Sheriff Bufford Pusser's personal gun list

[Farmer17]

Attached is the gun list of Bufford Pusser from right after the time of his death around 1972 or so, looks like he had pretty good taste in guns and a fairly nice collection for a small town Sheriff. Still can't end the debate of if he carried a S&W M57 or 58 .41 magnum?

 

[soFlaNative]

Interesting for it's own sake.
Can't make out the notation by #18, "Barrell (sic) was ??? up"?

 

[Golddollar]

Interesting for it's own sake.
Can't make out the notation by #18, "Barrell (sic) was ??? up"?

I think the word is question is "welded." In this context I think this is the appropriate word. Some time ago there was a program established by BATF for turning fully automatic firearms into non-functional wall hangers called a Deactivated War Trophy (DEWAT). It involved welding the barrel shut and welding the barrel to the receiver so the barrel can't be changed out. This seems to be in the right time frame for this program. However, BATF later waved its magic wand and declared that a DEWAT was still legally considered a machine gun.

 

[old bear]

I think the word is question is "welded." In this context I think this is the appropriate word. Some time ago there was a program established by BATF for turning fully automatic firearms into non-functional wall hangers called a Deactivated War Trophy (DEWAT). It involved welding the barrel shut and welding the barrel to the receiver so the barrel can't be changed out. This seems to be in the right time frame for this program. However, BATF later waved its magic wand and declared that a DEWAT was still legally considered a machine gun.
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Owning DEWATed firearms was quit common in the 50's and 60's. At one time I was the only 10 year old in my hometown to own a Japanese light machinegun. I think it was a type 96.

 

[Farmer17]

I think the barrel was easily removed on the S&W M-76 machine gun and it was probably somewhere else. I'm pretty sure reading Bufford's 9m/m M-76 worked just fine and he used it to shoot up a house once.

 

[soFlaNative]

Thanks Gdollar, now I can sleep tonight!

 

[Faulkner]

I've been to McNairy County Tennessee many times and have stopped by Sheriff Pusser's home which is now a museum. Also stopped and paid homage to the spot where he died (or was killed, depending on who's telling the story). If you're passing through the area it's worth a stop.

 

[Farmer17]

I've been a fan of the "Walking Tall" movies since I was a kid so the question for years has been did Buford carry a M-58 or M-57 .41 magnum and the serial number on the list is 29482 at item #14. Does that tell us anything? Also does anyone know what kind of machine gun did the thugs use against him and his wife the day she was killed?