"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat
or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy.
It is our job to see that it stays there."
George Orwell
In Castle Carteach, a rifle hangs over the closet in the living room. That makes it a 'Wall Hanger', although in this home that means something different.
Typically, 'Wall Hanger' is a term used for vintage/elderly/broken/weird firearms that are suitable for display only. Perhaps a Swiss Vertelli rifle that hasn't had ammo available for generations. Maybe Great Granddads Damascus barreled shotgun that no one dares to shoot with modern shells.
Here in the castle, 'Wall Hanger' literally means the rifle hanging on the wall at that moment, and they get rotated just like most of the artwork does. It doesn't mean non-functional, by any means. In fact, the rifle hanging up as decoration in the morning might be on the range in the afternoon, shooting a match.
Sometimes, the rifle is chosen for a special reason. Example..... we had guests coming to dinner, and a Lee Enfield No1 was hung that day. One guest stared at it a while, and asked if it was 'real'. My response: "Yes, it is real and it functions perfectly. That rifle was hung today in YOUR honor, as it hails from your childhood home in Great Britain!"
Sometimes, the rifle hanging in the living room is the particular old battle weary hand me down that has captured my interest that month.
Sometimes..... it's chosen just because it's an old Mauser with pretty wood.
What's hanging on your wall?
10 comments:
Living room wall, four Pennsylvania caplock rifles, one Halls 1819 caplock converted from flint, a couple of caplock 1851 Navy Colts and an 1880 Colt Peacemaker, one flintlock rifle made from a kit. The computer room wall has US made cartridge revolvers, S&W, Colt, Iver Johnson & Hopkins & Allen. from the 1860s rimfire .32 through centerfire .38 S&W (short), a Colt's pocket .22 short revolver with ivory grips and gold plated frame, a C. Sharps 4 barrel .22 pistol. Finally a Belgian .25 cal. Velodog revolver.
While all are technically) servicable, none but the made from a kit flintlock (flinchlock) are in use.
Nice! I like the sounds of that display very much indeed!
Rolling Block in .45 Danish... operational just as soon as I get bullets cast and the cases reloaded!
Buddy... Sweet! (Envy).
I would like to do this but don't know how to secure a rifle on the wall against theft.
Nothing... sigh... Mine are all in the safe.
I think I'll put up a pair of Springfield M1A rifles with consecutive serial numbers. They will look nice, and can sneak back into the safe when I leave.
Regarding securing a display rifle against theft... if there's a good way I don't know what it is. Against small children, cable ties will do the job.
There are different schools of thought on this. The best way to guard firearms from theft is for NO ONE to EVER know you have them.
Another view.... a cheap but interesting old long arm on display makes something for the smash/grab type of druggie low life to grab and leave with, rather than searching for the good stuff.
My view? I have a rifle on display in my home because I like it... and it's MY home.
I have a gun room. (Old NFO can attest.) But for a few lever-actions and pump shotguns on public display downstairs, all the guns live in the gun room. Anything remotely modern or valuable stays in the safe, and the German Shepherd has been told that he'll get treats equivalent to the weight of body parts that he tears off of intruders.
"What's hanging on your wall?"
A bureacrat, chosen at random.
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