Mike Venturino

Do you have any good MP44 magazines still? I only got one with mine. Mike Venturino

I haven't been on this forum for quite some time due to personal reasons but I received a PM from a member today and checked in to reply. I was quite pleased to see that Lewis Guns were now a part of this forum. My wife bought this Japanese one for me back in 2010. Its bipod and drum are British. It runs like a top and is very accurate - at least for an open bolt LMG. http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/photobucket005.jpg I wish I could read Japanese. I had it on display at a gun show when a young Asian fellow was excitedly looking it over. I asked him to translate the markings. He looked up at me with a perplexed expression and said, "Sir, I Chinese, not Japanese." Good old foot in mouth. Anyway, glad to see that Lewis guns are on here now. Mike Venturino

dalbert: Thanks for that. In 2010 I bought a Japanese Naval Type 92 Lewis gun in the infantry configuration. It runs perfectly for the few hundred rounds I've fired through it without cleaning. I finally found a manual on the Internet so perhaps now I can figure out how to take it down for cleaning. Mike Venturino

Eagle3: I have several US steel pots. Thanks for noticing the weight loss. I'm down 60 to 65 pounds since last September depending on which scale I believe. On my way to 100, I hope. Hawkeye Joe: I bought this for a photo prop and a fair weather toy. I'll leave all that nit-picking stuff for some future owner to get the pleasure of fixing. All I expect to put into it along with gasoline is routine maintaince and repairs. Mike

This isn't a Thompson but I'd bet a Thompson rode in it at one time or another. If not I can guarantee one will soon. I brought this home today. Its a fully restored 1943 Jeep by Ford. Got the canvas top, pioneer kit, jerry can, and a bunch of parts and such with it. http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/photobucket004LargeWebview.jpg

Thanks for the replies. I will not jump into a buying frenzy.

Thanks. That's great. I do have an M2 and I'm kind of anal about having spare parts for stuff. Mike V.

If you legally posess an M2 Carbine and also have a couple of M1 Carbines, is it ok to have extra M2 parts? I see them on gunbroker all the time and would like to have a few spares around. MLV

Well, I've got one of those semi-auto M1918A3 BARs on the way. It was pricey but I'm going to be 60 in a few months and not fond of waiting for something I want. Someday if or when finances allow I'll go for a F/A. If this Montana winter doesn't ease up I'm going to wind up jump starting the economy all on my own! In the last two weeks besides the BAR I've bought a German K43, an Inglis Hi Power 9mm (P35) with shoulder stock, and a Nazi marked FN P35. Next I'm eyeing one of those SVT40s! Please let there be sunshine soon! MLV

Hawkeye: Duh! Double Duh! I should have recognized what F/A meant. Actually my intent is to get a semi-auto BAR to shoot while I'm amassing the coin it would take to buy a "real" one. I've just got to heal up some from buying six subguns in 2008. Mike

What's a FA/BAR sell for? Better yet, what is an FA/BAR? Mike

But I forgot to say that I have lived in Montana for over 35 years now. MLV

I was born and raised in Mingo County and graduated from Marshall. MLV

Here's another barrel question. I have in hand a blued barrel of M1 or M1A1 configuration meaning no fins or threads near the barrel. It has a P stamped on it but the punch mark is not in the loop. Its outside of it but nearby. However, instead of a S it has an M stamp. Anybody know what that is. Thanks Mike V.

I've fired about 1000 rounds of the Romanian stuff so far from my full auto PPsh41 with nary a bobble. Its good, clean reliable ammo in my experience. MLV