What is this?

Ipjames · January 6, 2019, 01:51 AM

Hello everyone,

Im sorry for posting this in the general discussion but I wasnt sure where to go..

Anyway can someone tell me what I'm looking at here or at least point me in the right direction?

I'm not a rookie when it comes to firearms by any means but I honestly dont know where to even start looking with this piece...

Thanks in advance!

mag1911 · January 6, 2019, 06:03 AM

I'll guess. Some sort of sub caliber training device for a larger artillery piece? Or possibly a spotter barrel for some recoilless rifle?

**44 AMP** · January 6, 2019, 03:35 PM

It looks like a barrel,

and that looks like a bolt handle...

does it have a bore? approximate size??

Actual breech mechanism? Chamber? Firing mechanism? It appears incomplete which makes things even more difficult to ID.

It might be homemade, might not even be a firearm though it does look like one.

Can't tell you what it is, sorry. I can tell you one thing it is not, it is not the spotter rifle (M8C) from the US 106mm recoilless rifle.

part of an artillery sub-caliber trainer, or blank firing demonstrator, possible. US or foreign? no idea.

Any markings on it??

Ipjames · January 6, 2019, 04:06 PM

No markings that I could find. I’m not around it at the moment but I’ll try to get some better pictures. I thought it might belong to some type of artillery weapon but I really have no idea

105kw · January 6, 2019, 07:24 PM

Punt Gun?
Is it smooth bore?

Dano4734 · January 8, 2019, 02:21 PM

Punt gun agree

Ipjames · January 8, 2019, 06:15 PM

What makes you guys think it’s a punt gun? I’m a bit skeptical on that theory as it’s only about 2 feet long and the bore is probably smaller than a 12 gauge. I don’t mean any disrespect or anything as I genuinely don’t know. Were there smaller punt guns? The only ones I’ve ever seen were around 10 feet long or so.

RC20 · January 8, 2019, 06:30 PM

Harpoon gun.

**44 AMP** · January 9, 2019, 12:32 PM

Harpoon gun? Line throwing gun? We're really just shooting in the dark here..
I didn't see any kind of conventional attachment points for a stock. Either I missed them or it is something never made to use a regular stock.

If not, that argues against it being a rifle type line throwing or harpoon gun. Could be something meant to be mounted in a cradle or pintle, but again, nothing I saw shows clear attachment points (screw holes, or lugs or...??)

A bolt handle means something is meant to be opened and closed. Beyond that, we'd need a better view of the "breech" mechanism.

I feel pretty sure there are parts missing, which makes it more difficult to ID it as to type/use.

I once saw a single shot .50 "rifle" made from a Browning M2HB barrel. It was the full, unaltered machine gun barrel, with a homemade breech block screwed on the back end. The barrel was drilled to take pins (maybe screws) on each side, fitted into a U bracket (like an oarlock) mounted on a tripod. Barrel was also drilled and tapped for scope blocks and had a scope mounted.

The home made breech block had a firing pin and spring, a safety, and a trigger that stuck down from it. No trigger guard. Mechanically, it would have worked. Though I strongly suspect the gun was intended to have the gunner sight it, then get out of the way before pulling the trigger!

A good pic of the breech mechanism, and chamber, if possible would give us more to guess about. Right now, I am wondering if it was made for an actual cartridge, or for something else, like a bag charge, perhaps. Just wild guesses at this point, sorry. Doesn't match (or come close) to any commercial firearm I am aware of, I still think it might be a homemade "something", but unsure just what...

T. O'Heir · January 10, 2019, 11:54 AM

"...Punt Gun?..." Too small. Punt guns were way bigger than that wee thing. 2 gauge and having 8 foot barrels was "normal". Likely too small for harpoons too.
I'd guess, sub-caliber training gun, but I suspect it's for a tank gun vs arty.

SamNavy · January 10, 2019, 06:15 PM

Perhaps a small cermonial gun. If we knew it was rifled or not, would narrow down it shooting a projectile, or being for some other purpose.

January 6, 2019, 03:35 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	It looks like a barrel, and that looks like a bolt handle... does it have a bore? approximate size?? Actual breech mechanism? Chamber? Firing mechanism? It appears incomplete which makes things even more difficult to ID. It might be homemade, might not even be a firearm though it does look like one. Can't tell you what it is, sorry. I can tell you one thing it is not, it is not the spotter rifle (M8C) from the US 106mm recoilless rifle. part of an artillery sub-caliber trainer, or blank firing demonstrator, possible. US or foreign? no idea. Any markings on it?? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 8, 2019, 06:30 PM	#8
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Harpoon gun. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

January 9, 2019, 12:32 PM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	Harpoon gun? Line throwing gun? We're really just shooting in the dark here.. I didn't see any kind of conventional attachment points for a stock. Either I missed them or it is something never made to use a regular stock. If not, that argues against it being a rifle type line throwing or harpoon gun. Could be something meant to be mounted in a cradle or pintle, but again, nothing I saw shows clear attachment points (screw holes, or lugs or...??) A bolt handle means something is meant to be opened and closed. Beyond that, we'd need a better view of the "breech" mechanism. I feel pretty sure there are parts missing, which makes it more difficult to ID it as to type/use. I once saw a single shot .50 "rifle" made from a Browning M2HB barrel. It was the full, unaltered machine gun barrel, with a homemade breech block screwed on the back end. The barrel was drilled to take pins (maybe screws) on each side, fitted into a U bracket (like an oarlock) mounted on a tripod. Barrel was also drilled and tapped for scope blocks and had a scope mounted. The home made breech block had a firing pin and spring, a safety, and a trigger that stuck down from it. No trigger guard. Mechanically, it would have worked. Though I strongly suspect the gun was intended to have the gunner sight it, then get out of the way before pulling the trigger! A good pic of the breech mechanism, and chamber, if possible would give us more to guess about. Right now, I am wondering if it was made for an actual cartridge, or for something else, like a bag charge, perhaps. Just wild guesses at this point, sorry. Doesn't match (or come close) to any commercial firearm I am aware of, I still think it might be a homemade "something", but unsure just what... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 10, 2019, 11:54 AM	#10
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...Punt Gun?..." Too small. Punt guns were way bigger than that wee thing. 2 gauge and having 8 foot barrels was "normal". Likely too small for harpoons too. I'd guess, sub-caliber training gun, but I suspect it's for a tank gun vs arty. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 6, 2019, 06:03 AM	#2
mag1911 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2011 Posts: 140	I'll guess. Some sort of sub caliber training device for a larger artillery piece? Or possibly a spotter barrel for some recoilless rifle?

January 6, 2019, 04:06 PM	#4
Ipjames Junior Member Join Date: January 6, 2019 Posts: 3	No markings that I could find. I’m not around it at the moment but I’ll try to get some better pictures. I thought it might belong to some type of artillery weapon but I really have no idea

January 6, 2019, 07:24 PM	#5
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 413	Punt Gun? Is it smooth bore?

January 8, 2019, 02:21 PM	#6
Dano4734 Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2014 Posts: 730	Punt gun agree

January 8, 2019, 06:15 PM	#7
Ipjames Junior Member Join Date: January 6, 2019 Posts: 3	What makes you guys think it’s a punt gun? I’m a bit skeptical on that theory as it’s only about 2 feet long and the bore is probably smaller than a 12 gauge. I don’t mean any disrespect or anything as I genuinely don’t know. Were there smaller punt guns? The only ones I’ve ever seen were around 10 feet long or so.

January 10, 2019, 06:15 PM	#11
SamNavy Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 433	Perhaps a small cermonial gun. If we knew it was rifled or not, would narrow down it shooting a projectile, or being for some other purpose.