WW2 relic weapons recovery - The next chapter

R

RRPG

New member
Hi All

I thought I'd share with you the continuing work of the WW2 Relic Retrieval and Preservation Group (RRPG). You may recall or have seen my previous post in this forum regarding a previous dig. Well, we've been back again and had a very successful day recovering a large number of relics.

Here is the initial thread relating to the searching of this site;

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459809

As a taster of the type of items we found, I have attached a couple of shots taken before I cleaned anything.

As I stated in my previous post, working closely with the land owner we have been able to recover and preserve many relics. We had EOD on stand-by should we need advice on anything, or their attendance. Thankfully, the combined knowledge of the group meant they weren't disturbed as we found nothing that could be deemed dangerous, explosive or in contravention of the gun laws. As a professional group, all such items, if found, would have been disposed of correctly, and with EOD involvement should it be necessary.

To show all the relics here would take a great many posts, so it is easier if you just watch the official video of the dig, to be found here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8_IW7ENlu0

We hope you enjoy the video.

Regards

RRPG
 

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That has to be an interesting, rewarding project. I'd love to get involved in something like that.

But most of all, thanks to you and your group for searching for and preserving history.
 
There were some pictures posted on another forum, maybe five-six years ago, of a . . . facility where captured or obsolete guns were stacked in what looked like an open field. No indication of where the pics were taken, but the mix of weapons led me to believe the site was in Europe, though it could have been Great Britain. There were Thompsons, MG42s, and I don't know what else (can't remember, but could have been Bren Guns, maybe some Czech or other light machine guns), just literally stacked like firewood. Everything was rusty, and could have been sitting there for decades. Sad, really.
 
Thanks guys :)

As for the pile of old WW2 weapons, I saw pictures from Iraq and/or Afghanistan showing piles of old WW2 weps so maybe it was those ? I doubt they would have been in England as our gun laws are so strict even a pile of rusty never-could-ever-be-fired-again guns would result in a hefty prison sentence.

RRPG
 
We found some WW2 era firearms in weapons caches in Afghanistan. Nothing that was just 'Holy crap!' but still neat. A lot of Kar98s, TONS of Enfields, Mosin Nagants, you know the pretty small time junk. One however did have an MG34 and a PPSH41 in it, which were pretty cool. All me and my guys could think was 'How the hell would they keep these fed?'

I've heard of guys running across MP44's and Mg42s before, I just haven't seen them myself. Wouldn't doubt it if they had them though.
 
RickB,

If I remember right the images were supposedly from the PI.

Don't remember the date, who took the images, or who posted them.

The images that I saw were black/white, GI shoulder arms, and just enough detail to make want to yell for more information.

I shoulda saved it.

salty
 
Interesting info about the finds in Afghanistan. I suppose they have been passed down from one family to the next over the past 65 years or so.

RRPG
 
I am pleased to say that all the items recovered on the day have now been identified, apart from the two items in the attached picture.

One is almost certainly a rear sight of a weapon but I am yet to pin down which one. The other 'thumb release' has possibly been identified as coming from the top of a tripod for a WW1 Hotchkiss MG.

If you can help ID either item, please post !

Many thanks

RRPG
 

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I'm not sure what you have there, but you have some neat work and I'd like to thank you for sharing it with us.
 
Thanks Kozak :)

Everything you see is weapon related, from Lee-Enfield bolts to pieces of Sten gun and even bits of Vickers MG. We also find loads of spare parts and oil and ammo cans at the same site :)
 
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