Best way to "buy the story"?

[BigFatGuy]

Let's say I didn't much care about a C&R gun being functional or pretty, but wanted to know that it was carried by a solder/cowboy/etc. during some important time.

I definitely find guns that have been repaired with new parts (like the CMP seems to do) less interesting then guns that have been stored in a warehouse for decades, and those less interesting than knowing a gun was issued, carried, shot in anger, etc.

is there a smart way to go about a search for a gun with a good story?

[81turbota]

A gun with capture/war trophy paperwork. It’s the most common way to encounter guns with documentation and a specific name of the owner. Other forms of verification comes from various archives, factory letters etc. You will pay a significant premium for the provenance and the fakes are getting good...

Examples-

[BigFatGuy]

A gun with capture/war trophy paperwork.

That, right there, is the main reason I asked.

What if I wanted one carried by an American soldier?

:-)

[81turbota]

That, right there, is the main reason I asked.

What if I wanted one carried by an American soldier?

:-)

It’s rare to find a US gun on papers, the war trophy forms were used by US GI’s for their captured enemy guns. Ocassionally a well documented US gun pops up for sale with provenance but it’s a lot harder to prove.

Aside from paperwork some guns have unit markings. I have a Long Lee CLLE assigned to a regiment that fought in early WW1. An 1888 trap door Springfield assigned to the Pennsylvania national guard. If you’re OK with that kind of provenance one of those would fit the bill.

These are examples of unit marks- first a Luger, second a Martini and third a Trapdoor Springfield. These markings are usually well known and can be deciphered by an appropriate forum. If this is OK for you these guns are easier to find than ones with documents.

[Cody805]

Tagged for later

[BigFatGuy]

Thanks for the advice, and the beautiful photos...

[God Bless America]

Let's say I didn't much care about a C&R gun being functional or pretty, but wanted to know that it was carried by a solder/cowboy/etc. during some important time.

I definitely find guns that have been repaired with new parts (like the CMP seems to do) less interesting then guns that have been stored in a warehouse for decades, and those less interesting than knowing a gun was issued, carried, shot in anger, etc.

is there a smart way to go about a search for a gun with a good story?

I will sell you a gun with any story you want.

I have the M1 Garand used by Seal Team Six to assassinate Castro. Of course, the so-called "media" had to tell a different story. $2500. If that is too much, for only $2000, I have the Mini-14 used by Seal Team Six to assassinate Castro.

[BigFatGuy]

Yeah, i know, I'm an idiot. :-)

[81turbota]

Yeah, i know, I'm an idiot. :-)

All it takes is some patience and scrutiny when it comes to guns with any form of provenance or story. The old story about any German handgun - came from an SS officer that didn’t need it anymore....etc.

Documented guns are the only ones with irrefutable and pinpoint history, whether that be capture documents, factory shipment documents or whatever flavor you please. Some guns, such as unit marked described above, SA stamped wartime Russian Mosins, non import jungle worn SKS in correct serial ranges can be argued to have been involved with major conflicts of the time. I won’t try to forge stories for a specific gun, I gravitate to documented pieces because it as at least proof it was captured before that date and the named US service member had it in their possession on the date of the document. Each type of provenance provides some degree of certainty. Even the capture certificates, how do you know that the listed person got it in combat rather than a game of cards and never saw the front line? You have to define what level of provenance will satisfy your need for Americana.

[God Bless America]

Yeah, i know, I'm an idiot. :-)

You're not; you are smart enough to ask. I do love that joke though.

[bubbapug1]

My mom threw out my dad's garand he carried in ww2 and a German rifle he picked up off the ground. She's anti gun.

[onelonehorseman]

My mom threw out my dad's garand he carried in ww2 and a German rifle he picked up off the ground. She's anti gun.

Bugga!

My sister-in-law's drug addict husband stole, and sold, a P-08 Luger that my father-in-law (US Airborne) received from a German officer who surrendered it to him late in the war.

[beerman]

Bugga!

My sister-in-law's drug addict husband stole, and sold, a P-08 Luger that my father-in-law (US Airborne) received from a German officer who surrendered it to him late in the war.

I have an old friend that fought from D-day thru the end of the war with the 101st...he told me he sent home several Lugers & walthers only to find his brother sold them for booze $$. sad.