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Gratuitious Gun Pic just for kicks.

By The Armorer on December 19, 2003 | | Comments (12)

Take a look at the PIAT, Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank...

More detail on this to follow this weekend.

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12 Comments

By Sasa on December 19, 2003 3:09 PM
Just what I needed.. I've always wondered what PIAT means. ..Isn't it beautiful..?
 
By MonkeyPants on December 19, 2003 6:34 PM
The one the British Paras used. You know, I once met one of the Poles who jumped with Sosiboski at Ahrnem. In Glasgow, Scotland, of all places. One of the weirdest accents I've ever heard. MonkeyPants Imperial Minion
 
By triticale on December 19, 2003 9:13 PM
I picked up the impression from things I've read that the projecting is done by a big spring? Any truth to that? As a collectors item, is the projectile a destructive device or is that a DEWAT? I could imagine firing a Lahti if I had one, but that thing is a bit much.
 
By triticale on December 19, 2003 9:17 PM
Okay, I followed the link. There is a big honking spring in there, but it drives what amounts to a firing pin. Still rather unusual of an action.
 
By Dr_Funk on December 19, 2003 9:32 PM
Smoky Smith, the last surviving Canadian winner of the Victoria Cross, won it while leading a PIAT section in Italy. He knocked out what I think was a PzKwIV. Then drove off the infantry in support of it. Quite a story, especially when you consider what an odd weapon the PIAT was. http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=feature/85vimy/vimymedia/vimy_smokey
     
By John of Argghhh! on December 19, 2003 11:34 PM
Yep. Gonna make ya check in over the weekend. All part of my nefarious plot to gain gratuitous hits...
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 19, 2003 11:46 PM
As for the spring - the driving of the firing pin is in reality a secondary function. It's real purpose is to be a shock absorber. The PIAT bomb weights 3-5 lbs, I don't remember off the top of my head - Newton's little dicta of "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" would break your shoulder if it wasn't for that 200lbs of tension spring. I'll show ya in the pictures this weekend.
 
By Eric on December 20, 2003 7:19 AM
MonkeyPants: There were a LOT of Polish WWII vets that stayed in Scotland after the war..I always enjoyed hearing their stories at the British Legion bars..
 
By hln on December 20, 2003 2:50 PM
It goes really well with the linoleum. hln
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 20, 2003 4:50 PM
Gee, thanks, Heather! I hadn't considered the aesthetics of it. Perhaps you should give some input to Volvo for that new car...
 
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