Radoms or Star B's

[R_Hessian]

Take a look at this picture, I see Radoms or could they be Star B's?
Robert

[Jan Balcar]

In my humble opinion (big bore, diamond on the grips, slide serration..) it is not Radom or Star, but Norwegian Kongsberg M 14 (licensed 1911 copy).

[R_Hessian]

.45?

Jan,

You might be right on this one, kind of a tough call. The picture is unique and it cost be more than a couple of dollars, but I thought that this is one worth picking up.
If they are Nor. .45's then this would be an great picture for anyone writing a book on them.
Another note is that all the MP's appear to be MP38's... so pretty early picture.
I would like to hear from others as to what they see.
Robert

[Jan Balcar]

Robert,
Try to scann the muzzle view (two gunned man far right) at high resolution. Maybe we can better recognize typical details. The map (what for a country??) behind the men can help too...

[Matt Weber]

Jan,

The Star B also has diamonds on the grips! The key to look for on these is the lanyard ring. The Norwegian 1914 will have a ring on the base of the magazine. The early Star Bs will have a lanyard ring on the left side of the frame towards the bottom of the grips.

It is too hard to see in this pic. I believe it is definately either a Star B or Nor. 1914. Definately not a Radom though.

If these are Nor. 1914s then this probably is an early war photo taken after the invasion of Norway. I would probably lean towards this story, since they all have early MP38s shown as well.

Very cool photo though Robert! Thanks for sharing it!

Matt

[Jan Balcar]

Star B grips border is almost paralell. Pictured grips have convergent border (2nd man from left). Star B has big and clearly visible extractor. Nothing similar I found on picture (1st & 2nd man from left).

[R_Hessian]

Jan!

JAN,

I will play with it ( the picture! ) and see if I can give us a better "picture".
Robert

[R_Hessian]

Enhance

Jan,

Hang in there with me as I struggle to "enhance" the photo, I have all the software on my PC, I just don't know what the hell I'm doing.
I presume by enhance you mean "enlarge", if not please let me know what to do. I have enlarged the areas you asked but for some reason Im failing in saving it.

I took my "loop" and found a few points for you Jan;

The bottom of the grips show a slight cut which allows for a "pin" to go through the rear of the grip. This is correct for the Nor. 1911, the Star B has grips which have "NO" angle cuts on the right grip panal.

With my loop I find "NO" grip bulge on the rear of the pistol grip ( for lack of better words) which is found on Star B's but "NOT" on the Nor. 1911's ( you also have mentioned this).

Under magnification you really see the size of the business end of the pistol, sure looks like the size of a .45 Cal.

The "diamonds" on the grips look larger than the diamonds on my original Star B.

If my memory serves me the Star B did not become a issue weapon untill 1942? Would you have seen so many MP38 without a single MP40 present?

I'll continue to monkey with the picture but I really think you have figured this one out Jan!
Robert
ps. This makes this Picture very important to the German Heer pistol collectors as their are few pictures showing the 1911 of Norway being used.

[Jan Balcar]

...one of these is in my possession....

N-i-c-e picture. My congratulation!

Jan www.hoba.cz

[Douglas Jr.]

Nice one!

Robert,

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G picture!!

If the gun itself is already pretty rare what to say about pictures showing them in use???

Congratulations,

Douglas.

[jaeger_45056]

Man those cats are strapped with a few gats

[R_Hessian]

Picture!

I'm glad everyone is getting a kick out of this picture, I hope to get it into a book someday.
Robert

[leer]

star, kongsberg or radom?

Jan,

It is too hard to see in this pic. I believe it is definately either a Star B or Nor. 1914. Definately not a Radom though.

Matt, hold on a minute with definitive statements - take a look at the guy on the extreme left. I may not be a great wizzard as it comes to Kongsbergs and Stars, but the rounded back of the slide and bobbed hammer were not the features of the both. As the pic seems early and Norwegian, it would match my photo of a German soldier climbing the pillar with a POLARCIRKEL 1937 legend - wearing a large Polish Radom holster at his belt. Norwegian campaign was the first place where Germans were using the Radoms, so that can be true after all.
Cheers, leer

PS. Anyone can tell me how to post a photo here? L

[leer]

Mp 38?

Jan,

Another note is that all the MP's appear to be MP38's... so pretty early picture.
I would like to hear from others as to what they see.
Robert

Well, a 38 without large alleviating holes in magazine funnel? That would be a little strange...

leer