Visited Quebec, Canada yesterday and the first stop was at the Plains of Abraham. It was here that the Gen. Wolfe was killed and Gen. Montcalm fatally wounded: Nouvelle France became a passing dream and Canada was born. Naturally, there is a monument standing where Wolfe died. The Plains of Abraham use to have an armory where the Ross Rifle Factory once stood. It`s gone now but the Museum of Quebec has a modest display about the factory.
Besides the battlefield, I also visited the Citadel which is currently the home of Canada`s 22nd Infantry Regiment. They have a Bren Gun Carrier on display along with a M4A3E8 Sherman (long barrel 76 mm gun). There`s a couple of museums on site and the one housed in the old blockhouse (then prison, finally museum) some early blackpowder rifles (mostly Enfield-Schneider conversions) and also some Ross Rifles. The Ross rifle was the primary rifle of the Canadian Armed forces in WW I and served long enough for the Canadians to discover that while it was accurate, it jammed when exposed to dirt. The most unusual Ross displayed was a sniper version with an American Warner Swasey optical sight - the same sight which many of our snipers used in that same war. Also displayed is a wonderful bayonet collection which includes early socket bayonets to some more modern versions. The Regiment`s Victoria Crosses and medals are also placed on display as well as probably the most complete collection of Canadian Regimental Badges in existence.
The other museum in the Citadel is a historical museum which examines the military from the time of the French Marines (the first regular French troops in New France), through the British Colonial Period and finally to the current Canadian nation. Displayed are many old muskets (Brown Bess, Charlevilles, trade guns, early breechloaders, a Joseph Manton flintlock pistol (which looks like it was made just yesterday), blackpowder Colt Revolvers, 1911s including a Canadian made one, a P-08 Luger with stock and snail drum, a slabside Broomhandle Mauser featuring a large ring hammer, second type safety and shoulder stock holster, swords, souvenirs (loot) collected from the Germans in WW I, etc. Well worth seeing.
Outside of the citadel but still within the walled part of Old Quebec is Artillery Park; where ammunition was made. They have several old machines including one to stamp out primers from flat plates. There`s some excellant displays on how brass is made and how the actual bullets (7.62 mm Nato & 9mm Parabellum) begins from raw brass (and lead). There`s also a few rifles on display besides a scale model of old Quebec.
Besides the battlefield, I also visited the Citadel which is currently the home of Canada`s 22nd Infantry Regiment. They have a Bren Gun Carrier on display along with a M4A3E8 Sherman (long barrel 76 mm gun). There`s a couple of museums on site and the one housed in the old blockhouse (then prison, finally museum) some early blackpowder rifles (mostly Enfield-Schneider conversions) and also some Ross Rifles. The Ross rifle was the primary rifle of the Canadian Armed forces in WW I and served long enough for the Canadians to discover that while it was accurate, it jammed when exposed to dirt. The most unusual Ross displayed was a sniper version with an American Warner Swasey optical sight - the same sight which many of our snipers used in that same war. Also displayed is a wonderful bayonet collection which includes early socket bayonets to some more modern versions. The Regiment`s Victoria Crosses and medals are also placed on display as well as probably the most complete collection of Canadian Regimental Badges in existence.
The other museum in the Citadel is a historical museum which examines the military from the time of the French Marines (the first regular French troops in New France), through the British Colonial Period and finally to the current Canadian nation. Displayed are many old muskets (Brown Bess, Charlevilles, trade guns, early breechloaders, a Joseph Manton flintlock pistol (which looks like it was made just yesterday), blackpowder Colt Revolvers, 1911s including a Canadian made one, a P-08 Luger with stock and snail drum, a slabside Broomhandle Mauser featuring a large ring hammer, second type safety and shoulder stock holster, swords, souvenirs (loot) collected from the Germans in WW I, etc. Well worth seeing.
Outside of the citadel but still within the walled part of Old Quebec is Artillery Park; where ammunition was made. They have several old machines including one to stamp out primers from flat plates. There`s some excellant displays on how brass is made and how the actual bullets (7.62 mm Nato & 9mm Parabellum) begins from raw brass (and lead). There`s also a few rifles on display besides a scale model of old Quebec.