screwed to the wall . . .

[jda3rd]

I mentioned in another thread that I'd seen a trapdoor rifle screwed to the wall in a restaurant. Another poster reported seeing one also. This reminded me of a bar in New Orleans that has, or had, numerous antique weapons hanging from the ceiling. I seem to remember seeing a couple of enfields, but it's been so long ago, I have no idea what model or pattern they were. Anyone else have any idea if these are still there, or if I'm mis-remembering what I thought I saw?

Also, a popular family restaurant chain often has an old firearm above the fireplace. Anyone here ever run across a unique or valuable piece on display in this fashion?

Frank Brower

[Spinster]

Frank,

Not a firearm but there was a fine stocking knitting frame screwed to the wall at a Cracker Barrel up east of here. If I'd been younger, taller, and faster, it would be at my house...... ;)

[jda3rd]

Cracker Barrel does have neat junk, don't they? I understand they have a warehouse full of that stuff. How'd you like to plunder it sometime?

Frank

[Spinster]

I went so far as to write several letters beseeching to purchase that knitter.

Unless you don the blue, and arrange for a march to route through Tennessee, we don't have a chance.

[jda3rd]

I can see it now: News reports of a somewhat organized gang of apparently Amish thieves, armed with swords and other antique weapons, target Cracker Barrel restaurants across the country. Sort of a "Flash-in-the-pan Mob"

Frank

[Spinster]

Alas, given the well-post-war vintage of most of the things hanging around in Cracker Barrel, our stealth and greed would only do harm to our hobby.

As Nicky Hughes says on occassion "Our camps, more often than not, do an excellent job of portraying 1930's Dust Bowl Okies on their way to California"

Sadly that's the truth---we tend to latch on to 'olde timey stuff' and think its correct for the CW period, when only a modicum of research would show us that the Great War folks need it more. And given the fact that I'm seeing things in antique malls that I received as wedding presents, Vietnam War era material culture is the next "olde timely stuff"

[jda3rd]

I don't try to limit my stuff at home to ACW-era items, which just means I have to be careful when packing for an event.

You're right that a lot of folks think it's antique if it's dusty/rusty. It may be just junk, not even old.

Frank

[D.W. Scalf]

Yeah, just like nearly everybody who has any sort of socket bayonet for sale on ebay tries to pass it off as "Civil War".

D.W. Scalf

[ryantownsend23]

At one time another I recall seeing an old Kentucky rifle and US Springfield in a cracker barrel in Tennessee, I was up looking at it and the manager came up to me and looked at me funny and said " Tryin to ask that rifle on a date?" I guess because I was so close to it hahaha.

[31stWisconsin]

I remember that bar with the muskets! It is right outside a piano bar on Bourbon Street, next to the Preservation Hall Music Club. It was a collection of about 2 dozen old weapons. The majority of them were civilian shotgun types if I remember correctly, and trapdoor Springfields. There were only a few civil war era muskets, and a few more modern ones. I think I remember a sporterized Arisaka. Of course, I was fully enjoying Bourbon Street at the time so I might be off on a few details. The weapons were in very bad condition as one would expect being in a humid New Orleans bar.

[Tiger_rifles]

Anyone here ever run across a unique or valuable piece on display in this fashion? Frank Brower

I grew up along the Blue Ridge in Virginia. Just outside the entrance to Skyline Drive in Front Royal, Va. was a little tourist trap/trading post place,(can't remember the name of it???). Oh yes they had pecan logs and fireworks, and so on....... they even had what they had labeled a Barbary Lion stuffed out front on a wheely cart. But in the back on the wall, just over the glass case with all the "US" and "CS" belt plates w/58 cal. bullets shot/stuck in them, was about a dozen or so "Richmond Muskets". Mostly I remember them as the later low hump lockplates. My cousons and I were big ACW freaks back then and would drive around for hours looking for any private museum somebody had in thier garage or back yard shed. We got him to take a few down one time and looked them over, (not that we could afford the crazy price he had on them!). Best we could figure was this guy got a bucket of Richmond lockplates and was fitting them on any old Mdl 1861 SF he could find, because most of them were two banders or what he called "Cav-Rifles", but I do remember one full three bander. This was the early 1970's.

[Pete K]

We had a bar in the Pittsburgh area (Homestead) called Chiodas. It had all types of antiques hanging from the ceiling. You name it, it was there: Rattlesnakes in jars, policeman caps, brazziers, football pennants, old rifles, pistols,trombones,US Steel emblems, the front of an old trolley, just about everything you can imagine. No one seems to know where it all went once the place closed down to become the Walgreens. Great food too!

[reddcorp]

Cracker Barrel does have neat junk, don't they? I understand they have a warehouse full of that stuff. How'd you like to plunder it sometime?

Frank

Gee, I wonder if Mike and Frankie sell to Cracker Barrel?

[misswpaxson]

My inner archaeologist screams in agony every time I see a display of that nature. "IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM." (If it's not in a museum then it belongs in my personal collection.)

Jda3rd, do recall the name of the bar in New Orleans had antique firearms hanging from the ceiling?

[jda3rd]

Miss Paxson, Sorry, but I don't recall the name of the bar, but as 31stWisconsin noted, it's very close to Preservation Hall. I haven't been to New Orleans for years. Perhaps it's time for a refresher trip.
Frank

[misswpaxson]

Ah, I think I know which place it could have been now. I lived in the Quarter for a few years....I'll create a distraction if somebody wants to grab a few things off the wall and run. lol

[Blair]

What exactly does "lol" mean, In this context?
Lots of laughs.
Lots of love.
Lots of luck.
Others?
Knowing would help with a reasonable reply?

[misswpaxson]

Lol is internet short hand for "Laughing out loud."

[wagen dawg]

Aunt Sarah's outside Fredericksburg VA has or had an "infield" (as labeled) screwed to the wall. It's a shame, because it was a dug relic.

[Mule Gil]

There used to be a "Meat & three" (family style, where you got a meat and three veggies) resturant in Bessemer, Alabama and the owner had a large gun collection hanging on the walls. There was a Tower three bander, with bayonet, up there.

Unfortunately, he had had brass plates made up with descriptions and had nailed these to the stocks. :(

[Shortround]

Here in Michigan you get to see an occasional musket screwed to a wall. Generally, they usually are "sporterized". Additionally, I have been to more than a few museums and they only display a fraction of their weapons. For years I used to see more diversity of real weapons at reenactments than I used to see at museums. So, the weapon screwed into a wall does not bother me that much. Also, if you give your business card to the owner then when remodel time comes you may be able to get an inexpensive original musket cheap.

BTW, taverns are known to screw into the wall all sorts of things. The worst I ever saw was in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan at the Brass Salon. They took a top-of-the-line bassoon (about $2500) and screwed it into the wall. The musicians from Central Michigan University, of which my wife is one, almost cried when looking at the wall.

Cest La Vie

[maillemaker]

LOL = Lusting Over Lockplates

:)

Steve

[1816flintlock]

A hardware store in Greene, NY has a bunch of old, mainly Civil War era firearms hanging high up on the walls throughout the store. I remember one being an 1861 Springfield that someone, Bannerman's perhaps converted to flintlock(!) for the african market.

Stephen Gresko

[rick35ovi]

There is a Flea market here in Monroe, Ohio called Traders World, one of the largest in Ohio. The owner is a little eccentric and has antiques screwed to the walls everywhere, but what blew my mind the most were the Thompson Center Hawkens rifles, at least 20 to 30 screwed to rafters in the isleways, i know they were reproductions but that had to cost him a fortune!! and they all have at least two screws through the stock and are covered in a 1/2 inch of dust!!

[DulcimerPlayer]

Pat Obriens

Google it for images, you will find several of the guns.

[Thad Gallagher]

I have seen a cut down Enfield at Cracker Barrel. I just don't remember if it was the local one. I have not been there in awhile. Guess I know what is for breakfast this weekend.

[matawas]

our local cracker barrel displays quite a few items that I would love to use in the field but not any firearms