Show us your militaria...

I have, thanks to my grandfathers or great grandfathers, these items:

Russian trench periscope (almost identical with this.)
Russian military identification booklet (dated 1940, so it's from the Finnish Continuation War or the last days of the Finnish Winter War)
Finnish Medal of Liberty, 1st Class (1918 Liberation War)
Finnish Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class (1918 Liberation War)
Finnish Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class (The Continuation War)
Commemorative Medal for the Battle of Tampere (1918 Liberation War)
Battle of Vilppula Commemorative Medal (1918 Liberation War)
Commemorative Medal of the Winter War (1939-40)
Finnish 7th Infantry Regiment's pin (Adolf Ehrnrooth's regiment, btw)

Plus several other items as well. If you guys want, I could take and send some photos.

 

All this talk of Stens has prompted me to blow the dust off an old favourite....






New-spec deact, unfortunately...I seem to remember it cost me about £120 from Worthing Guns a few years ago.....

 

You never fail to impress, Martin....

A wonderful piece of British innovation, I'm sure Adam will be jealous...

 

Nice STEN.

 

I'm jealous of absolutely everything on here that isn't already mine...

It has to be said though that yes, I am particularly green about one swine (no names, no pack-drill ) that was buying top-notch quality deacs when they were still reasonably priced!

 

Very nice collections and photos. Here's one of my favorite military handguns, the one in my avatar.

U.S. Pistol, Cal. .45, Model of 1911.

Made by Colt, shipped Nov. 1917.

The holster is a Warren, stamped 1918. The belt and magazine pouch are both Mills, also 1918. The lanyard has the 1917 patent date. The cartridges are WWII, Evansville-Chrysler, 1943.

One day I'll take some photos of others in the collection.

JT

 

I have to say that is a fine-looking sidearm indeed...

 

Adam, would the said swine be the same one who owns an old spec deact StG44 ?

 

Stop it... That's just talking dirty. I'm in complete denial rather than simply jealousy over that one.

 

Far too much stuff from Johnny Foreigner on this thread - time for some real Roast Beef....

 

OMG! Martin, you never cease to amaze. What great pieces of gear! Loved the sten, but this has great WOW-factor as well!

 

Ah BREN Martin.. You've many wonderful things.

 

That Smith & Wesson M&P (correct?) looks pre-Lend-Lease with those checkered medallion stocks. What is the chambering? The British Purchasing Commission in the U.S. bought all sorts of handguns early on, in several calibers other than .38-200.

Very nice display.

JT

 

Well-spotted, JT...

This is in fact an early lend-lease S&W '38/200' ie re-chambered for the short .380 British cartridge. It has the commercial blued finish whereas later ones had a parkerized finish. I bought it years ago in rather poor condition ( I didn't pay much for it... ) - it seems to have had a hard life and one grip at least has been replaced. But all the British proof marks are legible - I like it because it was popular among RAF fighter pilots as well as Commandos and Airborne troops. I don't really think it was that superior to to the Enfield or Webley revolvers, but 'Smith & Wesson' had a particular cachet or status.....

 

Actually, I own and have shot both - a No. 2 Mk. I (1931) and a S&W Victory in .38 Special (1943). Fired double action, the S&W has a much smoother and lighter action than the Enfield. On the other hand, the Webley/Enfield is a robust design that would likely withstand abuse better than the Smith.

Pate's U.S. Handguns of WWII: The Secondary Pistols and Revolvers has much information on these sidearms. If you'd like to know more about yours, I'd be glad to look.

JT

 

Thanks, jt - in fact, between posts I'd dug out my old copy of Smith's 'Small Arms' and one or two other books which tend to agree with you - the S&W was a little fragile and apparently the mainspring could weaken with use.

Nice-looking revolver, though.....

 

WOW!
both of you guys have been taken off of my Christmas card list! Yes I am that jealous!!

seriously, great pieces, both of you! But Martin, that is quite a collection!
thanks for sharing!!

 

Since it's show and tell time:


No. 2 Mk. I, 1931

Polish VIS35 Radom, 1938.

Smith & Wesson M&P Lend-Lease New Zealand issue, .38-200 (.38 S&W), 1942.

I sold the M&P, but still own the other two.

JT

 

Here's one our friends on the other side of the 'big pond' will appreciate...

It's dated 1944.