Owning foreign war guns...
- Thread starter Eb1
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ShootTheM14
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- Joined
- May 17, 2008
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I don't have a problem owning war era rifles which might have been used to kill soldiers, even Allied troops. I have many ex military rifles and many civilian rifles. I do sometimes wonder what stories some these rifles would tell. I have a 1925 Hex receiver ex Cossack 91/30 that has seen lots of action, I purchased it because it had no import marks and had a surprising strong bore. This rifle was a Vietnam bring back. I found a chunk of human flesh and blood on the rifle when I cleaned it. Was it the blood of the soldier who carried the rifle or an American? I hope it was from a Viet Cong but who knows? I also have a Yugo capture Mauser I got for $109 dollars. It also has a very strong bore. I sometimes wonder what happened to the German who carried it and who the Yugoslavians used it against afterward. I wish all my war era rifles could tell me their stories but I don't sit around worry if they killed any good guys. As I see it they are my guns now.
mickeydim468
Member
I haven't seen one post here saying anything of this sort. Read the posts and see for yourself.
GBExpat
Member
No ... that would be silly.
MT GUNNY
Member
My WASR 10 is a reminder to me Of the Men and Women who gave there Lives for me to have it!!
Just a point. Enfields were used by both sides in the civil war. But so were Springfields, Colts, Remington, Sharps, Henry and etc. Does this mean I shouldn't own these????
A firearm is a firearm, not good or bad, it doesn't go bang by itself. Period. If Eb1 chooses not to own foreign war guns that is fine,but it is also ok that I do or plan to own foreign war guns. Why because as a retired veteran, I gave over half my life so that WE could have these rights. The BILL of RIGHTS.
A firearm is a firearm, not good or bad, it doesn't go bang by itself. Period. If Eb1 chooses not to own foreign war guns that is fine,but it is also ok that I do or plan to own foreign war guns. Why because as a retired veteran, I gave over half my life so that WE could have these rights. The BILL of RIGHTS.
Funderb
Member
Eb1, you said your opinion is your own, and you wouldn't try to influence others choices with it, but shortly after reading this thread i found this:
from thread:
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=431219
A guy was posting pics of his new arisaka...
what the crap is that?
from thread:
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=431219
A guy was posting pics of his new arisaka...
what the crap is that?
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
There are probably less than 200 actual AK-47's in this country.
U.S.-market civilian AK's are not and have never been used for oppression. To me, they are a symbol of freedom, and I value mine as such.
I remember having this same thought when buying a SKS several years ago....an have enjoyed reading many of these posts...so what is the right answer? The right answer is what each of us decides. If you decide its ok, thats the right answer for you. If you don't want to own it, you shouldn't, thats the right answer for you...no sin either way.
Smith
Member
The "The rifle was only a tool; its owner did the killing." argument is a bit weak IMO. Would anybody who has presented that argument feel comfortable owning a knife that was used to murder one of your family members? After all, it was just a tool, right?
That being said, I would not have a problem with owning Axis surplus rifles (although I do not currently own any). I would not, however, condemn anybody for feeling uncomfortable about it.
That being said, I would not have a problem with owning Axis surplus rifles (although I do not currently own any). I would not, however, condemn anybody for feeling uncomfortable about it.
higene
Member
Fore-ig-nine guns
Being chronologically gifted, I have a lot of experience with this phenomenon. When I was 12 I bought a 03a3 for $20 and had it mailed to my house. Back in the day no self respecting American would be caught dead or alive with a foreign gun. Not long ago I found a Custom Mauser 98 in 257 Roberts Ackley improved in the military gun rack next to a bunch of 03 Springfields. The 03's ranged from $350 for a sheet metal parts, chopped, and ugly drug to the range piece of junk I wouldn't be seen carrying- to $1,200 for an original stock gun which was identical to the one I paid $20 for. I bought the Mauser. It's a phenomenal gun.
I capitalize on prejudice.
I finally overcame my prejudice and bought a CZ 452. I consider it the best all around 22 I own and I have owned a lot of them.
I also own a Poison Maggot. The guy who originally owned that one got shot to death and that is the only reason I keep it around.
So --- do I have prejudices related to country of origin. You bet. And I use them to my advantage.
Higene
Being chronologically gifted, I have a lot of experience with this phenomenon. When I was 12 I bought a 03a3 for $20 and had it mailed to my house. Back in the day no self respecting American would be caught dead or alive with a foreign gun. Not long ago I found a Custom Mauser 98 in 257 Roberts Ackley improved in the military gun rack next to a bunch of 03 Springfields. The 03's ranged from $350 for a sheet metal parts, chopped, and ugly drug to the range piece of junk I wouldn't be seen carrying- to $1,200 for an original stock gun which was identical to the one I paid $20 for. I bought the Mauser. It's a phenomenal gun.
I capitalize on prejudice.
I finally overcame my prejudice and bought a CZ 452. I consider it the best all around 22 I own and I have owned a lot of them.
I also own a Poison Maggot. The guy who originally owned that one got shot to death and that is the only reason I keep it around.
So --- do I have prejudices related to country of origin. You bet. And I use them to my advantage.
Higene
I agree that that old military firearms do carry some of the symbolism from their former owners.
For me, my German K-98's represent the failed country that we defeated. It's a symbol of our victory over Nazism.
My East German Makarov, that I bought surplus for $100, is another artifact from a failed country. To me, it's a symbol of the victory of Western Capitalism over Communism that happened in *my* lifetime.
I remember the Berlin Wall. It was up before I was born and I never thought I'd see it come down in my lifetime. The fall of the Berlin Wall, and what it represented, was one of the defining moments in my lifetime.
I don't have a literal piece of the wall. I do have that East German Makarov, which, like the wall itself, was a tool of the oppressors.
My ownership of that pistol gives me great satisfaction. The wall came down, the west won the spoils, and that pistol is a symbol of our victory to me.
If other's feel different, I can respect that, but I don't feel that I have to agree with them (or they with me).
For me, my German K-98's represent the failed country that we defeated. It's a symbol of our victory over Nazism.
My East German Makarov, that I bought surplus for $100, is another artifact from a failed country. To me, it's a symbol of the victory of Western Capitalism over Communism that happened in *my* lifetime.
I remember the Berlin Wall. It was up before I was born and I never thought I'd see it come down in my lifetime. The fall of the Berlin Wall, and what it represented, was one of the defining moments in my lifetime.
I don't have a literal piece of the wall. I do have that East German Makarov, which, like the wall itself, was a tool of the oppressors.
My ownership of that pistol gives me great satisfaction. The wall came down, the west won the spoils, and that pistol is a symbol of our victory to me.
If other's feel different, I can respect that, but I don't feel that I have to agree with them (or they with me).
BCCL
Member
Just a question for those that don't think it's OK to own guns from foreign countries that might have been used in combat against Americans.
Do you ever purchase ANY CCI/Speer ammunition or reloading components, considering their historic ties to the Nazis?
Do you ever purchase ANY CCI/Speer ammunition or reloading components, considering their historic ties to the Nazis?
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
My father went ashore on D-Day, so I figure he learned a little something about foreign military guns. He brought stuff back.
He told me of GIs taking Mauser 98s and torching off the barrels and removing the stocks, so they could bring back the actions. My gunsmith uncle begged my father to bring back as many Mauser actions as possible.
War souvenirs are a tradition which spans millenia. Look at it this way: They generally belong to the winners. They're generally a symbol of, "Hey, we won!"
That Arisaka may have killed a GI, but who has it now?
He told me of GIs taking Mauser 98s and torching off the barrels and removing the stocks, so they could bring back the actions. My gunsmith uncle begged my father to bring back as many Mauser actions as possible.
War souvenirs are a tradition which spans millenia. Look at it this way: They generally belong to the winners. They're generally a symbol of, "Hey, we won!"
That Arisaka may have killed a GI, but who has it now?
Sagetown
Member
Posted by: Eb1 _ If you are an American, do you feel strange to own a gun that probably killed your Countrymen? I am talking about Mausers/Jap guns, etc?
Eb1 I don't feel strange about it at all. However; I remember 2 instances in DaNang, VietNam when our guy brought in truck loads of battle remanents.
One was a Pick-up load of AK-47's piled so high in the bed of the truck that they were sliding off. My buddy grabbed one and kept it till he returned stateside and had it shipped home. Me, at that time I absolutely was not interested, nor were most of the GI's that were there that day.
The second was a similar load of U.S. Marine helmets. We lost so many guys that day. It was very disinheartening to witness that Pick-Up load of Helmets. But for some reason, I picked out one of our hero's helmets, and wore it for the rest of my tour.
Sage
Eb1 I don't feel strange about it at all. However; I remember 2 instances in DaNang, VietNam when our guy brought in truck loads of battle remanents.
One was a Pick-up load of AK-47's piled so high in the bed of the truck that they were sliding off. My buddy grabbed one and kept it till he returned stateside and had it shipped home. Me, at that time I absolutely was not interested, nor were most of the GI's that were there that day.
The second was a similar load of U.S. Marine helmets. We lost so many guys that day. It was very disinheartening to witness that Pick-Up load of Helmets. But for some reason, I picked out one of our hero's helmets, and wore it for the rest of my tour.
Sage
DeathByCactus
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- Sep 9, 2008
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- 245
The only weapon I have a problem with is the AK-47 for some reason. I can't tell you why, I don't know why... I just feel uncomfortable around that weapon. I guess I just have this symbolized picture in my head of a 8 year old slaughtering families or ... I don't know. I understand fully that weapons don't kill people, people do. It's just a weird feeling I have about the AK. I just view it as a weapon of choice for criminals and terrorists (due to availability however), whereas I see the AR as a weapon that fights it. Good V Evil if you will. I know there are good people who do good things for their country/people that use the AK. I just will never be able to own an AK. In short it's a stigma I have, I fully understand that there are over 100 sides to this argument and I am not going into it because I just don't like the AK47.
However, I tend to use the AK47 in many video games primarily... strange eh? If it's virtual (like CS:S) I don't care, if it's real then I care.
My brother has a WWII Nazi SS collectors firearm (he is a war history buff and is currently active military), an actual military weapon that was never used. It is the real deal. I have fired it, but I really have no intention of ever using it again.
However, I tend to use the AK47 in many video games primarily... strange eh? If it's virtual (like CS:S) I don't care, if it's real then I care.
My brother has a WWII Nazi SS collectors firearm (he is a war history buff and is currently active military), an actual military weapon that was never used. It is the real deal. I have fired it, but I really have no intention of ever using it again.
And I have a vision of the AR/M16 series failing to feed,ejector double feeding at an inopportune moment....whereas the AK(despite being crude in comparison)just chugs right along.
Perceptions DO affect me though ;I will grant you that-I simply cannot see myself EVER using ANY firearm in .25ACP-for sme reason I just associate it with low rent wannabe thugs and people who want something they can fire in the from the back seat of a car into the drivers head without going deaf.
Perceptions DO affect me though ;I will grant you that-I simply cannot see myself EVER using ANY firearm in .25ACP-for sme reason I just associate it with low rent wannabe thugs and people who want something they can fire in the from the back seat of a car into the drivers head without going deaf.
Still believing there is no clear answer to this except for each individual to decide for themselves...I thought of this question I hope the OP doesn't mind an hope not to make anyone upset,
I have a question, for myself, an perhaps some would like to think about this....sure some vets took guns, an some didn't...but what if we knew the story of the weapon, that had killed the American, sure its a tool in wartime, sure its the person an not the gun....now lets say that this weapon was the tool, that had killed your dad....?....or your best friend......you find out, an its placed in your hands...not someone else's dad that you didn't know...yours...what if you had it...?
Would it be cool to have? Would you put it beside his picture an medals? Would you take a hammer an destroy it....remember, this was your dad...would it make a difference? I can't help but think that it would for me......
I have a question, for myself, an perhaps some would like to think about this....sure some vets took guns, an some didn't...but what if we knew the story of the weapon, that had killed the American, sure its a tool in wartime, sure its the person an not the gun....now lets say that this weapon was the tool, that had killed your dad....?....or your best friend......you find out, an its placed in your hands...not someone else's dad that you didn't know...yours...what if you had it...?
Would it be cool to have? Would you put it beside his picture an medals? Would you take a hammer an destroy it....remember, this was your dad...would it make a difference? I can't help but think that it would for me......
flyboy1788
Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2008
- Messages
- 317
I own an arisaka type 38 with 4 distinct tally marks in the buttstock that were put there a long long time ago. It is a very beat up rifle, but it is an original with the chrysanthemum and has not been rearsenaled or anything. The way I look at it is this: although that particular japanese soldier may have been shooting at my grandpa and other americans(presumably killing 4 of them), he was fighting for his country as my grandpa was fighting for ours. He just hapened to be born in japan and my grandpa was born in america. He was doing what he had to do, that is all. To me it is a unique and interesting piece of history and I do not feel wierd about owning it.
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