Recent Finds....*pic heavy*

[John Browning]

Here are a few things I've scored recently. While only the shotgun fits in this forum, these are the first helmets I've added to my collection and had to submit them for your review.

Item 1

German WWII M40 helmet
I bought this one and the WWI helmet off the granddaughter of a WWII vet. As far as I can tell it is legit. I think the decal is actually legit. It has been repainted. Along with the replaced chinstrap something interesting is that under the black paint you can make out

XXX(Unreadable) (1?)12 INF APO 464
NY, NY

I have no clue why an APO address would be there under the paint, but it is. I am 99% sure it says 112th Infantry, which is a unit that saw a lot of action during the war. Pretty cool history. I wonder if the US web strap was added by the German or American owner. Neat piece of history to me.




You can make out the NY NY in this picture. It is really hard to capture the rest.

[John Browning]

Item 2

WWI helmet

This is a neat one. It is a British made WWI helmet painted and used by the MPs attached to HQ Company, 26th Infantry Division. They were stationed in Verdun, hence the city gate in the emblem. Made by Thomas Firth & Sons. I've had this one already authenticated and won't be letting it go, ever. I love it.

[John Browning]

The piece d'resitance.

W&C Scott & Son - London

This is their sidelock made in 1883. Apparently they were a very high end maker and eventually merged with Webley to become Webley & Scott. Mechanically it is in excellent shape. The stock does need to be sent off for repairs. Any recommendations on where to send it?

[John Browning]

[John Browning]

[John Browning]

[John Browning]

Anyway, just some recent finds that are out of my normal track of interest that I wanted to share. I'm really digging them and I hope you are, too. Any info you can add or share is certainly welcome!

[Iskra]

GORGEOUS Shotgun! Don't repair a thing. Put it on the wall like the fine piece of art it is, and make sure you can explain the proof marks to anyone who asks about them.

[timdps]

Are those Damascus steel barrels?

[mosinnagantm9130]

Nice finds!

[Milsurp Collector]

Nice stuff.

Consider posting the pictures of your WWI helmet at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/foru...hp?showforum=5

and the German helmet at http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdis...aria-Forum-NEW!

so others can enjoy them.

[goober]

beauty shotgun

[John Browning]

Are those Damascus steel barrels?

They are indeed.

The other cool things I've discovered about that shotgun are that the W&C Scott & Son company got the patent for the break open mechanism that pretty much every single shotgun uses today. They also made guns for many other companies including some of the big name makers in London. The thing on the side that looks like a little porthole is a "Patent Crystal Indicator" that looks clear when the hammer is cocked and is filled with a little yellow (used to be white I'm guessing) marker to show the barrel has been fired. I'd honestly never heard of W&C Scott and Son before buying this shotgun, so I was surprised to learn that this Scott became the other half of Webley & Scott.

Should I do the stock repair myself or have someone more professional do it? These shotguns seem to be expensive enough to warrant sending it to a pro. I don't want to let it get worse, even though it will never be fired.

[John Browning]

Nice stuff.

Consider posting the pictures of your WWI helmet at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/foru...hp?showforum=5

and the German helmet at http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdis...aria-Forum-NEW!

so others can enjoy them.

Crap. Is that going to lead to me buying more helmets if I do that?

Edited to add. Ok, I registered. I'm really liking these helmets to the point that I feel the early twinges of addiction. Once I get the final approval from the mods I'll have them up over there.

[Peter.Steele]

Are those Damascus steel barrels?

Yep, Damascus steel. And some of the prettiest I've ever seen, too.