Springfield Armory Pattern Room/Museum trip

MRCLARK

MRCLARK

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
85   0   2
Location
at your old ladys place
I just posted this in the Battlerifles section but thought I should post it here as well just in case some of you guys might miss out.

I Got back from vaca a few days ago. Had to do a course at the SIGARMS Academy but I noticed on the way down Springfield was fairly close by.

I spoke with some of the people who work there and it turned out there was going to be a guided tour of the Pattern Room where they store the rare items, and prototypes.

I took my course, signed up for the tour and made plans to see it on the way home.

It was AMAZING!!!

Heres the link http://www.pbase.com/mrclark/springfield_armoury_museum

Heres some pics (when the curator wasnt looking I made mad passionate love to GARAND #1)

73418592.jpg


73423042.jpg


73372517.jpg


73372520.jpg


73424338.jpg


73371854.jpg


73418571.jpg


73369217.jpg


73363750.jpg


73439214.jpg


73453972.jpg


73369427.jpg


73410401.jpg


73410047.jpg


73366087.jpg


73366088.jpg


73366085.jpg


73364549.jpg


73364546.jpg


73364543.jpg


73364008.jpg


73364007.jpg


73367392.jpg


73410045.jpg


73410044.jpg


73362368.jpg


73366831.jpg


73367907.jpg


73368318.jpg


73368323.jpg


73367909.jpg


73363608.jpg


73362359.jpg


73362586.jpg


73369428.jpg


73408623.jpg


73365602.jpg


73439219.jpg
 
What did he say about that Garand which looked like it had a Johnson mag system attached to it? One weird looking rifle.

That Garand with the raised stock and sights was neat too... what was that intended for?
 
Tyler said:
What did he say about that Garand which looked like it had a Johnson mag system attached to it? One weird looking rifle.

That Garand with the raised stock and sights was neat too... what was that intended for?
Click to expand...

It was something built for a contract intended for the marines. As you know the Marines loved the Johnson rifle for its feeding system and or its ability to top off a mag. The marines were issued the Johnson but only as a trial basis but they kept them all.

This rifle was supposed to have the best attributes of the Johnson and the best of the garand. The garands one weakness was the enblock system that did not allow you to top up a mag. Would have been an awesome rifle.

That other one with the odd stock and sights was actually a production issue weapon used in the fight against the japanese in jungles etc etc. It was shaped in such a way to help reduce recoil in full auto fire. You will see on the side a switch and it was a selective fire item and it still only had the enbloc 8/9 round clip.
 
MRCLARK said:
It was something built for a contract intended for the marines. As you know the Marines loved the Johnson rifle for its feeding system and or its ability to top off a mag. The marines were issued the Johnson but only as a trial basis but they kept them all.

This rifle was supposed to have the best attributes of the Johnson and the best of the garand. The garands one weakness was the enblock system that did not allow you to top up a mag. Would have been an awesome rifle.

That other one with the odd stock and sights was actually a production issue weapon used in the fight against the japanese in jungles etc etc. It was shaped in such a way to help reduce recoil in full auto fire. You will see on the side a switch and it was a selective fire item and it still only had the enbloc 8/9 round clip.
Click to expand...
It actually has a similar butt to the early M79 grenade launchers. This and the sight make it look like it was intended for high angle indirect fire like the old Volley sights. Very odd!
 
H Wally said:
Ehhmmm, third pic from the bottom... ahem, stg 44? or is my brain just seeing what it wants to see?
Click to expand...

yup a shelf full of them, apparently the german government wants some of the stuff back now for there museums.

He was saying there "reluctant to return them at the moment"
 
Springfield Armory Tour

Wow That was interesting. I have two goals in life and one is to see the Enfield Pattern Room and the other is the Springfield Armory tour.
I loved the EM2 he was holding, I wonder if it was a Canadian Arsenals or British? I have a Canadian bayonet for one. In the book EM-2 Concept & Design by Thomas B Dugelby
Printed by Collector Grade Publications. They show a number of guns manufactured by numerous firms. The Canadian one was manufactured in 7mm X 51 also called (7mm HV) and the British manufactured them in 280 and 7.62, they also mention 7mm Manufactured at BSA, Enfield, and Chambrons Tool Company
The different amunition types are 6.25mm X 45, 7mm X 51, 7mm X 49, 7.62 X 51, and 30-06.

I hope you took lots of pictures? I kind of kick myself for selling so many of the similar models that they had on display. Super pictures of the M1 Sniper with the adjustable cheek piece.
 
Last edited:
albayo said:
Wow That was interesting. I have two goals in life and one is to see the Enfield Pattern Room and the other is the Springfield Armory tour.
I loved the EM2 he was holding, I wonder if it was a Canadian Arsenals or British? I have a Canadian bayonet for one.

I hope you took lots of pictures? I kind of kick myself for selling so many of the similar models that they had on display. Super pictures of the M1 Sniper with the adjustable cheek piece.
Click to expand...


I noticed the EM2 right away

cool pics


AFAIK only the enfiel factory built EM2's and the pattern room in now housed in the armouty in Leeds


cool place, whe I was there about 4 years ago the pattern room was being transfered. I think you need a specila invitation to tour the pattern room :(

but I do have contacts :)
 
Last edited:
The word is the Canadian War Museum has an equally appropriate small arms collection. Every one has a Canadian connection, either by design, use or capture. I doubt the curators who love paintings have any interest in displaying small arms. Hell, I'd give a year of Sunday afternoons to volunteer and give those tours!
 
The picture labelled swiss seems to contain a Ljungman. Any thoughts on this. It took me a couple of goes to see it as it has a stock very similar to the K31. Did the cuckoo landers trial it?
 
Sometimes I love americans they have so much more respect for their military history. That silenced carbine would it have been like a semi auto delisle? That carbine was shockingly short but if it would have worked they could have replaced the M1 with something that ran on the same ammo as everyone else. It would have made a great room clearing tool and has alot of similarities to the Socom 16.
 
Is the 9th picture, the German automatic rifle held up for display, an Stg 45? Is it the predecessor of the G3 and CENTE?

Big
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom