Evolution of the Machine Gun exhibit at Springfield Armory

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4V50 Gary

Staff
Having been told that there's a new MG exhibit at Springfield Armory, I stopped by the Armory today. This special exhibit, which runs until Feb. 2000, shows the evolution of machine guns from the early Civil War Coffee Mill gun, Billinghurst-Requa Rapid Fire Gun and Gatling Guns through the various WWI guns (Maxim, Vickers, Chauchat, Lewis, etc.) WWII (MG42, MG34, Bren, Japanese Type 92, etc.) to contemporary times including the M60, Stoner, GM Minigun, and 20mm T171E2 (a cutaway no less).

Wonderful exhibit well worth your time. For your Indiana Jones fans who loved The Last Crusade, the Villar Perosa (9mm double barrel has been moved from the film room to the front counter). Check it out. Admission and parking are free.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
I'm glad one of the government museums has kept to its mission. Harper's Ferry has been gutted, with only two small areas with seven guns on exhibit, one of which is an Italian-made repro and another a Remington. The rest has been turned into an exhibit on slavery. Odd, in a way, because in spite of John Brown, that part of Virginia was not a slave-holding area.

The Smithsonian firearms exhibit is now only military weapons and is buried behind a huge exhibit on the internment of Japanese and Japanese-Americans in WWII.

According to the current administration, guns played no part in our history and should never be seen even in museums. Of course, our "chillun" must be kept from the sight of evil.

Jim
 
It appears that with the passing of Dr. Clinton Ezell, the Smithsonian has lost its interest in firearms. Anybody here at TFL a doctorate candidate in technology? Short of that, I'd like to nominate Blake Stevens or Herbert Houze to fill Dr. Ezell's spot.

I did make inquiries as to the staff at Springfield Armory. They have one currator who is retired US Army and a historian. The conservator and registrar happen to be the same individual. So much for the support staff. Happily, their one full-time Park Ranger helps in designing exhibits. He is a firearms enthusiast and helps with the historical demonstrations.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

[This message has been edited by 4V50 Gary (edited November 07, 1999).]
 
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