tony k
12-06-2006, 04:17 PM
http://www.hunt101.com/img/305975-big.jpg
Just received the results of my Freedom of Information Act request on BATFE's records regarding my Reising, SN 705x, and thought I'd share.
From the serial number, I knew it was late 1941 (first year) production. And of course the stock is marked "CITY OF PITTSBURGH". It came with a Fed Lab hard case, and Fed Lab was based in Pittsburgh, Pa., so I assumed it was that city, and not some other Pittsburgh.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/305971-big.jpg
The FOIA report showed the initial transfer from H&R, on the 1941 equivalent of a Form 5, was dated Dec. 26, 1941. It was part of a huge batch of Reisings ordered by that single department on a single F5, which confirms my thoughts that it went to the Pennsylvania city -- no small town would order that many SMGs.
I like old stuff, and wondering about previous owners. You know, the "If only it could talk!" approach. Thanks to the FOIA report, I know that the staff at H&R who did final assembly and crating for shipment were thinking and talking about what had happened nineteen days before, on Dec. 7, 1941.
For the law officers opening those crates, it was the first time in their life that another country had attacked the United States. Pittsburgh was the center of the U.S. steel industry, the crucible that drove American munitions production. "Loose lips sink ships" was not an empty phrase; saboteur had just entered the nation's lexicon. I imagine they felt an awesome responsibility. Lots of sweaty palms held 705x.
705x served through the war, then stayed on at the Pittsburgh P.D. until retirement from law enforcement in 1989. It mustered out to an FFL/SOT -- again as one in a large batch of MGs. She went to her first civilian owner via Form 4 in 1990, then on via Form 4 to a second civilian in 1995/96. When that owner died, the estate sold her to the FFL/SOT who in turn let me bring her to her present home.
An interesting "life" for a gun that's a decade older than I am. ;)
http://www.hunt101.com/img/305972-big.jpg
Just received the results of my Freedom of Information Act request on BATFE's records regarding my Reising, SN 705x, and thought I'd share.
From the serial number, I knew it was late 1941 (first year) production. And of course the stock is marked "CITY OF PITTSBURGH". It came with a Fed Lab hard case, and Fed Lab was based in Pittsburgh, Pa., so I assumed it was that city, and not some other Pittsburgh.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/305971-big.jpg
The FOIA report showed the initial transfer from H&R, on the 1941 equivalent of a Form 5, was dated Dec. 26, 1941. It was part of a huge batch of Reisings ordered by that single department on a single F5, which confirms my thoughts that it went to the Pennsylvania city -- no small town would order that many SMGs.
I like old stuff, and wondering about previous owners. You know, the "If only it could talk!" approach. Thanks to the FOIA report, I know that the staff at H&R who did final assembly and crating for shipment were thinking and talking about what had happened nineteen days before, on Dec. 7, 1941.
For the law officers opening those crates, it was the first time in their life that another country had attacked the United States. Pittsburgh was the center of the U.S. steel industry, the crucible that drove American munitions production. "Loose lips sink ships" was not an empty phrase; saboteur had just entered the nation's lexicon. I imagine they felt an awesome responsibility. Lots of sweaty palms held 705x.
705x served through the war, then stayed on at the Pittsburgh P.D. until retirement from law enforcement in 1989. It mustered out to an FFL/SOT -- again as one in a large batch of MGs. She went to her first civilian owner via Form 4 in 1990, then on via Form 4 to a second civilian in 1995/96. When that owner died, the estate sold her to the FFL/SOT who in turn let me bring her to her present home.
An interesting "life" for a gun that's a decade older than I am. ;)
http://www.hunt101.com/img/305972-big.jpg