what's the coolest historical firearms related thing you've done
- Thread starter tahoe2
- Start date
PoorRichRichard
New member
Very cool place. Went a few times back when I lived in Montana, but was not into guns then. Can't wait to go again.
I stopped in there a few years back. It is a very cool place. If you have the time you could check out a few other places. Valley Forge was interesting, as was Gettysburg but my favorite is Antietam. I will always remember the old church at the edge of the field and the corn rows and the images are something to behold. I could feel the battle and it is a very special place.
Dave Anderson
New member
Got the "second floor tour" at the Springfield Armory museum in Springfield, MA. Just an incredible collection of military firearms/weapons. A couple things I remember best: some swords presented to Admiral Peary by the government of Japan; and several pikes which were seized at the farm where John Brown and his men were staying prior to their raid on Harper's Ferry.
Maximus856
New member
Shoot the M2, it's older than probably everyone on this board 
Really though, I think shooting a replica of a gatling gun in 45-70. I don't know remember the specifics of it, but turning the handle of a gun like that was an amazing feeling. Another one, not as much gun related was visiting Gettysburg. I don't remember the name of the skirmish there, but it was with the Unions waiting up in this hill of boulders waiting to ambush the Confederates as they marched up a creek. The guide called it something along the lines of "Butchers creek" because the water ran red for days after that. I was young at the time, but you definitely leave there with a different perspective on life and our history as a nation.
-Max.
EDIT: Looking at a map, I beleive it was 'Devils Den.'
Really though, I think shooting a replica of a gatling gun in 45-70. I don't know remember the specifics of it, but turning the handle of a gun like that was an amazing feeling. Another one, not as much gun related was visiting Gettysburg. I don't remember the name of the skirmish there, but it was with the Unions waiting up in this hill of boulders waiting to ambush the Confederates as they marched up a creek. The guide called it something along the lines of "Butchers creek" because the water ran red for days after that. I was young at the time, but you definitely leave there with a different perspective on life and our history as a nation.
-Max.
EDIT: Looking at a map, I beleive it was 'Devils Den.'
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Gettysburg was pretty cool. Also been to a few museums with nice firearms collections, including the Autry Museum inside Giffith Park in LA. Probably the coolest historical firearm thing I've done is semi-regularly get to shoot a 90+ year old S&W 1917 that was once property of the U.S. military (has all proper proof-marks). It's possible it was even issued to an actual soldier in the war. I really need to get off my butt and get a history from S&W!
Uncle Buck
New member
When I was in Virginia for a DSI class, one of the guys in the class was also a history teacher. He took us to different battle fields and other sites. I had more fun learning from him than I did in high school.
I'll be driving through to Ft. Lee later this summer and will be stopping off to see more sights.
The best "Old Gun" I have ever shot was the M-1 Garand. I started using it for drill and Honors Practice and it was snuck out a couple of times for deer hunting. I will be getting one soon, as I have actually filled everything else on my gun list.
I'll be driving through to Ft. Lee later this summer and will be stopping off to see more sights.
The best "Old Gun" I have ever shot was the M-1 Garand. I started using it for drill and Honors Practice and it was snuck out a couple of times for deer hunting. I will be getting one soon, as I have actually filled everything else on my gun list.
Everyone else got to go but me because I was looking for a job at the time. That was how I missed seeing the museum in Cody, Wyoming. I doubt anything else would have come close. But there have been moments.
One was our visit to London last year. I was able to visit the National Army Museum (not the Imperial War Museum) in Chelsea, in London. Not a large museum (they have a small army), it is easier to see everything, even if you don't remember much. I do remember being surprised at seeing a Winchester 1895.
I also saw other museums with firearms while there, though they were all military museums. There was the museum of the horse guards, located in the Horse Guards building. I also saw a few regimental museums in Edinburgh Castle before seeing the tattoo. It seemed odd seeing the band of the German mountain troops performing there. They had two alphorns with them, if you're into that sort of musik. Outside the castle, during a street show of sorts, someone juggled a chainsaw.
Easily the largest collection of firearms I saw in London was in Buckingham Palace, which we were able to tour parts of. If you've been to the governor's palance in Williamsburg, Virginia, and noticed the huge accumulation of weapons in the front hall and staircase, it's just like that, only with ten times the number of weapons, even to include two mounted artillery pieces. So if you like guns, there are plenty of places to see them in the U.K.
Gee, I've been to a lot of museums and the NRA museum isn't far from here. One of their most interesting weapons I saw the last time I was there was a wheellock carbine found in an old house somewhere near Boston. It was hidden inside a wall. Now, who would do something like that?
One was our visit to London last year. I was able to visit the National Army Museum (not the Imperial War Museum) in Chelsea, in London. Not a large museum (they have a small army), it is easier to see everything, even if you don't remember much. I do remember being surprised at seeing a Winchester 1895.
I also saw other museums with firearms while there, though they were all military museums. There was the museum of the horse guards, located in the Horse Guards building. I also saw a few regimental museums in Edinburgh Castle before seeing the tattoo. It seemed odd seeing the band of the German mountain troops performing there. They had two alphorns with them, if you're into that sort of musik. Outside the castle, during a street show of sorts, someone juggled a chainsaw.
Easily the largest collection of firearms I saw in London was in Buckingham Palace, which we were able to tour parts of. If you've been to the governor's palance in Williamsburg, Virginia, and noticed the huge accumulation of weapons in the front hall and staircase, it's just like that, only with ten times the number of weapons, even to include two mounted artillery pieces. So if you like guns, there are plenty of places to see them in the U.K.
Gee, I've been to a lot of museums and the NRA museum isn't far from here. One of their most interesting weapons I saw the last time I was there was a wheellock carbine found in an old house somewhere near Boston. It was hidden inside a wall. Now, who would do something like that?
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Went to CMP North store.
If I had just ordered the Garand from them instead of going buying my K31 would probably be better, but the CMP store experience was pretty good.
I have been to many of the battlefields. I enjoyed Yorktown the most of the US battlefields. Both Revolutionary and Civil war battle and many of the earthworks are still present.
The island of Jinmen was probably my favorite international battlefield. Still active minefields and you can purchase knives made by a guy who clears the mines and uses the metal to make knives.
Most disappointing thing I ever did was go to a Western cavalry fort. Nothing like the John Wayne movies.
If I had just ordered the Garand from them instead of going buying my K31 would probably be better, but the CMP store experience was pretty good.
I have been to many of the battlefields. I enjoyed Yorktown the most of the US battlefields. Both Revolutionary and Civil war battle and many of the earthworks are still present.
The island of Jinmen was probably my favorite international battlefield. Still active minefields and you can purchase knives made by a guy who clears the mines and uses the metal to make knives.
Most disappointing thing I ever did was go to a Western cavalry fort. Nothing like the John Wayne movies.
If you ever go to Hartford, CT, you should go to the Connecticut State Library. They had a Colt collection there that we went multiple times on class trips in the 60s. I understand it's still there.
But you probably can't carry into the building these days...
Again, back then, we actually took a class trip to Winchester which was great (imagine any school doing that today...). They had a great display of older guns.
But you probably can't carry into the building these days...
Again, back then, we actually took a class trip to Winchester which was great (imagine any school doing that today...). They had a great display of older guns.
aarondhgraham
New member
I got to fire a civil war field piece one time,,,
Back when I was in the 4th grade in Twin Brook Maryland,,,
Our class and some others went to Gettysburg,,,
Every kid put their name in a drawing,,,
Some of us got to do cool things.
I was the one who got to touch off the big honkin' cannon,,,
I was eight years old and experienced testosterone for the first time that day.
I have fired an actual 1750's flintlock smoothbore trade gun,,,
But it had no real historical significance,,,
Other than it was 200+ years old.
Aarond
.
Back when I was in the 4th grade in Twin Brook Maryland,,,
Our class and some others went to Gettysburg,,,
Every kid put their name in a drawing,,,
Some of us got to do cool things.
I was the one who got to touch off the big honkin' cannon,,,
I was eight years old and experienced testosterone for the first time that day.
I have fired an actual 1750's flintlock smoothbore trade gun,,,
But it had no real historical significance,,,
Other than it was 200+ years old.
Aarond
.
While on active duty our company got to visit the airborne museum in Sainte Mere Eglise, France. That was pretty cool to actually see alot of our unit history.
Visited the AAF tank museum in Danville, VA. He was just opening up there after moving from up north somewhere (can't remember) so he didn't have everything there yet but it was still pretty cool. Also had a pretty good size weapons room full of some awesome class III weapons.
Visited the AAF tank museum in Danville, VA. He was just opening up there after moving from up north somewhere (can't remember) so he didn't have everything there yet but it was still pretty cool. Also had a pretty good size weapons room full of some awesome class III weapons.
Not very far from Greasy Grass (another name for the Little Bighorn site) is the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum in Cody WY. An amazing firearms collection, you will OD on the variations of lever rifles and revolvers. A must see.
If you go to Little Bighorn, it's worth the time to drive out along the ridge ad see the smaller sites on the way to Reno's lost command. Little groups of markers where one, three six men fell outside the small perimeter to the repeaters of the Indians.
I did a 2000 mile round trip drive from St Paul to see both of these places two summers ago, to revisit them twenty five years after a family trip that included both places.
If you go to Little Bighorn, it's worth the time to drive out along the ridge ad see the smaller sites on the way to Reno's lost command. Little groups of markers where one, three six men fell outside the small perimeter to the repeaters of the Indians.
I did a 2000 mile round trip drive from St Paul to see both of these places two summers ago, to revisit them twenty five years after a family trip that included both places.
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aarondhgraham
New member
If you're just talking about museums,,,
Travel on out to beautiful (sic) Claremore, Oklahoma,,,
Visit the J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum.
It's billed as:
The largest private gun collection in the world...
and a whole lot more!
I went there a few years back and got there an hour after opening,,,
I stayed all danged day and didn't see all of the guns they had out on display.
It's like the Mecca for us gun nuts!
A definite Must See attraction.
It is the be all and end all of gun museums.
Aarond
.
Travel on out to beautiful (sic) Claremore, Oklahoma,,,
Visit the J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum.
It's billed as:
The largest private gun collection in the world...
and a whole lot more!
I went there a few years back and got there an hour after opening,,,
I stayed all danged day and didn't see all of the guns they had out on display.
It's like the Mecca for us gun nuts!
A definite Must See attraction.
It is the be all and end all of gun museums.
Aarond
.
Shotgun693
New member
Every year that I can I go to The Alamo on March 6th.
Maximus856
New member
To add to my list of adventures (a short list..), I went to the Smithsonian in DC yesterday for my girlfriends birthday. She wanted to see the Museum of Natural history so but she compromised with me and we spent a lot of time in the Museum of American history. Saw many 1861 Springfields, a Brown Bess or two, some mp40's, amongst other various rifles and pistols. One of the more historical ones there I found was an M1Garand from the 'Kent State Massacre.' Still had the evidence tag on it. My girlfriend has all the pictures but I'll see if I can get her to upload some for me.
A bit OT, but on our way back to our parking from the 'Wall,' I noticed a few helicopters way out beyond the White House. Seeing a police officer on a motorcycle parked by the Washington Monument, I seemed to of forgotten any and all opsec training I had and asked "is that the president coming in?" It dawned on me this probably isnt the thing to be asking a police officer and he confirmed my thinking when he kind of looked at me funny and asked why. I quickly replied that I just always wanted to see Marine One since I was in the military. He just gave me a bit of a smile and told me Ill find out if they go to land on the South Lawn. Once they came closer and I saw the green and white I kept my hands out of my pocket and just watched as the president went home
-Max.
A bit OT, but on our way back to our parking from the 'Wall,' I noticed a few helicopters way out beyond the White House. Seeing a police officer on a motorcycle parked by the Washington Monument, I seemed to of forgotten any and all opsec training I had and asked "is that the president coming in?" It dawned on me this probably isnt the thing to be asking a police officer and he confirmed my thinking when he kind of looked at me funny and asked why. I quickly replied that I just always wanted to see Marine One since I was in the military. He just gave me a bit of a smile and told me Ill find out if they go to land on the South Lawn. Once they came closer and I saw the green and white I kept my hands out of my pocket and just watched as the president went home
-Max.
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