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Yep, the photos have convinced me that the cops did have them. But, please, please don't tell Scotland Yard as they'll want them too!
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10-11-2014 08:16 AM
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I searched Bing for photos of "Boston Police Riot 1931"* and discovered this photo. The officers are using the paddy wagon as a transport (common for raids and keeping squads together) and you can clearly see the shotguns, bayonet lugs, and slings, what is even more interesting is the scabbard that is seen protruding from the officers side that is seated on the right next to the door. In the photo Gary submitted I thought I saw the scabbard on the left side of a few officers but couldn't be positive, this photo is more clear.
*I have no idea if there was a riot, just what I used for the search after the caption on Gary's pic.
Last edited by Sarge1998; 10-11-2014 at 04:57 PM.
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Legacy Member
Originally Posted by
Aragorn243
The 1920's were different times. I wouldn't go so far as to discount anything. BAR's, Thompson's, etc were sold commercially in the US. They were expensive but legal and the gangsters had the money to get them. A bayonet if nothing else is intimidating and I wouldn't put it past the police of the era or the gangsters for that matter to have them available if only for that purpose.
It would also make a heck of a sticker for alcohol barrels, stills, etc.
Now, you guys mentioned "parody". The US Government has distributed 12,000 bayonets to local police departments over the past few years. This is NOW, not the 1920's.
Bayonets for crowd control? Well the National Guard had a few handy at Kent State May 1970.
If they (US govenment) are providing M16s and grenade lanchers to PDs why not bayonets?
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I have a funny feeling that when the muck hit the fan in Northern Ireland in the summer of '69, the Army went out with bayonets fixed - for about an hour! Until told by the politicians to take them off - as opposed to take them out! I could be wrong as I was in Australia
at the time. And when told by my pal George Lendich that the Paddy's were kicking off......., again, I rolled over and told him that it'd be all over in a week or so...............
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Those Bayonet's 'MIGHT' have been useful for piercing Illegal Barrels of Hootch during the Prohibition years?...................
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Dont tell the Police here that your cops have bayonets for heavens sake.......... Ours'll want them too!
Reminds me of when a load of Police came to Warminster regarding something and they spent an hour or so looking around the weapons collection at the Small Arms School. One spotted the underslung grenade launcher and I saw him eyeing it up with that glazed over look, asking a few questions about its capabilities. Then he said words '......we could do with a few of these...' I replied, somewhat astonished '.....what the xxxx for?' He replied '....knocking doors down' I said '......knocking doors down......... it'll knock the xxxxxxx house down'. Maybe his mum shouldn't have let him out that morning.......
Pete, your little Anecdote there, reminds Me also of a 'Similar' Incident involving Essex Police. I was working for a Civvy Company you 'Know' who 
At that time. I was on the Ranges at Lydd (For our US Couzins. It is a Military Firing Range that this company had clearance & an Arrangement with. To use the range. As We manufactured for the Ministry Of Defence, as well as other. Worldwide Forces) I was Function testing, & Proof firing .50" Cal HMG's there. The Range adjoining our's, to our right. Was being used by the 'Tactical' Firearms unit, of Essex Police. At lunchtime, we ALL ceased fire for opening our Lunch boxes, & a cuppa. As is most common, People wander over from range lane to range lane. To see what other Shooter's are using. & also have a Friendly kindered spirt chat. On Police Officer, looked at a Fifty Cal on it's Tripod, & Said: 'We could do with one of these for our Armoury'. 'What on Earth for'? I enquired. Thinking, 'What the F*** would a Police force want with one of these'?......'Well, if a Plane ever get's Highjacked. We could shoot it down easy with one of these'!.........I was astonished! That a Person in such a Priveliged job as to be able to Bear Arm's & actually have the authority to use them. Would think that he would be able to loose, BURSTS of High Velocity LONG range Ammo. Over Populated Civilian Area's. With no thought whatsoever. As to where 'Exhausted' rounds would land, indiscriminately!!!!!!!!! He WAS serious too!!!!!! BLOODY UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! Also Knew of a bag left on the Roof of a car, loaded with Hand guns after a Range Day. By a Certain Police force. Who drove off with the bag on the roof of a car, & the bag was later found by a member of the public. Who handed them in!!! Can you Believe that????? I didn't at the time, But it later transpired that it WAS true! It was obviously kept VERY quiet by the Police. As a VERY embarrassing 'Incident'!!
If that had happened by a Licenced Firearm Certificate holder. He would have had his Cert revoked, His Firearms Confiscated. & HEAVILY Prosecuted in Court!..........I have never really had a high opinion of 'Armed' Police Officers in the UK myself. I feel a lot of them are Trigger Happy 'Cowboy's'. Who Train & Train, & are so wound up at the restrictions of NOT being able to Fire on an 'Offender' in incidents in General. That when they ARE Authorised to do so. They REALLY let rip!!!
The Guy in the house window in London springs to mind a couple of years back. He was riddled with holes! When in a DENSELY POPULATED Area. A well aimed Sniper Shot, would have solved the Problem. With Minimum Fuss!
And there was the guy in a flat in Hastings, who was also 'OverKilled' with a deluge of rounds. For having an Air Pistol under his Bed!......To be fair on that one, things do happen so quickly in an 'Assault' situation. That telling what is what is a split second. IS difficult. But you DONT need more that TWO rounds to 'Eliminate' the Threat up close!......
I wouldn't trust a lot of 'Em, with a Water Pistol. Let alone a Firearm! LOL.
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Originally Posted by
tankhunter
I have never really had a high opinion of 'Armed' Police Officers in the
UK myself
For the most part U.S. law enforcement ain't thought of very highly either, and in most situations ours don't need any authorization to cut loose. Just an excuse. Their gestapo attitudes turn even the most law abiding citizens against them. Here's a perfect example. About 3 months ago a neighbor awoke in the middle of the night to find 3 thieves in the process of stealing his golf cart from a shed out back. He confronts them from a distance, unarmed, and they just ignore his warnings. So, he gets a gun from the house and fires a couple shots in the air. That convinced them he meant business and they run off through the woods. Next he calls the sheriffs dept. and reports what happened, including the part about firing the shots in the air. According to my neighbor, when the deputies to arrive(9 of them), he's made to come out of his house at gunpoint with hands behind his head and lay flat on the ground. He's then searched, cuffed, questioned and arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. According to the BCSD it's illegal to fire harmless warning shots in the air to deter thieves from absconding with your plunder. Now that's good old American justice for you.
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Thank You to vintage hunter For This Useful Post:
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A few thoughts, The Nat. guards were only in the back seat, doubt any police dept, much less State police would allow them to drive one of their vehicles.
2nd thought, It's possible the non US stamped bayonets were left overs, (an over run), after the Government contract was canceled after the war and Winchester found a market for them along with the trench guns. Ray
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Originally Posted by
rayg
A few thoughts, The Nat. guards were only in the back seat, doubt any police dept, much less State police would allow them to drive one of their vehicles.
2nd thought, It's possible the non US stamped bayonets were left overs, (an over run), after the Government contract was canceled after the war and Winchester found a market for them along with the trench guns. Ray
It was standard procedure to have a police officer assigned with several National Guardsmen for patrol. The Guardsmen did not have arrest powers where the police did. Newark never fully recovered from the riots in the 1960's. A lot of the city was damaged and/or destroyed. That was a particularly bad riot. The rioters broke into Plainfield Machine Company and "procured" a lot of M1, M2 Carbines and ammunition. The police never did recover any of the guns.
--fjruple
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