1942 .351 Winchester

[Links234]

Here is a new gun I acquired recently from relatives.
I think this certain make of gun was used by french paratroopers in ww2.
And from what I hear in George Baby Face Nelson's last shootout with the police he used this same model gun and bystanders reported he fired it so fast that it sounded like a machine gun. Il upload more pictures later.

[C.O.Sargent]

Nice rifle, I have a 351SL myself I inherited it from my father he use it for protection when he was prospecting.He broke it down and put in his pack and reassemble it when he got to his camp.Every time I go to a gun show I pick up ammo for it.

[copdoc]

Very nice. More pics would be great. I like these guns. The 351SL, M21 or 28 TSMG, M97 Winchester pump/others and Federal modified Webley gas gun were the state of the art weapons for law enforcement prior to WWII. Some have bayonet lugs (for Krag bayonet) and extended magazines.

I think they were issued to some French Air crews in WWI. Will check. I would be interested in documented evidence of use in WWII.


Just goggled before posting this. This gentleman says they were used by the Brits in WWI and WWII. Still interested in documented evidence that they were used in WWII.

http://imageevent.com/willyp/firearm...inchester351sl

[Alan Smith]

I never knew about these rifles until my father purchased one a year or so ago. In looking it over I was stunned to see the modern design features it embodies, particularly for a gun designed prior to WWI.

Just think about it: the gun is semi-automatic, uses an "intermediate" type cartridge, and has what (for its time) would be considered a high-capacity magazine. Thus, I could not help but speculate that these guns would have been an asset to the Allied forces in the First World War: such a handy little gun would seem very useful for close up fighting, trench raiding, fending off trench raids, etc.

Again, having never even heard of these guns I was simply stunned to see its advanced characteristics. In light of its characteristics, I think these little guns must be considered somewhat of a forerunner of the modern assault rifle.

[Links234]

They are neat little guns. Im sure they couldnt produce that many of them. But thinking of it, if these guns had a folding stock they would work just as well as a m1 carbine during the 2nd World War. They definately could have helped out during the 1st with the lack of Semi-Automatics.

[GeoffreyW]

Until I read this thread, I didn't know almost anything about these rather interesting rifles...I recognized their looks and had heard of the caliber, but that was about the limit of my knowledge of them. I find it *quite* interesting how successful this rifle and its cartridge should logically have been back in the day, but I guess the world just didn't bite as heavily on it all as some in it should have (resisting change on a larger scale or the like, I suppose, or limited numbers able to be made in x amount of time).

In any case, this thread and what a few people mentioned in their posts in it drove me to wiki it to read more if it were available. Sure enough, there is a great shorty article found there on the rifle and cartridge both, and who all used them for what around the time of WWI. Good stuff, even if not very long. Btw, the proper name of the rifle seems to be the Winchester Model 1907, if that helps anyone else looking for info on these. Hope that bit helps!

[45Auto]

If my memory is any good, the .351 Winchester cartridge was the basis for the .30 M1 Carbine round.

[C.O.Sargent]

It could well be, I always wished that Ruger had built a pistol for the 351 like they did the 30M1.

[copdoc]

It could well be, I always wished that Ruger had built a pistol for the 351 like they did the 30M1.

Now that's a GUN. Forget the 454 CM.

If my memory is any good, the .351 Winchester cartridge was the basis for the .30 M1 Carbine round

I did not know this but not surprised.

In the Williams collection are a number of prototype rifles similar to the Winchester SLRs as well as his tools and his whole shop. The NC Museum of History took them off display. I don't know if they ever fixed it. It used to be a nice museum but changed to more of an "artsy" profile. Anyone seen it lately?

The SC National Guard Museum has a number of Carbine's guns and is well worth the visit. It is set up like the old NC museum with rows of artifacts. I will try to get some pics up soon.