I found this fascinating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_kLjE87_icObscure facts about WW I. The Allies never issued parachutes to pilots so they would try harder to save a damaged plane?? Whole English towns wiped out due to casualties?? Military units of short guys?? Great video.
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Love my Siamese Mauser bolt action rifle - one of the strongest bolt action receivers ever made - rimmed cartridges...
I have one pristine original and one sporterized - one each in both original cartridge chamberings...
Can anybody name those rounds - know much about them???
Mike0 -
Take a drive through small town Ontario to see the impact of WW1. It wasn't just English towns that got 'wiped out'. 0 -
8mm Siamese. My favorite gunsmith converted the case out to necked down 45-70. It didn't shoot well. They make good 45-70 rifles but I like my modified Mexican small ring Mauser better. 0 -
8x52R 0 -
8x50R and 8x52R Siamese Mauser rimmed cartridges
The first dates back pre 1900 though did not really get going until 1901 and 1902
The second is really just a longer heavier spitzer or full size FMJ boat tail modern projectile that made the round to long for the magazines and receiver bridge...
Like the German Mauser and the "S" round - simply notching the receiver to allow bullet clearance from a round with a now longer total OAL was not feasible on the Siamese Mauser - but you will have observed such modifications on other early Mauser pattern rifles...
They originally purchased great numbers of Japanese imperial army and naval infantry type 30th and 35th year rifles that were being replaced by the type 38 and 99 arisaka long arms in Japan - the older guns having been declared obsolete and sold off...
The guns were converted - a standard pattern arsenal conversion in Japan - to accept the Siamese proprietary rimmed service cartridge from 1902 to 1920 - 30.35" medium profile barrels and 2000 meter sights and war-quoit on the receiver in place of the mum...
Sanskrit serial numbers and production dates and such were applied - these were well made guns and the arsenal military conversions were also well done - the equivalent of pre war Springfield's - good detailed craftsmanship (such guns are almost non existent in north America)
1888 and 1888/90 mannlicher rifles were purchased in substantial numbers in the 1890's...
Mauser rifles in small batches were purchased.
The Siamese conducted extensive field trials and tested about a dozen foreign pattern military rifles including the 1886 lebel and the Dutch krag...
The model 1902 type 45 Siamese Mauser takes the best features from Mauser pattern rifles and arisaka / murata rifles and combines them in an odd oversized well made organic distinctive rifle - and they had them manufactured by the Japanese imperial artillery arsenal koishikawa in Tokyo - it's a Mauser 98 pattern action and took a wicked sword bayonet...
It's a massive gun in my hands - let alone a Siamese man 130 years ago...
RS121 guns (1902 on the Siamese calender)
A well executed heavy duty dust cover is attached to the receiver - a vast improvement on the Japanese version which is often missing and was discarded...
In the 1950s there were some conversions to .30-06 were the guns were turned into carbines and short rifles with 17" to 20" barrels - I don't recommend firing these guns...
The type 1904 German made rifle in 7x57mm Mauser is a superb gun - again it's a unicorn and a rare item in the US - standard export pattern but with a factory special heavy barrel almost 30" long - some think they had optics mounted by the Siamese and we're used as sniper rifles or designated marksman rifles...
I have never seen a standard production export model 98 German made Mauser rifle with a full length special heavy barrel - especially a 7x57 chambered gun...
Fascinating - great thread - great OP.
Mike0 -
That was a good video.
I had not heard of the PALs recruitment scheme. Looking at the losses its no wonder when the US came into the war our Generals refused to fill in the gaps in the British and French units. Their leadership and tactics were severely lacking.
Imagine being in a Battalion that takes 94% casualties in one day I just hope whoever led that unit bought the farm too.0 -
This type of loss was felt in Bedford, Va. The local National Guard sent 37 men to D-Day and 19 were lost. There was also a 20th, who was in another unit. That's better than 50%. If you ever pass through Bedford, plan a few hours to stop & see the National D-Day Memorial.
https://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/featured/d-day/bedford-was-hit-hard-but-military-legacy-remains-strong-in-town-torn-apart-by-d-day-1.5843580 -
says Alvin York shot dead 6 Germans charging him with bayonets. with his .45, undoubtedly hardball, and probaly 1 per customer.
try that with a 9mm with any sort of ammo. heh.0 -
Alvin could be considered a pistolero. 0 -
Gary Cooper's 45 looks to me like a German luger. 100% it ain't ol' slabsides!! I'm guessing even back then Hollywood didn't know anything about guns! 0
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