WWII collector, been lurking here

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Hello fellow Minnesotans! (Hi DORIAN!)

Some of you may know me, but most don't. I'm a moderator on http://www.mg42.us (where I'm usually found). My interest in guns comes from the historical angle, not from the more common pistol carry gunowner. I collect all sorts of weapons, shoot WWII rifles and machineguns (particularly German ones), and host a annual private shoot near Redwing where we get to try out each others rifles, pistols and machineguns and generally have a great time. There is no machinegunners forum here, probably because there aren't that that many machinegunners around, but I just wanted to say hi to those here who were at the shoot this year. Here are some vids of last year's shoot for the other forum members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCSqAT20uHI&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIKCWRsazqk&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wvos4dNSDg&feature=channel_page

I restore WWII rifles and machineguns among many other hobbies involving weaponsmithing and collecting from all time periods from Medieval to modern. If anyone has an interest in WWII firearms or wants to plan a shoot some weekend, look me up. Here is my personal website: http://www.stormthewalls.kicks-ass.net/







Kurt

[lenny7]

Is that a ballista in the second photo? As I recall, you replied when I posted about my son & I building a trebuchet. Sure wish I had time to build more medieval weapons.

[DeanC]

Is that a ballista in the second photo?

For the ultimate game of lawn darts.

[Q_Continuum]

Is that a ballista in the second photo?

For the ultimate game of lawn darts.

Or water-balloon toss. (Yup, we made 'em at a Boy Scout Junior Leadership Training camp, out of nothing but sticks and rope....and yes, we hit our counsel....errr....targets, repeatedly)

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

That is a Greek ballista c.250 BC, one of only three known working ones. It took me about two years to build from ash hardwood and iron. It hurls a 3 pound stone stone accurately over 265 yards. I just sold it to a friend in Texas. It'll be on display in an educational catapult park. I have many weapons from all time periods, all working and all fun.

[Belgiboy]

An educational catapult park??? That is just AWESOME

[gman1868]

Welcome kanigget

[Bessy]

Is that a ballista.....? OMG....WOW. Very cool. Welcome

[Thunderjohn]

Welcome from Savage.

[David]

Greetings! You sound like my kinda guy. I only have a dozen or so WWII firearms (and a pretty nice selection of bayonets and combat knives), but it's something I want to get more into.

Oh, I'm going to Europe in September, and one of my stops is Belfast, Northern Ireland. I know a guy who is a re-enactor there, and I'd like to bring him something for his collection that he's not likely to be able to get easily over there, maybe valued at $100 or less. He's got mainly U.K. stuff, including some nice vehicles, but I'd like to get his something American. Ideas? Thanks!

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

A dozen WWII weapons is still more than I have, though some of mine are expensive in the extreme for us working folk. Here's an idea for a gift for your Irish buddy. Get an M1 Garand bayonet, or an American WWII canteen, the one with the "U.S." printed on the insulating cover. A GI Helmet is also a great idea. All of these items may be located through contacts with Allied reenactors, but are in demand. You may get lucky and find what you are looking for quickly. Best place to look: WWII Reenacting websites in the FOR SALE forum. Too bad you can't give him a real M1 Garand. You don't get much more "American" than that!

[David]

No kidding! I was thinking a bayonet as well, but I wasn't sure how difficult it would be to get into Northern Ireland with that. They have some interesting rules regarding knives, and an absurd two-gun maximum law. I suppose they think someone might try to shoot three at one time? So I'm looking into the bayonet/knife thing, and I actually have an extra M3 combat knife. If I can bring it over I might just give him that. Failing that, I love the canteen idea. That would be small enough to fit in my suitcase for sure.

Regarding my WWII firearms, I was lucky enough to get into it (albeit half-heartedly) maybe ten years ago, so the examples I have were relatively inexpensive then. My completely correct and original M1A1 paratrooper carbine, which I bought for $950, comes to mind, as does my Luger, correct and original M1903A3, K98k, and others, all of which were garden variety surplus collectable guns back then. The prices on some of that stuff has gotten pretty crazy now. I did bite the bullet and shell out for a nearly original 1941 Johnson last year, which is normally the most expensive American WWII non-NFA gun you can buy, but I got a ridiculous deal on it, so it doesn't count as "extreme" in the cost department. I'd love to see your collection! I don't have anything full-auto, and nothing German that you can't find easily enough.

Anyway, I know a few hardcore reenactors, so I'll look into that. Thanks!

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Sounds like you got some of the nicest WWII arms while the getting was good, several years ago. I am a relative latecomer to gun collecting compared to most of you folks, having spent many more years making medieval armour and weapons and have been a pretty serious reenactor for several historical periods. You're welcome to come over for a visit sometime, check out my collection and take shop. Maybe you can make it to next years's Redwing machinegun, rifle and pistol shoot. It's usually held in June or July. This year's was particularly bit in attendance and variety of firearms that people brought. The video from that event is stioll being worked on.