Arms collecting and nostalgia

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Jim,
Came across this photograph of American troops during the U.S. Expedition to Korea. Looks like they have rolling block carbines.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

This is great Norman! I know we are in good company with other guys whose boyhood imaginations fueled by the wonder of TV and old movies and TV series probably sparked interests in the exploits and weapons of these cinema heroes.
As you say, some of the period weapons, especially from those medieval times etc. have always been pretty much out of reach.

However, as I graduated from WWII bayonets often sold for a quarter out of barrels in surplus stores in the 50s, to an old Moro keris I was given off a garage wall for helping sand down model A frame......I later found many swords were to be had for just a few dollars.

With an obsession with Zorro (Disney 50s series) I found an old Spanish sword (with the Spanish motto- I had no idea what it meant) on the blade. It was in a boutique shop window festooned with costume necklaces. I was horrified at this disgraceful use of such a sword.........I went in, and bought it for about 20 bucks. The lifetime obession with Spanish colonial swords began. I am presently working on a project on these, with about 40 years of research at hand.

Good catch on the guns in this Korea? picture! When was this? I dont know much on us in Korea before the 50s.

Yup, the old classics (like us fun to watch time to time, and especially as we hold the period items. I recall some years ago before cable etc. and we waited for certain movies to come on in the programming. I excitedly told my wife "Gunga Din" was on tonight and we MUST watch it.
She said, OK , but no wearing that pith helmet again! You scare the cats!

Thanks for coming in and sharing !!!

Best
Jim

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Good catch on the guns in this Korea? picture! When was this? I dont know much on us in Korea before the 50s.
Best
Jim

Hi Jim,
1871, here's a short history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...ition_to_Korea

My Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Jim,
1871, here's a short history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...ition_to_Korea

My Regards,
Norman.

This is fascinating !!! I had not known of these events, and its amazing how much foreign intrigue went on in these times that was apparently overshadowed by larger scope conflicts in China (Peking 1900, Boxer Rebellion) and the Russo-Japanese war 1904-05.

Speaking of Korea, as a young lad, though only 5-6 years old, I was always fascinated by words so was reading in degree the news on the Korean War (1950-53). As my dad was pilot, we were around guys who flew F-86s etc.and we saw "Bridges at Toko-Ri" with William Holden. While obviously a bit out of the realm of arms collecting, the influence factor is much the same. Our 'collecting' in this aspect became model airplanes of course.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Jim,
Some more 1950's childrens t.v. series on British screens that gave me the arms and armour bug. Interestingly in the series William Tell I noticed that some of the 'Swiss' daggers used are actually Axis dress daggers some of which were of course designed on real historical types. In the fifties of course loads of bringbacks from WW2 so no surprise some ended up in wardrobe departments. Some of the actors went on to do bigger things notably Roger Moore and Robert Shaw.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Jim,
Some more 1950's childrens t.v. series on British screens that gave me the arms and armour bug. Interestingly in the series William Tell I noticed that some of the 'Swiss' daggers used are actually Axis dress daggers some of which were of course designed on real historical types. In the fifties of course loads of bringbacks from WW2 so no surprise some ended up in wardrobe departments. Some of the actors went on to do bigger things notably Roger Moore and Robert Shaw.
My Regards,
Norman.

Excellent examples Norman!!! It is true many weapons brought back from WWII ended up in wardrobe departments of movie studios. In the 'MISC' forum is the thread on the numbers of actual antique arms used in films.
Those Swiss 'Holbein' daggers (for Hans Holbein who fashioned macabre decoration on the scabbard in 1521) were well known as prestigious dress daggers there until early 17th c. How they ended up as 'German axis' regalia is hard to explain, but it certainly tarnished their character IMO.

The William Tell legend was really popular back in the 50s but the topic seems to have waned later. I doubt if any young people these days would have any idea who William Tell was. However the other films with buccaneers remain known, but collectively as 'pirate' films.

[Ed]

Lathe swords and garbage can cover shields

I have nothing else to add.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ed

Lathe swords and garbage can cover shields

I have nothing else to add.

Ed, you can say more in several words than I can in pages!
Of course, those items were ubiquitous in virtually most boys backyard epic battles!

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Ed, you can say more in several words than I can in pages!
Of course, those items were ubiquitous in virtually most boys backyard epic battles!

Particularly after bingeing on Ivanhoe and Robin Hood with the sainted Richard Greene.

I made a bicycle inner tube castle defense cross bow thing that fired a 3 foot plat stake. To this day I shudder at the thought of shooting it at another kid. I did BTW but somehow realized that it wasn't a great idea.

Let me rephrase that: it was a great idea, just not if aimed at other kids.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ed

Particularly after bingeing on Ivanhoe and Robin Hood with the sainted Richard Greene.

I made a bicycle inner tube castle defense cross bow thing that fired a 3 foot plat stake. To this day I shudder at the thought of shooting it at another kid. I did BTW but somehow realized that it wasn't a great idea.

Let me rephrase that: it was a great idea, just not if aimed at other kids.

Yikes Ed! You must have been a formidable foe in these 'war games'. Most of the stuff was 'wild west' with the popularity of the western films, but the popping cap guns were pretty harmless. BUT, BB guns (the trusty Daisy and Red Ryder) rifles uh, ouch!