Beckerhead firearms

LostViking said:
My dad and his BAR,


Hangin' out during a quiet time at Harry,



Where I acquired many of my tarp skills,
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Awesome pictures!!! I see he’s also carrying a 1911a1 on his hip. OP Harry was in the Iron Triangle. What a treasure you have with those photos.
 
New G21 in the barn,
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added a big dot yesterday. I don't know how they keep guessing my favorite color. 🤔
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1905 SMLE, Irish contract, made at Enfield.

Ian of Forgotten Weapons just did a great video on these Irish Contract guns the other day, and Othais of C&Rsenal has an awesome primer video on the development of the SMLE in general. I ran across this one about a decade ago, and just couldn’t pass, it had so many neat features, was in great shape, and came with a magazine and 1907 pattern bayonet. Astra 300 in .32acp and one in .380auto. Astra 200 and Zehna type III, both in .25acp.

I got into Astra about fifteen years ago because they were one of the few that hadn’t exploded in value, yet still felt special. I started with a 600, but being a direct-blowback .9mm, was almost a little too snappy to be fun to shoot. The Zehna was another one of those oddballs that I just happened across and had to have.

Spencer model of 1882.

Some consider these to be the first successful pump shotgun, although they really almost pre-dated reliable shells. They have an interesting pivoting breach block, driven by a forged leaf spring, that holds the “next up” shell inside it. Empties are drawn from the chamber across the top of the pivoting breech block and thrown straight out the top of the action when that breech block snaps back into battery. 32” Damascus barrel.
 
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NWFRS said:
1905 SMLE, Irish contract, made at Enfield.

Ian of Forgotten Weapons just did a great video on these Irish Contract guns the other day, and Othais of C&Rsenal has an awesome primer video on the development of the SMLE in general. I ran across this one about a decade ago, and just couldn’t pass, it had so many neat features, was in great shape, and came with a magazine and 1907 pattern bayonet.

zZvhT9m.jpg


Astra 300 in .32acp and one in .380auto. Astra 200 and Zehna type III, both in .25acp.

I got into Astra about fifteen years ago because they were one of the few that hadn’t exploded in value, yet still felt special. I started with a 600, but being a direct-blowback .9mm, was almost a little too snappy to be fun to shoot. The Zehna was another one of those oddballs that I just happened across and had to have.

kekbxjO.jpg


Spencer model of 1882.

Some consider these to be the first successful pump shotgun, although they really almost pre-dated reliable shells. They have an interesting pivoting breach block, driven by a forged leaf spring, that holds the “next up” shell inside it. Empties are drawn from the chamber across the top of the pivoting breech block and thrown straight out the top of the action when that breech block snaps back into battery. 32” Damascus barrel.

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Nice collection. I’ve always been a fan of the Astra pistols. Well built hidden gems.
I had a Ishapore 2a1 chambered in 7.62x51 but I ended up giving it to my son(of course) I still have a fine example of a WW2 Mk4 buried in my safe. I guess I should dig it out and fondle it a bit. That goes for quite a few that are buried. You’re pictures make me want to rummage thru the back racks. K98Ks, Trapdoor Springfield, Numerous Mausers and Doubles. Hell I even have a Vetterlli Thun buried lol
 
Interesting story. My BIL wife’s father was one of George Patton’s personal drivers. He was a little Italian guy named (I shit you not) Adolf lol But they called him Rudy. Anyways Rudy never talked about guns or showed any interest in them what so ever. Rudy died about 5 years ago. When my BIL was clearing out his belongings he found six pistols wrapped up with his military uniform. P08 Luger, P-38, and the rest were Mauser pistols chambered in 6.35 (25acp). All of them had Nazi proof marks. Anyways being in NY this posed a huge problem. The paper work and hoops we had to jump thru was insane. Luckily I have my FFL and a NY pistol license. I took possession of the pistols until my BIL could apply for and receive his. About a year. Yeah a year!!!!
I’ll try to slip over to my BIL house one day and get some pictures of the trophies with some Becker’s.
 
My Dad obtained a 'sporterised' Lee Enfield for me when I became old enough to use one. I guess it would have looked a lot like yours in the photo, but without all the wood around the barrel. It had 1897 stamped on it, and I remember thinking that one day I might be still using it when it was 100 years old. I did a lot of hunting with it. The foresight had a bit of a slope to one side, but I adapted to it. And after a while I got a few misfires and had to re-cock it to make it go bang. The only ammo we had for many years was ex-military stuff..... a lot of it stamped 1954. Those full-metal jacketed bullets were used by hunters throughout our country with great success.

My Dad, bless him, gave that rifle to someone else before its hundredth birthday. I guess in the overall scheme of things it didn't really matter. There were other rifles I could use, but even now I can have a sentimental moment when I see a photo of it.

That's the old rifle on the left in the picture below. My brother is holding it. I'm the one in the middle.
WyHiQmH.jpg


Military surplus .303 British rifles were widely used by hunters in New Zealand for many years. Here is a picture of my father taken in the 1940s.
4MZJRBl.jpg
 
Tanker 1/66 said:
Interesting story. My BIL wife’s father was one of George Patton’s personal drivers. He was a little Italian guy named (I shit you not) Adolf lol But they called him Rudy. Anyways Rudy never talked about guns or showed any interest in them what so ever. Rudy died about 5 years ago. When my BIL was clearing out his belongings he found six pistols wrapped up with his military uniform. P08 Luger, P-38, and the rest were Mauser pistols chambered in 6.35 (25acp). All of them had Nazi proof marks. Anyways being in NY this posed a huge problem. The paper work and hoops we had to jump thru was insane. Luckily I have my FFL and a NY pistol license. I took possession of the pistols until my BIL could apply for and receive his. About a year. Yeah a year!!!!
I’ll try to slip over to my BIL house one day and get some pictures of the trophies with some Becker’s.
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2 of my grandfather's brothers were in Patton's engineers. They landed shortly after Normandy.
 
Tanker 1/66 Tanker 1/66 … Thanks!

Yeah those Astra are a lot of fun to shoot, and very clever in their design. These are far from perfect, and neither are Waffen marked, although I’ve read that many were part of a large Luftwaffe contract. I’ve always liked the Savage 1907/1917 from the same period as well, but never happened across what I would consider a screaming deal.

Nice! You absolutely should dig some of those items out and post pics. Did you ever shoot that Ishapore 2a1? I think it’s pretty neat when we see those types of rifles chambered in modern cartridges.

I used to be more of a “collector” than I am now. One of my first was a Swedish model of 1896. This 1905 is the only WWI-era rifle I kept, and I’ve yet to fire it. I wanted to take it to bits and go through it first, which I only just did about six months ago. My safe is on the small side, so I have to be selective.

I still kick myself for passing on a pair of Johnson rifles about fifteen years ago. I never imagined they’d do what they’ve done in recent years.

I’ve seen the Vetterlli rifles on store shelves but never handled one. Beautiful!
 
1066vik said:
2 of my grandfather's brothers were in Patton's engineers. They landed shortly after Normandy.
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When I finished OSUT 19Kilo training my first unit was the 2nd Armored Div. I was elated. On our BDUs we wore the 2AD patch above our left breast pocket. We are the only Division aloud to wear our Division patch in such a manner. Patton ordered it that way because he wanted the 2nd Armored, Hell on Wheels closest to the Heart.
 
coote said:
My Dad obtained a 'sporterised' Lee Enfield for me when I became old enough to use one. I guess it would have looked a lot like yours in the photo, but without all the wood around the barrel. It had 1897 stamped on it, and I remember thinking that one day I might be still using it when it was 100 years old. I did a lot of hunting with it. The foresight had a bit of a slope to one side, but I adapted to it. And after a while I got a few misfires and had to re-cock it to make it go bang. The only ammo we had for many years was ex-military stuff..... a lot of it stamped 1954. Those full-metal jacketed bullets were used by hunters throughout our country with great success.

My Dad, bless him, gave that rifle to someone else before its hundredth birthday. I guess in the overall scheme of things it didn't really matter. There were other rifles I could use, but even now I can have a sentimental moment when I see a photo of it.

That's the old rifle on the left in the picture below. My brother is holding it. I'm the one in the middle.
WyHiQmH.jpg


Military surplus .303 British rifles were widely used by hunters in New Zealand for many years. Here is a picture of my father taken in the 1940s.
4MZJRBl.jpg
Click to expand...
Awesome Pictures coote
 
Tanker 1/66 Tanker 1/66 … Thanks!
NWFRS said:
Yeah those Astra are a lot of fun to shoot, and very clever in their design. These are far from perfect, and neither are Waffen marked, although I’ve read that many were part of a large Luftwaffe contract. I’ve always liked the Savage 1907/1917 from the same period as well, but never happened across what I would consider a screaming deal.

Nice! You absolutely should dig some of those items out and post pics. Did you ever shoot that Ishapore 2a1? I think it’s pretty neat when we see those types of rifles chambered in modern cartridges.

I used to be more of a “collector” than I am now. One of my first was a Swedish model of 1896. This 1905 is the only WWI-era rifle I kept, and I’ve yet to fire it. I wanted to take it to bits and go through it first, which I only just did about six months ago. My safe is on the small side, so I have to be selective.

I still kick myself for passing on a pair of Johnson rifles about fifteen years ago. I never imagined they’d do what they’ve done in recent years.

I’ve seen the Vetterlli rifles on store shelves but never handled one. Beautiful!
Click to expand...
IIRC the Luftwaffe did carry the Astra sidearms. Before WW2 they fought in the Spanish civil war as the Condor Legion. That might explain some of it. As for the model 96 Swede I’ve sent many 6.5x55 rounds down range. Oh my what an inherently accurate round.
The 2a was fun to shoot and as accurate as one might expect from a military grade firearm. Interesting history about how the 2a came to be. Let’s just say it was a big screw you to the British. I also had at the time a FR8 Spanish Mauser in 7.62x51(my son claimed) it was designed as a training rifle for the CETME rifle which later became the G3. Another collaboration Between the Spanish and Germans.
Those Johnson rifles also have quite the history and I’ve always been a fan of the design. Some did get issued to the Marines in the Pacific. At the time all Garands were earmarked for the European theatre. The loading gate on the Johnson accepted the same 5rd stripper clips as the Marine issued M1903A3s.
My Johnson rifle regret was not buying a Barrett M82A1 for $4000.00 in the case at the Lakeland Fl gun show 25 years ago.
 
Tanker 1/66 said:
Tanker 1/66 Tanker 1/66 … Thanks!

IIRC the Luftwaffe did carry the Astra sidearms. Before WW2 they fought in the Spanish civil war as the Condor Legion. That might explain some of it. As for the model 96 Swede I’ve sent many 6.5x55 rounds down range. Oh my what an inherently accurate round.
The 2a was fun to shoot and as accurate as one might expect from a military grade firearm. Interesting history about how the 2a came to be. Let’s just say it was a big screw you to the British. I also had at the time a FR8 Spanish Mauser in 7.62x51(my son claimed) it was designed as a training rifle for the CETME rifle which later became the G3. Another collaboration Between the Spanish and Germans.
Those Johnson rifles also have quite the history and I’ve always been a fan of the design. Some did get issued to the Marines in the Pacific. At the time all Garands were earmarked for the European theatre. The loading gate on the Johnson accepted the same 5rd stripper clips as the Marine issued M1903A3s.
My Johnson rifle regret was not buying a Barrett M82A1 for $4000.00 in the case at the Lakeland Fl gun show 25 years ago.
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Nice! I only fired that Swedish Mauser a few times, and it was ages ago. I’m generally a pretty lousy shot with those types of rifles. I wish I could say that mine was accurate but I’ll never know. I tend to flinch pretty badly with those heavy cartridges.

That Spanish FR8 is pretty neat! I had to look it up just now. Kind of reminds me a little of those Destroyer carbines in .9mm Largo.

I’ve always really liked the French MAS 49/56 as well, for some of the same reasons. I love those transitional Cold-War designs.

Yeah, those Johnson rifles struck me as really crude when I was examining them, and apart from the neat swollen belly/rotary magazine arrangement, they just didn’t really interest me. I won’t say what they wanted for them. It’s embarrassing. Even at that time they were a good deal, but I’m actually a shameless bottom feeder. Sadly, I think most of my regret comes from a desire simply to possess them so I could have resold them by now. Crazy prices.

Those Barrett .50BMG are pretty serious business!
 
NWFRS said:
Nice! I only fired that Swedish Mauser a few times, and it was ages ago. I’m generally a pretty lousy shot with those types of rifles. I wish I could say that mine was accurate but I’ll never know. I tend to flinch pretty badly with those heavy cartridges.

That Spanish FR8 is pretty neat! I had to look it up just now. Kind of reminds me a little of those Destroyer carbines in .9mm Largo.

I’ve always really liked the French MAS 49/56 as well, for some of the same reasons. I love those transitional Cold-War designs.

Yeah, those Johnson rifles struck me as really crude when I was examining them, and apart from the neat swollen belly/rotary magazine arrangement, they just didn’t really interest me. I won’t say what they wanted for them. It’s embarrassing. Even at that time they were a good deal, but I’m actually a shameless bottom feeder. Sadly, I think most of my regret comes from a desire simply to possess them so I could have resold them by now. Crazy prices.

Those Barrett .50BMG are pretty serious business!
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I have to laugh about the Mas 49/56. We would train with flash cards and flash pictures of NATO and Combloc equipment. You’d have 1 second to identify friend or foe. If it was ugly or goofy looking there was a 99% chance it was Friend because it was French lol
 
NWFRS NWFRS If You wanna see a cool rifle check out the VZ52. The Cubans used them against us in Grenada. Sweet shooting accurate and reliable. Good luck finding ammo lol
 
Tanker 1/66 said:
NWFRS NWFRS If You wanna see a cool rifle check out the VZ52. The Cubans used them against us in Grenada. Sweet shooting accurate and reliable. Good luck finding ammo lol
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Oh yeah. Those have been on my short-list for years! Or at least the VZ52/56 in 7.62x39. But I’m afraid I’ve missed the boat on the nice ones. Seems like only a few years ago they were going for under $1000, and I’ve recently seen some close in the $2500 range. Absolutely nuts! I remember seeing various flavors listed for $200 in ShotgunNews back in the day, when I was barely old enough to buy them. And I’ve never actually held one. On paper I think they’re around a pound heavier than a Soviet SKS rifle, and with that side-folding bayonet, I’d imagine they feel a bit unwieldy? Have you ever handled one? Fired one? What did you think? I didn’t know the Cubans used them against us!

Couple of Czech weapons. Early D-Technik VZ58 and VZ61 Skorpion. CAI-imported CZ52.

I don’t shoot them often, but they’re all a lot of fun. I love the clever, tool-less takedown, and I’m a sucker for those early phenolic stock materials.
 
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