Apologies up front for stirring the pot

Okay, I've put my eyes and ears on and am sporting my new and approved thick skin. Some time ago I got really frustrated when I realized how much I enjoy collecting and shooting WWII firearms and that my enjoyment was suffering because my "prizes" where locked away in a dark, humidity controlled, fire resistant safe. That frustration increased when I checked into additional insurance in the event something happened. The insurance company wasn't impressed at all that my collection was kept in a fire resistant safe and charged me as if I stored them propped up on my front porch.

My father passed away last year and I inherited a display my brother and I put together for him back in the 90's that had his medals, medic arm band, Patton's prayer and some other items. I also wound up with the K98 he brought back (upper right corner) as well as a nazi flag and arm band. Off and on over the past few years I have tried to figured out a fool proof way to display my collection, but I found no ideas that weren't through the roof expensive.

This past year I decided to just jump in with both feet. I got tired of being "afraid" something might happen and decided they were mine to enjoy and by God I was going to enjoy them. I'm glad I did. I actually shoot more, research more, and (unfortunately according to my wife) buy more.

I realize I'm exposing my collection to theft or fire, etc. But, why have them if you can't fully enjoy and appreciate them? As a precaution, I have disabled all of them. If they are stolen, the only way they will hurt someone is if they are used as a club.

I hope you all enjoy the pic as much as I've enjoyed collecting and shooting them.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e8dbfe3f-1.jpg

Actually mine were very similar in storage and display back in the 80's. Only reason then I changed was the kids getting to walking. Now we have laws here governing, but sitting there shooting the crap with you about these would be very relaxing. After all, you are in the land of the free...

I could have written this post. I have been looking for a way to display and enjoy my small collection without having an aniexety attack when I leave the house.
Your disply is wonderful. How aer the rifles hung?

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

How aer the rifles hung?

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Lag bolts to the studs...

Very nice, one thing you should IMHO is contact Badger and have him remove the little blue icon that someone can click on to find your location. Kansas is pretty big, no sense giving a bad guy any advantage.

You have done a great job in displaying what you have.:thup:

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

I could have written this post. I have been looking for a way to display and enjoy my small collection without having an aniexety attack when I leave the house.
Your disply is wonderful. How aer the rifles hung?

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Pretty low tech. There are anchors in the wall where there isn't a stud and I used a screw with black hose as a cushion for the guns to rest on. I thought a lot about lag bolts, cables, cutom building a case, etc. But even with lag bolts, cables, locks, etc.....they are still attached to wood and/or dry wall. They could be ripped or pried off the wall with damage to the gun and wall, etc.

We have someone home most of the time and I have two big dogs here as well. When we are going to be gone for an extended time they all get packed up and put back in the safe.

I was kiddin' about the lags. I did see it though, a guy wanted to make sure they were safe and on display so he drilled through the stock and forend and lagged them to the studs. Great big 1/4" holes for the lags...looked great...you could do chin-ups on them...

I'm assuming the disabling is easily reversible like removing the firing pin or something similar?

I like having mine on display but really have gravitated to keeping them either in a safe or hidden. So most are but a few are out.

Wish I had the room. My biggest thing was/is keeping my kids mouths shut about what's in this house. I think we've all had that talk...

Very nice collection and display. Any chance of some close up pictures and descriptions of the weapons and the pictures with them?

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Originally Posted by Vincent

Any chance of some close up pictures and descriptions of the weapons and the pictures with them?

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I'll try this.....

Starting from the right side of the wall I have Axis weapons. From the top down:

K98 (bring back by my dad). It's BYF (4 digit) 1944 all matching.
Luger P08 (S/42 1937).
FN/Browning 1922 (German production)
Type 99 (all matching with mum & dust cover).
Nambu T14 (18.11)
Type 38 (mostly matching + non matching dust cover).
Carcano 91/41
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0d6e172f-1.jpg

Next row to the left top to bottom:

Enfield No.5
Enfield No.4
Webley Mk4
Enfield No1
SACM 1935A
St. Etienne Mod 1892
MAS 36
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cbd09f0e-1.jpg

Next row left top to bottom:

M1 Carbine (National Postal Meter)
M1 Garand (Springfield)
1903A3 (Springfield)
M1917 (Winchester)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2f5aa8d2-1.jpg

Last row - far left top to bottom:

Steyr M95
Mosin Nagant M44
Nagant 1895
Mosin Nagant 91/30
Schmidt Rubin K31
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...20cf5aa2-1.jpg

Here's a closer view of the display we gave my dad.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...48a99beb-1.jpg

I disabled the bolt guns by removing the main spring. This makes it a little awkward putting the bolt back in for display and you have to be careful when handling some of them because they'll fall apart. Removing the firing pin won't work because the bolt cannot be reassembled. I removed the main spring from the revolvers and removed the firing pins from the M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, Luger P08, Nambu T14 and FN/Browning 1922.

My oldest son and I went to the range this afternoon and shot the Luger, 1922 and St. Etienne (finally found a box of 8mm lebel for it...). Had a great time. We're looking forward to finding some .32 French long for the SACM and bringer her back to life. That pistol is actually a "B" serial number with waffenamts but it seemed more at home with the French arms then over with the Axis!

You'll notice a few pics scattered in. I'm looking for good high resolution pics of each weapon in use. I've found it to be harder than I originally thought. I"m also looking for ways to label each one. You'll notice a weak attempt of mine to label the M1 Garand. I used a couple empty casings to boarder something I wrote on - like using the casings (or maybe even add a bullet) but haven't fully decide on the rest.

Glad you gave us a closer look...my wife was asking about that.

The scabbards for the M1917 bayonet and M1905 bayonets seem to be reversed, as in wrong spot. The canvas wrapped scabbard was with the bayonet for the M1903...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

The scabbards for the M1917 bayonet and M1905 bayonets seem to be reversed, as in wrong spot. The canvas wrapped scabbard was with the bayonet for the M1903...

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Very keen eye! You are correct. They got mixed up when we were putting them up and I haven't changed them. The scabbard for the 1917 is missing the double hooks. I'm looking for a complete scabbard, when I do I plan on swapping them. That's what I love about this forum - it's filled with very knowledgeable members and I learn something new every time I poke around.

That scabbard was Commonwealth then, British, Canadian or some such. Unless you can see the hooks have just been removed more recently. We used a frog on the belt so the hooks were redundant. Good luck finding a green finished leather one too. You can try the WTB here and it might happen... On the other hand, the M1917 might be a Canadian issue from WW2 as my father in law was issued one here in Canada...

It's a remington baynoet with the flaming bomb and eagle head. I'm told it was Canadian issue. It has "R-M-R 717" on the pommel. The scabbard appears (to me) to be first generation with the hooks broken off. The scabbard is pretty worn, the only marking I found on it was a faint (possibly) "F.I.O." stamped in the leather on the back side.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._zps9663-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._zpsdb47-1.jpg

Kind of mangled, too bad.

That's so cool. I wish I had a room like that. I have a "DP" No1 on the wall, but otherwise they are all in the safe. Maybe one day if my girlfriend and I buy a larger house, but for now, one in the living room is all she can stand.

You could say that your scabbard is a second pattern as the first pattern had a leather piece riveted to the back that had the hooks on them. I would look for a WWII frog for it.

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Originally Posted by jamie5070

I would look for a WWII frog for it.

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That would be the easy fix for sure.

Well, if I understand the frog correctly, it would have been Canadian or British. That would be out of place for my "American" section. I think I'll continue to look for a complete and correct scabbard. When I do, if someone here is interested in the one I have I'll give it to them for the price of shipping.

You are correct sir... Here's one, I wonder if this was what your was? It didn't have the original button for the frog. That would be one hole. The dual holes are on the inside and that would make this the original scabbard you have here... http://www.stewartsmilitaryantiques....itary-antiques

Yes Warpig I agree having been broken into and lost fire arms years ago, now Mrs Cinders and Co live in fort knox and I never stray to far away for too long (utilze a family house sitter) the fact of life is criminals do what they want to whoever they want. We the innocent that cop it sweet have listen to how woeful their life has been and well they should have a second chance as a correctional facility is not in their best interests. I cannot describe the feeling to you to come into your ransacked house unless you have been there, but sure as eggs if ever I catch a person who is un invited in our place *deleted by Cinders*