What guns for the Roaring Twenties?

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C

Cowboy Preacher

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What guns would you carry if you were a Revenue agent in the 1920's in the big cities? How about if you were stationed in the rural Appalachian Mountains of Virigina or West Virginia? In the big city, I'd take a pair of Colt "Fitz Specials" in .45 Long Colt. For a rifle Winchester 1895 in .30-06.
In the mountains, I would use a Colt New Service in .45LC with one of the "Fitz Specials" as a back-up. And I would use a Winchester 1897 with a 18 inch barrel as a long arm. Lets hear what yall think.
 
In the city, I'd keep a pair of Colt .380 Hammerless on me daily and keep a '97 and a BAR in the car for days I know it's going to rain.

In the sticks, I'd swap out the .380's for a 1911.
 
Hmmm... A fed in the 1920s? That means a loose suit and the gun only needs to be casually concealed under the jacket (back then folks weren't shocked to "make" a plain-clothes cop) so a big gun is in order. Especially since I may be arresting bad dudes at gun-point and I want a big hole in the muzzle to get their attention and dissuade them from going for their own guns. Maybe a big shiny gun. I see a nickel plated 1911 in 45 ACP as filling the bill. Perhaps a 38 Dick Special in a leather-lined jacket pocket for back up.

In long guns I think a Model 12 Winchester with an 18" barrel and a lever gun (an '86 or a '95) in 45-70 to take out autos trying to run the roadblock. I think I'm ready to don my fedora and pin my badge to my suspenders.
 
Colt Government Model and a Colt Detective Special in an ankle holster (they had those back then, right?), and a 1927 Thompson in the trunk.
Click to expand...

Damn you took my answer! :neener:
 
For 'ammunition compatability' you understand.

A PAIR of nickel plated 1911's in a double shoulder holster rig and with a Thompson with a drum magazine in the trunk. Also in the trunk, a BAR and a 1903 Springfield for long range work.

The .45 and 30-06 calibers would handle any situation you can think of!
 
Well back in 192021 there was a little set of incidents in Apppalachia called the West Virginia Mine Wars, a story told in "Thunder in the Mountains" by Lon Savage and the shootout at Matewan, on the sleepy Tug fork dividing West Virginia from Kentucky.

Chief of Police of Matewan Sid Hatfield (a distant relation of mine it seems) carried not one but TWO Colt new service revolvers (army models) in .45 caliber. Talk about going loaded for bear. It's also said that Hatfield fired the first shots of what would come to be known as The Matewan Massacre.

I've found no direct evedence of military ordinance in the hands of striking miners, but their opposition had armored trains, the US Army Air Corps and Billy Mitchell, as well as Lewis guns and other assorted military hardware, not to mention federal troops.

A lawman trying to keep the peace in such a time may well have needed a BAR to set things right. You don't face a private army in an armored car with a scattergun.

If you caven't seen "Matewan" I highly recommend it. It's available on DVD.
 
My choices for 1920's?

Sidearm- 1911A1 (Colt's Commercial), blued finish (don't shine so big and give you away when you have to hide) .45ACP or .38Super, the latter being one to punch through car bodies easier than .45ACP. Or, a S&W Triplelock in .44Special. Also could be a Colt's SAA in .44Special. Some of this depends on whether I'm working in town or ahorseback like along the Rio Grande.

Shotgun- Browning Auto-5 12guage with 18" barrel for use indoors.

Rifles- '03 Springfield, 1892 Winchester .32-20, 1894 Winchester with Lyman tang sight .32WCF or .30WCF.

Full auto- Thompson and/or BAR. Depends on where I am and what I'm doing.
 
Suprising no one has mentioned the Remington Model 8 in .300 Savage.

At least one person mentioned the Winchester 1907 in .351 WSL.

I have to agree with the 1911.

Can I play the private detective? :D
 
20z

Some one beat me to it,wound'nt be no g-man revaneweeerrr! But the govt fotee five sounds guud and a BAR,and a Thompson machine gunnn!
 
I just picked the revenuer, because that is a person who would have been loaded for bear against Al Capone or some of his cronnies. And belive me my family has a few bootleggers in the family tree from those times. They were bad trouble makersby all accounts before they became Christians and even a preacher or two. Most of the story about most moonshiners I have been relayed are they were no better than meth cooks today. Heck in my area of Virginia, there is a town called Damascus that is the meth capital of Virginia. Literally there are people who are making meth now, their fathers grew pot in the 70's and 80', and their grand fathers and great-grandfathers made moonshine before that. It is a culture of criminal behavior. Makes me belive in the theroy of criminals being born.
 
Bucking the big-bore handgun trend, I'd have to go with a civilian model Broomhandle Mauser, just because I could.

I like Gunsnrovers idea of a pair of 1908 Colt's in .380 for city-slickin'.

Gotta go with the BAR and 1921 Thompson for the trunk gun (everybody seems to want both - let's assume the pre-depression gov'ment is in a generous mood).

For a shotgun, nothing awes the rubes like a Trench Gun with the bayonet attached!
 
Sholder holster: cocked and locked blued Government Model 1911 in .45 ACP - two spare mags
Ankle holster: either S&W or Colt Model of 1917 revolver in .45 ACP with
barrel cut to 3" and trigger guard thinned. Loaded with .45 Auto Rim. If the GM goes down and I have to reload the 1917, will top off from spare 1911 mags. Should fire OK without the moon clip, just extraction will be difficult - (have to push rounds out with pen or pencil). If I haven't solved the problem in 12 rounds, I have bigger problems!
Other ankle - bowie patern knife - 6-7" blade, matte blue finish, slip-resistant grips -(think K-bar tpe knife...)
Wallet - couple of moon clips for ankle gun wrapped in wax paper and cellophane, in carboard sleeve.
Right paints pocket - automatic knife with partially serrated blade
left pants pocket - rugged locking folder knife
Right jacket pocket: S&W "Lemon Squeezer"- hammerless .38 SPecial
Vest pocket: derringer - .38 Special

Trunk: 2 1903 Sprinfield - one with star gagued barrel and scoped with bent bolt and folding bipod, the other cut down to carbine size, with grenade launcher. 100 rounds match ammo, 100 rounds AP, 20 rounds tracer. 20 rounds blanks, 10 CS (or 20's equivalent) grenades, 6 smoke, (various colors), 4 HE/Frag.
Winchester Model 1897 or model 12 "trench gun" 12 ga with ventilated handguard, extended magazine, and bayonet mount.
Pattern of 1917 bayonet for springers and trench gun.
Model of 1917 "Knucke-duster" fighting knife with scabbard
..and of course, one drum-fed Thompson!

(good thing those cars had big trunks....)
 
Same as I carry now: Gov't Model Colt and a snub revolver as a BUG. I'd make it a blued Colt commercial model and a Colt Detective Special.

For longarms I'd use a Thompson with a drum and an 1897. If I were way out in the sticks, I'd like a Monitor or a BAR.
 
Boy this is tough. The 1911 would be a good choice, but I think I would have to go with the S&W Triple Lock 44 with 4" barrel. I just don't like the look of the 2nd model and if I remember correctly the 3rd model didn't start production until the early Thirties.

What I would really like is a Triple Lock in 45 Colt. I've read that there were a handful of those made and since it's my wish list that's what I would carry. I would have to go with a Colt Detective Special as my backup.

For a shotgun I would go with the Winchester 1897 "riot gun" and the BAR for hardhitting serious firepower. The Winchester 1907 in .351 would be good for close range work or maybe the Winchester 1892 in 44-40. I wouldn't be averse to carrying the Winchester 1895 in 30-06 for the occassional long range work. Maybe not as practical, but pretty cool. Actually if I was using those weapons today I wouldn't consider myself undergunned.
 
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