EQGuy
US Veteran
I was stationed at the USMA West Point in the 50th Engineers in the Fall of 1968 and Pattons guns were displayed in the museum there at that time.
Photos of George Patton wearing Registered Magnum
- Thread starter David LaPell
- Start date
I was stationed at the USMA West Point in the 50th Engineers in the Fall of 1968 and Pattons guns were displayed in the museum there at that time.
Yes, many of them. In fact, Rommel seemed to typically keep two handguns close by, which I presume were worn according to his uniform (field or dress). The few written references to them are vague. One was almost certainly a Luger or P38, most likely a Luger (judging from the shape of the holster). The other is usually referred to as "a smaller one," or an "8-millimeter." (That 8mm stuff may or may not have any basis in fact.) A guess would be that the other pistol was very likely a 7.65mm PP or PPK.
There is a story of Rommel using a handgun to kill game in the North African desert. Rather unsporting, unfortunately. It said he and his staff would drive along beside the fleeing animal and shoot at it until it succumbed. War is a messy business, even for critters not involved in the process.
I have read that Rommel had both of his handguns in his home the day the assassins came to poison him. His aid was also present and had a rifle and a few cartridges. It is said they discussed resisting, but the FM declined because he was certain it would result in the death of his wife and son.
So there are many written references - and pictures of him wearing pistols, but none of the detailed info as there is surrounding General Patton's firearms. And I have never seen any indications that Rommel was an enthusiastic handgun marksman, which General Patton indisputably was.
poe
Member
EQ Guy; I spent a weekend at West Point as an ROTC cadet in 1955; as I remember it, his guns were also on display at that time, but they aren't now. I wonder if they were sent to the Armored Museum at Ft Knox.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
Just recently, and from time to time over the years, I have seen someone, usually selling something, refering to "old pearl handles" and hustling a "tribute" glitzed up 1911 as if it had some connection to the Patton legacy, and then saying something like, "yeah, here's one for you history buffs." Right, he was a Cavalryman, carried revolvers from when the cav actually rode horses, and had ivory grips on them, stating that pearl handles were "for pimps."
On George C. Scott-I think he did a fine job in the movie, but right before my bunch took off from Ft. Lewis to go to Nam, they hearded us into a room, and showed us the "patton speech scene" from the movie. While quite well done by scott, I thought that if they were going to send us off with a "movie" that it would have been of someone "real." But then, there weren't that many of those available, evidently.
Regarding the gentleman who learned english after comming to America: I worked with a man back in the early 70's, who worked for Omar Bradley doing behind the lines stuff in WWII because he spoke perfect German, looked like a German, and was in fact, a German. He said that when his family got off the boat from Germany, he was 9 years old, and when they got into a cab at the docs, the cab driver, who was African American, turned to ask his dad in the back seat where he wanted to go. Felix said he was so startled he soiled himself. He had never seen a black person, nor even knew that black people existed. Culture Shock. Flapjack.
On George C. Scott-I think he did a fine job in the movie, but right before my bunch took off from Ft. Lewis to go to Nam, they hearded us into a room, and showed us the "patton speech scene" from the movie. While quite well done by scott, I thought that if they were going to send us off with a "movie" that it would have been of someone "real." But then, there weren't that many of those available, evidently.
Regarding the gentleman who learned english after comming to America: I worked with a man back in the early 70's, who worked for Omar Bradley doing behind the lines stuff in WWII because he spoke perfect German, looked like a German, and was in fact, a German. He said that when his family got off the boat from Germany, he was 9 years old, and when they got into a cab at the docs, the cab driver, who was African American, turned to ask his dad in the back seat where he wanted to go. Felix said he was so startled he soiled himself. He had never seen a black person, nor even knew that black people existed. Culture Shock. Flapjack.
steveno
Member
so would Patton have to buy his own ammo for the 357 and 45 Colt? maybe somewhere there might have been some 45 Colt ammo in the supply chain although it probably would have been old. however I wouldn't think that there would have been 357 ammo in the supply chain.
just curious
just curious
I would think that a box or two of each caliber would have seen him thru the war. A General would have no problem getting what ever caliber he might want. It is my understanding that when he requested a Remington 380 Model 51 that the company made one up out of parts at the factory for him, so I doubt that getting ammo was any problem.
Maybe when he was working his way from Lt to Col, but Patton was like Thee Rock Star of the 40s
I doubt that he had to actually buy anything.... Just mention
Texas Star
US Veteran
Patton came from a wealthy family. He could buy ammo. But he may have been able to get the Army to do it, if the ammo was cited as being for official use.
Patton's Remington 51
In late 1943 Major General Kenyon A. Joyce visited Patton at his headquarters in Sicily. He saw that Patton was wearing a revolver and suggested he should have an automatic pistol. Joyce tried to get his brother-in-law to obtain a Remington 51 and send it to him to give to Patton, but apparently the brother-in-law was unable to locate one. So when Joyce returned to the U.S. he contacted Roy C. Swan of Remington to see if he could obtain one. Swan located a used one in Denver and had it refurbished at the Remington Factory. The gun was engraved "To George Patton / From his shooting partner of many years / Kenyon Joyce."
Patton had the standard grips replaced with wooden ones with three ivory stars inset. There are a number of photographs of him wearing the Remington: the three stars stand out clearly in old black and white photographs. When he was promoted in 1945 Patton had new four-star grips made. This is the gun he wore for the rest of the war, as well as after he returned to the States.
--from Patton and His Pistols.
In late 1943 Major General Kenyon A. Joyce visited Patton at his headquarters in Sicily. He saw that Patton was wearing a revolver and suggested he should have an automatic pistol. Joyce tried to get his brother-in-law to obtain a Remington 51 and send it to him to give to Patton, but apparently the brother-in-law was unable to locate one. So when Joyce returned to the U.S. he contacted Roy C. Swan of Remington to see if he could obtain one. Swan located a used one in Denver and had it refurbished at the Remington Factory. The gun was engraved "To George Patton / From his shooting partner of many years / Kenyon Joyce."
Patton had the standard grips replaced with wooden ones with three ivory stars inset. There are a number of photographs of him wearing the Remington: the three stars stand out clearly in old black and white photographs. When he was promoted in 1945 Patton had new four-star grips made. This is the gun he wore for the rest of the war, as well as after he returned to the States.
--from Patton and His Pistols.
The one and only time that I saw Patton's side arms, they were on display at the Patton Museum, Fort Knox, Ky.
HERMAN.40
Member
I went to the Fort Knox Patton museum of armor in the late 70's, Possibly even 1980. toured the tanks outside and went inside. They had his uniform jacket on display on a headless upper torso mannequin with his pistol belt around the waist. If I remember right the guns were in the holsters. There was a card which described the guns.
Ed45
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
My RM, consecutive number to Gen Patton's
Well here is my long awaited reply. I only wish I had the photographic skills of my board friends. Here is registration number 505, consecutive to General Patton's. The gun is pictured exactly as purchased several years ago. Missing 95% of its bluing, it resides in a thin layer of Brownell's RP-2 to protect it from rust. I was treated to some communications with Roy at the time as to a possible refinish. He held neutral on the issue but I sensed he felt the old warrior should be left as is; that's what I did anyway. Its ironic that the diamond grips are pristine, I'd have to imagine the previous owner replaced the originals. The final paragraph of Roy's letter with the Patton reference is also attached. As a side note, I can still remember being a young boy growing up in the Chicago area going to Von Lengerke & Antoine with my father; the shipping destination for my RM. It was a store that created wide-eyed amazement in me with sporting goods from African safari gear to polo uniforms with everything in between and a very large firearms department. Legend has it that Al Capone had shopped there but who knows. Again my apologies for the images but hopefully you will get some reasonable representation. Ed
Well here is my long awaited reply. I only wish I had the photographic skills of my board friends. Here is registration number 505, consecutive to General Patton's. The gun is pictured exactly as purchased several years ago. Missing 95% of its bluing, it resides in a thin layer of Brownell's RP-2 to protect it from rust. I was treated to some communications with Roy at the time as to a possible refinish. He held neutral on the issue but I sensed he felt the old warrior should be left as is; that's what I did anyway. Its ironic that the diamond grips are pristine, I'd have to imagine the previous owner replaced the originals. The final paragraph of Roy's letter with the Patton reference is also attached. As a side note, I can still remember being a young boy growing up in the Chicago area going to Von Lengerke & Antoine with my father; the shipping destination for my RM. It was a store that created wide-eyed amazement in me with sporting goods from African safari gear to polo uniforms with everything in between and a very large firearms department. Legend has it that Al Capone had shopped there but who knows. Again my apologies for the images but hopefully you will get some reasonable representation. Ed
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deadin
US Veteran
In case anybody missed it the picture 7 rows down on the far right is Patton doing what Alexander the Great did in the Rhine on an earlier occasion. (i.e. "relieving" himself)
Photograph Chronology
Photograph Chronology
kwill1911
Member
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