Arms collecting and nostalgia

Jim McDougall · 19th January 2025, 08:04 PM

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 · 19th January 2025, 08:13 PM

Quote:

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 · 20th January 2025, 03:06 PM

Quote:

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.

19th January 2025, 08:04 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	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