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Thread: How would firearms in cosmoline/crates etc fare up in deep ocean shipwrecks?

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    How would firearms in cosmoline/crates etc fare up in deep ocean shipwrecks?

    With all of the discoveries of Planes and Trucks on world war 2 cargo ships that went down in the deep ocean now being recovered/restored, it made me think.

    Are any firearms being recovered/restored from these same wrecks?

    Or are firearms just not built/packaged to endure the way some of these planes, trucks and motorcycles are on these deep wrecks?
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    I think they all will end up as rust covered and salt crusted items for museums. After that long time the salt water will destroy anything, first the wood and than the rest of the rifles. I have seen a chest full of rusted Enfields at the Red sea at the wreck of the "SS Thistlegorm" which was sunk in ww2. There are some videos at YouTube from it.

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    It's an interesting question avroe as I have documents relating to 6 Sten guns recovered from a burned out lorry pushed into the sea from a ship shortly after DDay. They were cleaned and test fired the next day. Mind you, that was several years afterwards and not many years afterwards. On the other hand we recovered a small boats worth of Brens, rifles, pistols and as I remember, a 1" signal pistol. These were only in the sea for a week or so and while we pressure washed them, then lay them in clean fresh water for a few more days. Then sent them through the usual refurbishment system, after which they looked and functioned flawlessly. But, alas, after a couple of months the salt water was beginning to leech it's way and soon aftterwards, they were culled and scrapped.

    I did get a No5 bayonet and a Sterling sub machine gun from the Sir Gallahad when it was being cleared of ammunition and 'sensitive material' prior to being towed out of the bay prior to being scuttled in the Atlantic. That was a few years afterwards and the rust had eaten its way through the wood and actually gone through the blade groove. Poigniant yes. I gave it to a well known and reputable collector who still has it.

    What aircraft and vehicles that have been recovered prompted you to ask the question Avro?

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    The only items I have heard of , and seen, that were recovered in recent times after being submerged since WWII were aircraft and parts there-of. BUT, they were from the Great Lakes in the U.S. The reason they "survived" so long, with a chance for restoration, was the fact that the water was so cold that marine growth didn't occur and the water wasn't saline. Whether or not the same thing could happen in the saltwater oceans I don't know.

    FWIW,

    Emri

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    The same happened with wartime vehicles recovered from the Rhine. Quite how repairable they were after they were recovered is another matter. But interesting none the less. Anyone any ideas if the Germanicon tanks found in Russiaicon post peristroika have fared?

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    Some of the tanks where restored and others where sold to privat persons and museum´s.

    Like this StuG III



    or the StuG IV



    don´t know what happened with this one

    Last edited by gunner; 06-03-2011 at 12:23 PM.

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    I'm not sure that my Centurion recovery vehicle would/could do a straight drag-pull as shown in the first clip. I note that it took two D8's to do it until the drive shafts broke and the tracks were free to run.

    Great videos Ulrich and interesting too. Is there much of this stuff still buried in the east?

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    Hi Peter,

    thank you! Yes there is much stuff like tanks or some wrecked aircrafts like a FW190D found in the woods outside of Leningrard/Petersburg. It is interesting where they find this stuff. At the Kursk area are lots of bunkers found with any sorts of Germanicon military items including paratroopers equipment and tanks. Astonishingly the best pieces came out of swamps where they seem to survive nearly in good condition for the reason that they are stored under a sort of vacuum for the mud.

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    The condition of that first one is incredible.

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    Interesting question, I have often wondered how the weapons that I threw into the South China Sea would look today. Probably eaten up by the salt water by now. Lots of them were slathered in grease.

    FTIII

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