I will be buying an Inglis Hi Power that is in VG /excellant condition. It was issued to Brigader General Radley Walters and was given to him to retain when he retired some years ago. I believe that he has since then passed on and the pistol was then sold as part of his estate by his son. It also comes with the issue holster and documentation proving past ownership/history. The finish is factory original (parkerized) with serial numbers bright... refinished ones are not bright as the serial numbers were stamped onto the pistols after parkerizing at the Inglis factory or at least that is what I've been lead to believe. The only signs of wear that I can see appears in the barrel which is to say that the bore is not mirror like but still has clean sharp rifling. I was allowed to shoot it last week (20 rounds) and it easily will put 10 out of 10 into the black . The only negative thing that I can say about it is that whoever altered the Mag has reduced it's capacity to only nine rounds rather than ten, other than that it seems to be just about as good as it gets! My question to all the Milsurp experts/ collectors out there is ...what is it really worth given the provenance? Mike
Value of Inglis Hi Power with history
- Thread starter Major Mike
- Start date
General Radley walters played a key part in the history of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. As such if you were to contact one of the Regimental museums specifically the one of the 8 Canadian Hussars in Moncton New Brunswick as he was predominately affiliated with that Regiment. Failing that Warrant officer Ted Mcleod at the museum of the Regiments in Calgary Alberta. I am sure they would be interested in purchasing or giving you a tax receipt for it. It would be a shame for a piece of Canadian military history to be lost.
If your not interested in the hassle sell it to me and I will donate it.
If your not interested in the hassle sell it to me and I will donate it.
Rest assured that I be contacting one or both of the museams or failing that you Zipperhead "IF" I ever feel the need to part with this little slice of Canadian history! I fully appreciate and agree with your views in regards to keeping this Inglis right here in Canada where it rightfully belongs. Mike
That's just what happened to a german WWII radio that my father donated to the SIGS museam in Kinston...... just F....n vanished. When I asked about it all I got was a "sorry chum but we have so much of that stuff blah blah blah" Didn't impress me to any great extent as I really didn't expect that was what happens to donated items. The only consolation that I have is that I still have the other receiver that came out of a german halftrack safely tucked away along with the telegraf key and the tank commander's throat mics & headset. Last time I had access to a 2volt battery the radio still worked & I have a set of spare vaccuum tubes for it too all thanks to my own personal hero,my dad!!! Mike
- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
Also when an object is donated to a museum it becomes their property and they can then sell it to raise funds.
SW
SW
Photos will be posted......eventually, as soon as I take possession and figure out how to actually post pictures . I am not a computer friendly sort... still type with one finger so you will all have to be patient little boys and girls while I figure it out. Mike
Major Mike:
One small clarification - Inglis HP serial numbers were not "stamped" - rather, they were engraved.
But you are correct that they were added only after each pistol was fully finished and assembled (and
I believe "function tested" to ensure it was functional.) Since the numbers were engraved, they were
cut cleanly through the parkerization into the steel underneath to give that "in the white" appearance ...
Here is an original wartime photograph of the process, from the National Archives of Canada:
It was a pantograph process - her right hand is guiding a stylus in a template where the plates
of the individual characters making up the serial number are assembled - that motion is being
transferred by the pantograph to the engraving head below her left hand, engraving the number on
the finished pistol clamped to the work surface below it.
Done three times on each pistol (frame, slide and barrel through the ejection port) - then she
would change out one (or more ) of the characters in the template to go up to the next serial
number, and repeat the process on the next pistol .....
One small clarification - Inglis HP serial numbers were not "stamped" - rather, they were engraved.
But you are correct that they were added only after each pistol was fully finished and assembled (and
I believe "function tested" to ensure it was functional.) Since the numbers were engraved, they were
cut cleanly through the parkerization into the steel underneath to give that "in the white" appearance ...
Here is an original wartime photograph of the process, from the National Archives of Canada:
It was a pantograph process - her right hand is guiding a stylus in a template where the plates
of the individual characters making up the serial number are assembled - that motion is being
transferred by the pantograph to the engraving head below her left hand, engraving the number on
the finished pistol clamped to the work surface below it.
Done three times on each pistol (frame, slide and barrel through the ejection port) - then she
would change out one (or more ) of the characters in the template to go up to the next serial
number, and repeat the process on the next pistol .....
Thanks for the history lesson and photo Grant. It has also been brought to my attention that the General may well still be alive. Man oh man would it ever be an honor to talk to him but I am loath to intrude if it were to be seen as an invasion of privacy or cause him grief of any sort. I do know his son somewhat so I think that I will try contacting him first just to make certain that I would not be imposing on his father and see what transpires from there. Mike
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rad is indeed a symbol of the growth of the RCAC. He was an anglo born in Gaspe, who led (not joined or served with) the 27th Armoured Sherbrooke Fusiler Regt. They were an officially bilingual regiment, long before official biligualism became the fashion.
I forget which brigade they were, but they landed late on DDay. He worn a DSO (IIRC), and his contribution to crew competance was to post replacements into his Sqn HQ Tp. He'd leave the admin to the staff, and drill the new crews before moving them into the rest of the sqn. He'd go out and have range days shooting up wrecks behind the lines, giving the men a chance to see and feel battle beforehand. He was CO too.
His legacy is Tank Bomb on the parade square in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She served from DDay to VEDay without getting knocked out. No other Allied tank has that distinction. To learn more, google Tank Bomb and see what comes back.
Any Rad souvenir has a depth beyond the fact it is an Inglis.
I forget which brigade they were, but they landed late on DDay. He worn a DSO (IIRC), and his contribution to crew competance was to post replacements into his Sqn HQ Tp. He'd leave the admin to the staff, and drill the new crews before moving them into the rest of the sqn. He'd go out and have range days shooting up wrecks behind the lines, giving the men a chance to see and feel battle beforehand. He was CO too.
His legacy is Tank Bomb on the parade square in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She served from DDay to VEDay without getting knocked out. No other Allied tank has that distinction. To learn more, google Tank Bomb and see what comes back.
Any Rad souvenir has a depth beyond the fact it is an Inglis.
OK something or someone (probably me ) is weird ,as I get a message on my e-mail that says that I have a pm here but when I check there's nothing there to read. If indeed there is someone who is trying to get in touch ,I don't know who it is so maybe you will have to post something here so I can respond. Mike
Mike I just spoke with my Father in Law and apparently Rad is still alive but unfortunately is suffering from alzheimers. I was fortunate to meet him several times in the late 80's while serving with the Hussars in Germany. He was an extremely interesting man to talk to and loved being with the troops. I can recall people telling me how he would invite members of the Regiment when they served in Petawawa to his home( not sure where it was) on various occasions. Apparently his home had enough artifacts to be a museum, he even had a Sherman tank on a hill outside his house( not positive as I was never there).
He is certainly a Gentleman and an inspiration to all Canadians but especially to those of us who continue to serve in his beloved Corps.
As for his pistol it sounds like we are fortunate you ended up with it and not someone to whom it would be just another 9mm.
Bill
He is certainly a Gentleman and an inspiration to all Canadians but especially to those of us who continue to serve in his beloved Corps.
As for his pistol it sounds like we are fortunate you ended up with it and not someone to whom it would be just another 9mm.
Bill
Mike,
That was probably me trying to pm you again. Rad moved to Kingston a couple of years ago, and the armoured veh collection ended up at the regt. where they were/are being refurbished.
You're a lucky man getting that piece of history. I'd like to take you up on the offer to see it but I was posted to Gagetown in August. Look forward to the pics though.
That was probably me trying to pm you again. Rad moved to Kingston a couple of years ago, and the armoured veh collection ended up at the regt. where they were/are being refurbished.
You're a lucky man getting that piece of history. I'd like to take you up on the offer to see it but I was posted to Gagetown in August. Look forward to the pics though.
Wow! I am gratified by all the responses the General's Inglis has illicited, and you can all be assured that his pistol will be treated with the respect that it's due considering it's historical significance. It will be handled with kid gloves from now on, as it should be! Mike
It's not necessarily a good idea to lend stuff to CF or other museums either. I know a guy who loaned a 40mm Bofors gun to the Borden Museum, long ago. They welded it shut and refused to repair it when he wanted it back.
"...No other Allied tank has that distinction..." It's claimed that the Sherman in London's Victoria Park did that too. 1st Huzzar's vehicle I think.
"...No other Allied tank has that distinction..." It's claimed that the Sherman in London's Victoria Park did that too. 1st Huzzar's vehicle I think.
