Post by woodsy on Mar 15, 2009 20:59:44 GMT 1
Here are a couple of photos of a gun that may not be seen much in the Northern Hemisphere. It is an ex USMC Model 55 Reising paratroop model. These were used in combat on Guadalcanal and had bad reliability problems. This was due the bolt tipping up into a recess for semi-locked closed-bolt firing. This recess was quicky filled with mud and other jungle residue which prevented the bolt from tipping up. The firing pin is centrally mounted in the bolt and the cylindrical hammer has a hole in the centre. When the bolt does not tip, the hole in the hammer goes over the firing pin and you get a click instead of a bang! 
The gun was reliable enough in clean conditions and was widely used in the full-stocked and compensated Model 50 version for guards and police. The US Marines literally threw their Reisings away on Guadalcanal as soon as Thompsons became available. The Kiwi troops there grabbed them and put them in their kit bags to later take home for pig shooting! ;D They exist here in small numbers and my one is exceptional because of its original condition. All the others I have seen have had no finish and many dings. The magazine with the heavy indents is a special 12 round model for guard duty.
The gun was reliable enough in clean conditions and was widely used in the full-stocked and compensated Model 50 version for guards and police. The US Marines literally threw their Reisings away on Guadalcanal as soon as Thompsons became available. The Kiwi troops there grabbed them and put them in their kit bags to later take home for pig shooting! ;D They exist here in small numbers and my one is exceptional because of its original condition. All the others I have seen have had no finish and many dings. The magazine with the heavy indents is a special 12 round model for guard duty.