Source of quote? "Not need safety. Is for killing."

[230RN]

I picked this up from one of the gun sites, maybe THR, I don't know.

Supposedly, a Russian General was asked about the rather awkward and almost unusable safety on the Mosin-Nagant, and he replied "Why safety? Is for killing. Not need safety," or something like that.

Is this a real quote, or was this a (rather good) made-up joke about Russian practicality?

Is it actually attributable to a real person, and if so, to whom?

--Terry

 

[Tim Burke]

Cooper reports a third hand conversation involving a Russian in which the Russian was asked about a particular gun, "Is that safe?" and he replied "Ezz gun, ezz not safe." Might be the source of your story. I believe it is in the Commentaries somewhere.

 

[Vaarok]

"It is a weapon, it is not supposed to be safe" - Fedor Tokarev, on the TT-33 handgun.

 

[strat81]

"In America, you shoot gun. In Soviet Russia, gun shoots you." - Yakov Smirnoff

 

[adobewalls]

Charlie Miller, a Texas Ranger inthe 1950's, carried his 1911, with a leather tie disabling the grip safety. When asked, "Isn't that Dangerous?" He replied, ""I wouldn't carry the son of a bitch if it wasn't dangerous!".

http://www.shootingtimes.com/gunsmoke/miller_0730/

 

[Pigspitter]

I do believe I said that quote on a thread about a french rifle when some people were whining about it not having a safety.

 

[Caipirinha]

I've never seen that as an actual quote. It was featured in this entertaining write-up that's made its rounds through the various gun boards. Look in the section on the M44.

http://www.arthurshall.com/x_2007_manly_firearms.shtml