"Gunfreak?" Topic

So I'm painting peter pig marines.

And while painting the thompson, I realised I could clearly see it was an M1 or M1A1 not a M1928.

Now for me this is quite obvious, if the bolt is on the side it's an M1/A1.

But that would probebly have me burned at the stake in norway.

But I suspect almost all wargamers that do americans/british can also tell the diffrence.

I couldn't. But OTOH if it was a tank, I'd know when something is "off…"

Damon.

I would venture to guess that most don't know or care.

In 15mm? On the table? Don't care.

Gunfreak,

I don't think I understand. Are you saying your Marines shouldn't have M1 or M1A1 Thompsons?

It looks right to me. Your Marines are wearing the 'brown-side out' helmet covers, meaning they're in 1943 or later, and my understanding is that the reorganization in 1943 after Bouganville pretty much removed Thompsons from the rifle platoons (officially, replacing them with BARs, three per squad), leaving Thompsons only in non-rifle elements like Weapons platoons, Weapons companies, engineers, reconnaissance, service companies, etc… And even then those were M1/M1A1s, not M1928s.

Am I misunderstanding? I'm with OFM, I could certainly live with it either way, though I'd say the easier way to tell the difference is not the charging handle (bolt assist) but the lack of the big compensator on the M1928.

Take care.

V/R,
Jack

I don't think I understand. Are you saying your Marines shouldn't have M1 or M1A1 Thompsons?

[…]

Am I misunderstanding?

I think he's saying that in Norway it's "unacceptable" to be knowledgeable about guns, which I'm interpreting as a bit of national self-deprecating humour. Norway may be the country of Breivik, which might put the whole gun issue on edge, but it also still has conscription (even if most people end up not serving).

Rhoderic,

Yes, now I understand, thanks! I feel a bit like a donkey, totally misunderstood, but now I get that the issue for him was knowing there was a difference between the Thompson variants… My turn to be burned at the stake ;)

V/R,
Jack

I did not get the subtle humor and appreciated JJ's useful commentary.

I knew what he meant, but I must confess that until a few years ago the difference between a 1928 and an M1A1 completely passed me by. They were just Thompsons, with varying foregrips and magazines.

The differences between various models of Sten OTOH….

Excessive knowledge of firearms is also viewed as the purview of gun nuts who live with their mothers over here too.

As Martin has said, anyone in Britain who displays any knowledge (or worse, ENTHUSIASM) about guns is generally regarded as some sort of evil, loner, psycho, mass-murdering nutter.

A few days ago on TV a very well-respected broadcaster happened to explain what rifling was and the difference between a rifle and a musket. Just off the cuff, during a conversation. The reaction was a mixture of shock and suspicion. Someone actually said, only half jokingly, that it was a bit worrying he knew so much about guns.

Thanks for putting that in context. Most American gamers still wouldn't have a clue.

"Excessive knowledge of firearms is also viewed as the purview of gun nuts who live with their mothers over here too."

Said mother usually possessing quite an arsenal herself.

When I was working in Norway quite a few pick ups had rifles on a gun racks, in the back of the cab, have things changed?

Hunting is one thing, norway has always had a big tradition of hunting, but knowlage of automatic war weapons, are not the same.

Neither know nor care about the difference in Thompsons. But if you do, I don't mind.

"Excessive knowledge of firearms is also viewed as the purview of gun nuts who live with their mothers over here too."

Said mother usually possessing quite an arsenal herself.

And is probably the greater threat to public order…

That's where you look at the person and say, "hey, I don't judge you for what you nerd out over."

I couldn't live without my guns. Then again I'm a gawd fearin uhmehrikan. Actually, I just like hunting. Can you bowhunt in England? Is there any way to obtain a fire arm just for hunting?

Shotgun licences are easier to brain then Firearms licences (cover guns other than smooth bore weapons firing shot rather than bullets). There are hefty restrictions though. Can't have most if any repeating shotguns (so no pump actions) no repeating cartridge pistols (black powder replica revolvers are OK) no automatics. Hunting is pretty much restricted to shotguns and single shot rifles AFAIK.

Got to go now Mother needs help cleaning her rifle.

So I don't suppose any of you would like to buy a Mk I Bren gun? Enfield, June 1940? thathistorybloke(AT)btinternet.com? spare mags , oiler, spares bag……