The guns of our ancestors...found a couple more pics with guns

[twaits]

I know there have been a few photo threads of old pics but finding some pics of my Grandfather urged me to start another thread.

Here are a couple pics of my Grandfather Harold Lewie Winter at his University Of Maine Franternity house Sigma Phi Sigma back in the 1920s. This was at Orono Maine. Note the 1911 in his belt in the first pic, then in his hand in the second. I see a lot of my own attitude in these pictures.
I can't touch how great and talented he was though. I don't know where the 1911 is now but I think my Dad still has the sword.

[geraldo]

That is one SWASHBUCKLING DUDE !

[Widetrack55]

Is he carrying the hardware in case the guy that gave him the concussion comes back?

[Oyeboten]

Great images...

Was your Grandfather a WWI Army Veteran?

Sure looks like WWI Regular Army Shirt and Breeches there he's got on.


I like those 'Indian' Pattern Blankets too.

Everyone had those Blankets back then, and Indian Blanket Robes also...now-a-days, they are very hard to find, and, usually quite expensive. I have a few tucked away, amazing colors and patterns, just wonderful stuff.


Oh golly, if I could step back into 1920 I'd do it in a Heartbeat, and, never look back...



I do believe character and build often seem to skip a generation.

I could definitely wear all my paternal Grandfather's clothes, if I had them, and, likely I wear the same perscription for Glases as he had...we were the same size, same build, many of the same tastes and habits, and, likely, very similar mentally.

Wish I could have known him better...he was born in 1882, and was no Spring Chicken by the time I was a kid...got to hang out with him a little a few times anyway, and, what I remember of it, felt like Peas-in-a-Pod to me.

[twaits]

My Grandfather was too young for WWI and too old for WWII. He was born in 1902. He was in the ROTC in college.
When he moved to Maryland with my Grandmother during the depression he was a member of the "Maryland Minutemen"
My Dad remembers that he had a Thompson Submachine gun in his closet back in those days.

[BobSm]

That's an M1902 Officer's Saber in what appears to be the non-ceremonial blade length of 34" (or even the more rare 36"), which is still the regulation sword for officers today. He also has the correct sword chain and frog and knows how to wear it, so it appears they were carried more often than for just weddings. Swords are shorter today so it's harder to knock your hat off executing "Present Saber" in ceremonies. Pre-WWI manufactured swords were longer and of tougher steel because they were made to actually fight with. Springfield Armory, Ames and Lilley made most of the originals like the one shown.

He's also wearing a leather cavalryman's sling, that I believe was last used to carry the Krag carbine. Perhaps they still carried Krags in some ROTC detachments then, just like many schools still carried WWII Garands through the 1970's. All that plus the GI riding breeches and pullover shirt lead me to believe Maine was (or had been) a cavalry branch school. ROTC detachments of old specialized in one branch of service.

[twaits]

That's an M1902 Officer's Saber in what appears to be the non-ceremonial blade length of 34" (or even the more rare 36"), which is still the regulation sword for officers today. He also has the correct sword chain and frog and knows how to wear it, so it appears they were carried more often than for just weddings. Swords are shorter today so it's harder to knock your hat off executing "Present Saber" in ceremonies. Pre-WWI manufactured swords were longer and of tougher steel because they were made to actually fight with. Springfield Armory, Ames and Lilley made most of the originals like the one shown.

He's also wearing a leather cavalryman's sling, that I believe was last used to carry the Krag carbine. Perhaps they still carried Krags in some ROTC detachments then, just like many schools still carried WWII Garands through the 1970's. All that plus the GI riding breeches and pullover shirt lead me to believe Maine was (or had been) a cavalry branch school. ROTC detachments of old specialized in one branch of service.

Very interesting! Thanks for the info. I think my Dad still has the sword...I'm not sure. I just e-mailed him and asked him. If he has it I will get pictures of it next time I am visiting.
He has several old swords.

[Derry 1946]

What a great post! Thanks for sharing. Derry.

[Oyeboten]

Good Eye Bobsm,


That is a Cavalry Shirt...my monitor's resolutuoin is barely good enough to tell even for having it pointed out! But I can see now, it is ther Pull Over sort.

[twaits]

Here's some more that were in a box of negatives from my paternal mothers side of the family. The first one a guy is holding a Winchester (1886?)
The second one two guys have old double barrel hammer shotguns. Note theres a guy pouring a drink and the colored man behind him has a revolver in his belt. Its pretty blurry but it looks like it might be a Merwin Hulbert. If anyone else here is good at enhancing photos I would encourage someone better than me to try clearing it up