What is it for
 

Hi guys

I was given a piece of spme sort of a mount/stand which I believe is for a gun.I don't think it is all there and it is rusted up, nothing moves. It was dug up some years ago and the guy who gave it to me was going to scrap it, but I knew it was military so I said I would take it, now I must find out what it is for and the best way to free it all up. I have attached a photo of both sides of the thing.

Cheers

Tony :no4:

Mortar Legs
 

Hi

They are the front legs off a 3 inch Mortar...

Tim

Agreed, looks like mine.

Hi Tony,

Looks like it will come up well with a chemical bath of some kind to remove the rust. There's a thread on the various methods here:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...olysis+removal

Identified
 

Hi Tim, Harry and Tony

Thanks guys for sorting that out for me. I thought it was for a MSG I also aquired, which was also dug up. I will try and see if I can free it all up as another project.

Cheers

Tony

You must have skinny legs, Harry :D :D

Unusual looking implement!
 

Has that item on the bonnet of the Jeep been identified Tony? It reminds me somewhat of a 12.7 mm the Japanese Army used in some of their aircraft that seems to have been based on the Browning design.

David

Browning
 

Hi David

It is a genuine gun and still has all the makers details and serial number on it. I suspect it came out of a plane, but I am not sure. It is a .30 cal Browing MSG.

Cheers

Tony :no4:

.
 

It doesn't look quite "right" for a .30 Browning...little short, little tall...grip at sorts the wrong angle...

Just my nickles' worth...(we don't do pennies here anymore...)

Hi Tony
The inscription leaves no doubt about the identity of the piece but it's a version that appears to be rather uncommon. It just doesn't look right although it does look to have some similarity to the interwar cavalry version as illustrated in my Small Arms of the World.

David

It is genuine
 

Hi Charlie and Dave

Yes the pistol grip is not genuine, it is one I made up until I can get the right one. I also had some doubts about the looks until I looked it up on the net and found a couple of versions with the slotted barrell cover holes. See attached. I was more used to seeing the models with the round holes. :doh:

Cheers

Tony :no4:

Hi Tony

The one (or is it two?) in your second photo appears to be identical to what you have with the trunnion mounting forward of the receiver.

A nice little conversation piece.

David

That's it
 

Hi David

You are correct. A mate has offered me the rear handles and I am in the process of converting it to gas firing.

Cheers

Tony :no4:

Mg
 

That is an aircraft mount, very much the same as the .50 aircraft mount.
A friend of mine has one the same as your photo and was found in Pottsdamn Germany in the late 70,s however couldent tell if it was the .303 version or .30.

Hi Jason

You can never be sure of these things but I don't remember ever seeing a .303 Browning with a fat, stubby barrel jacket like the thing Tony has. The standard .303 barrel jacket is quite slender with a distinctive flash cone at the muzzle.

If you have a picture of a Lancaster the things are sticking out everywhere. If you've seen anything different I'd be curious to know.

David