Forwarded message:

Subject: Re: Lock and Load (fwd) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 97 11:27:11 -0500 From: "Brian B. Riley" <brianbr@together.net>

...

As to first semi-automatic in the country, I believe the Springfield 1903

Uhhhh ... 03 Springfield is a bolt action ....

True enough.

up. It was designed in 1903 and first manufactured in 1905. It was, as I said, the first semi-auto marketed to the *civilian* market. There were other semi-auto's but were all military weapons.

There wasn't a distinction until the 1920's when the various 'gat' laws because of gangsters, rum runners and such came into play. I have a friend who is a gun collector. I 'll see if he happens to have one. I wanna see this safety... Merry Christmas! ____________________________________________________________________ | | | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make | | violent revolution inevitable. | | | | John F. Kennedy | | | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|