had once, and since his training is considered to be current and cutting edge, it was apparent that he wouldn't fit in with a re-enactment group. His stance, etc., wasn't wrong--it's just that (from seeing period pictures and newsreels) that WW2 Germans handled MP 44's differently then someone with training in modern weapons.
I've seen guys reload and #### AK's with whatever hand they were fastest and best with--probably also influenced on what army they trained with.
I've seen guys reload and #### AK's with whatever hand they were fastest and best with--probably also influenced on what army they trained with.
