If you love history, than you'll love this - The Firearms Forum

edwardzbrown · 06-23-2009, 09:32 PM

I was looking around the net for info about my inheritance, and found this site.

My grandfather was an infantryman in the army. He wasn't issued a pistol, but he came across a downed aircraft, I don't know what type, but the unfortunate pilot inside was issued a pistol. My granddad didn't want to let it go to waste so he took the gun for the duration of his time overseas. Problem was the pistol grip was munched so he used two like pieces of glass from the windshield of the plane and taped the grip so he could use it. When the war ended for him, he brought it back home and had the glass shaved down so that it was a permanent addition to the pistol. check out the photo. cool part is, you can now see how many rounds you have left in your magazine.

it is an Ithaca
United States Property
serial number 1470882

tell me the photo worked, I couldn't see how to get it into the text, so I attached it.

FTK87 · 06-23-2009, 10:04 PM

Welcome to the forum, Thats a great souviner!

LurpyGeek · 06-23-2009, 10:21 PM

Spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

Bruce FLinch · 06-23-2009, 11:16 PM

Interesting find & story! Welcome toTFF!

Is your Gramps still alive? We thank him for his service to our Country!

TranterUK · 06-24-2009, 03:17 AM

Thanks for taking the time to write it up. An excellent story and a real piece of history.

carver · 06-24-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardzbrown

I was looking around the net for info about my inheritance, and found this site.

My grandfather was an infantryman in the army. He wasn't issued a pistol, but he came across a downed aircraft, I don't know what type, but the unfortunate pilot inside was issued a pistol. My granddad didn't want to let it go to waste so he took the gun for the duration of his time overseas. Problem was the pistol grip was munched so he used two like pieces of glass from the windshield of the plane and taped the grip so he could use it. When the war ended for him, he brought it back home and had the glass shaved down so that it was a permanent addition to the pistol. check out the photo. cool part is, you can now see how many rounds you have left in your magazine.

it is an Ithaca
United States Property
serial number 1470882

tell me the photo worked, I couldn't see how to get it into the text, so I attached it.

Welcome aboad! What a neat idea, and a great peice of history! I wonder why no one is producing clear grips for the .45? Sounds like a money maker to me!

TranterUK · 06-24-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

Welcome aboad! What a neat idea, and a great peice of history! I wonder why no one is producing clear grips for the .45? Sounds like a money maker to me!

I have seen clear grips before, WW2 vintage with pictures of girlfriends set underneath. But only very, very occasionally, perhaps twice in 30 years.

This case is much more interesting because the link to the pilot and his screen.

Alpo · 06-24-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TranterUK

I have seen clear grips before, WW2 vintage with pictures of girlfriends set underneath. But only very, very occasionally, perhaps twice in 30 years.

This case is much more interesting because the link to the pilot and his screen.

There was a case, within the past year, I believe. Crook was caught and admitted the gun he had was stolen. Pictures of the gun were all over the web. Plexiglass grips with a woman's picture inside. "Is this your gun. Prove it and get it back." A guy showed up. "That's my father's gun, pictures are my mother, here are additional pictures."

Found it. http://gunsmagazine.com/DGR0109.html http://forums.military.com/eve/forum.../5440071591001

oscarmayer · 06-24-2009, 11:15 AM

very cool and ahead of it's time. in the 70's a company reworked a smith and wesson model 39 cut it down and install plexiglass grips to view how many rounds were left. they marketed this custom as a asp... cool gun loved the grip concept.

fmacsin1 · 06-24-2009, 01:25 PM

Welcome! What a great story! WOW!

Stealie · 07-07-2009, 12:18 AM

Great story, awesome grips.

06-23-2009, 09:32 PM	#1
edwardzbrown Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	If you love history, than you'll love this I was looking around the net for info about my inheritance, and found this site. My grandfather was an infantryman in the army. He wasn't issued a pistol, but he came across a downed aircraft, I don't know what type, but the unfortunate pilot inside was issued a pistol. My granddad didn't want to let it go to waste so he took the gun for the duration of his time overseas. Problem was the pistol grip was munched so he used two like pieces of glass from the windshield of the plane and taped the grip so he could use it. When the war ended for him, he brought it back home and had the glass shaved down so that it was a permanent addition to the pistol. check out the photo. cool part is, you can now see how many rounds you have left in your magazine. it is an Ithaca United States Property serial number 1470882 tell me the photo worked, I couldn't see how to get it into the text, so I attached it. Attached Images -->

06-23-2009, 10:04 PM	#2
FTK87 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chouteau, Oklahoma Posts: 481	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this Welcome to the forum, Thats a great souviner!

06-23-2009, 10:21 PM	#3
LurpyGeek Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UT Posts: 1,436	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this Spectacular. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Knowing is half the battle... Of course, the other half is violence.

06-23-2009, 11:16 PM	#4
Bruce FLinch Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Point, Kali..aka Gun Point Posts: 5,016	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this Interesting find & story! Welcome toTFF! Is your Gramps still alive? We thank him for his service to our Country! __________________ A bad day @ the Range, is better than a good day @ work.

06-24-2009, 03:17 AM	#5
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this Thanks for taking the time to write it up. An excellent story and a real piece of history. __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way!

06-24-2009, 11:15 AM	#9
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this very cool and ahead of it's time. in the 70's a company reworked a smith and wesson model 39 cut it down and install plexiglass grips to view how many rounds were left. they marketed this custom as a asp... cool gun loved the grip concept.

06-24-2009, 01:25 PM	#10
fmacsin1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Moosehead Lake, Maine Posts: 433	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this Welcome! What a great story! WOW!

07-07-2009, 12:18 AM	#11
Stealie Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 42	Re: If you love history, than you'll love this Great story, awesome grips. __________________ We can't stop *here...this is bat counrty! Μολὼν λάβε* *Res Ipsa Loquitur*