HELP! I have no idea what this is. UPDATE: IT'S REAL!

[sirhrmechanic]

Toothpaste guns? I'm intrigued. Are you referring to the CIA's .22 Stinger that would conceal in a toothpaste tube? I least I think that was the CIA. I could be mixing up my covert agency's.

It was a SF thing.

But I am sure the CIA had its fingerprints somewhere in the Colgate.

Sirhr

 

[buffalowinter]

 

[sirhrmechanic]

View attachment 7664078

Not so fast… see my pm from NRA Museum

 

[Texasflyer]

I was wondering if it was an m48 that didnt make it to ww2... maybe a small run experiment?

 

[buffalowinter]

It's alive!...I mean it's real.

Thanks to SirH who contacted his friend Doug Wicklund at the NRA Firearms Museum. His reply:

The H&R is a commercial piece made for transfer to friendly allies overseas. Not many came back to the U.S.A. I actually got to see them on Okinawa in the 60s being sent to Vietnam.

Doug Wicklund

 

[sirhrmechanic]

It's alive!...I mean it's real.
View attachment 7664146 View attachment 7664148



Thanks to SirH who contacted his friend Doug Wicklund at the NRA Firearms Museum. His reply:

The H&R is a commercial piece made for transfer to friendly allies overseas. Not many came back to the U.S.A. I actually got to see them on Okinawa in the 60s being sent to Vietnam.

Doug Wicklund

Any time, brother! You've done me more than a few propers... just glad to return the favor!

Congrats on a really cool piece. And a mystery solved.

Probably not many Montagnards involved... but the gun is exactly what it says. A presentation piece for overseas allies. And one of those rare things with "Special Forces" written on it (that is not sold on late-night TV and involves sunglasses or laser flashlights.)

And you have a damn rare gun in mint condition with box and everything! And now... Provenance.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Random Guy]

Interesting what the NRA guy wrote. So not a combat weapon like the 100,000 various models of short-barreled/pump-actions purchased by the DoD in 1962 for the locals, but a single-shot 'good will' or trade item. Well, definitely a neat conversation piece.

Fwiw, here's my only Vietnam era type shotgu, which is a replica. Donor was a 1972 dated WRA M1200 Riot gun (former Law Enforcement shotgun) that I converted into a M1200 trenchgun with a vintage bayonet lug/heat shield, and the correct front handguard. I had the 1960's era bayonet for years, and decided I needed something to hang it on...and it was much more affordable than an original article.

Anyhow, glad the mystery was solved. Perhaps someone should contact Bruce Canfield to share the H&R enigma info with him?

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Any time, brother! You've done me more than a few propers... just glad to return the favor!

Congrats on a really cool piece. And a mystery solved.

Probably not many Montagnards involved... but the gun is exactly what it says. A presentation piece for overseas allies. And one of those rare things with "Special Forces" written on it (that is not sold on late-night TV and involves sunglasses or laser flashlights.)

And you have a damn rare gun in mint condition with box and everything! And now... Provenance.

Cheers,

Sirhr

Good job, my man!

 

[sirhrmechanic]

View attachment 7664078

PS. This is the funniest thing on Snipers Hide...