[Milsurplus] Ricebox hams on WW2 warships...

[Mike Morrow]

>...After all, the 1873 Winchester IS a breech-loading 
>type, single shot weapon...

The Model 1873 Winchester in its most common .44-40 WCF caliber had a 15-shot tubular magazine, and was never a US military weapon.  I think you are referring instead to the trapdoor Model 1873 Springfield rifle in .45-70 caliber, which from a distance looks like a "civil war" Springfield.  A popular Jimmy Stewart "civil war" movie from 1965 called "Shenandoah" used Model 1873 (or later) trapdoor Springfield rifles, complete with obvious metallic cartridges, in place of correct .58 cal. muzzleloading Model 1861/1863 Springfield rifles.  That was very anachronistic, and ruined an otherwise entertaining movie.

Similarly, use of ham gear of any sort, manufacturer, or vintage (radios, amplifiers, keyers, antenna tuners, etc.) in a historical setting aboard a museum ship, aircraft, or base is completely pointless and out of place.  It ruins the show, and it is far less effective than a static display of appropriate vintage military equipment.   It serves only to let some hams get a few jollies outside their hamshacks, while doing nothing positive to reflect historical usage.

Even use of a military AN/FRC-93 (Collins KWM-2A) would be inappropriate, outside of a USAF-related Vietnam-era display.  On a ship, even a Vietnam-era ship, though its a military set it would be complete nonsense.  (BTW, how did the KWM-2A get a military nomemclature anyway...it's far from being military quality!)

So riceboxes aren't the only things that spoil a historical display.

Mike / KK5F