Weekend Project for Alvin.....
 

I thought this setup was unique and interesting. First I've ever heard of this aerial defense solution.

At least one of those barrels is mis-aligned... :p

And is that a Turkish uniform???

I wonder how it works...Is there a crank, or do you pump it???

That tied-off string to the bottom gun bothers me...

Weird and interesting, where did you find the photo?

Doug, that looks like a bi-wing w/struts & cables behind him...It's an 'observers' seat in a WW I aeroplane... :thumbup:

Field expedient improvisation...I still say Turkish...

Crude ring mount...Clevis elevation mechanism...Gotta be a 'posed' pic as the hat wouldn't last past takeoff...

OK, I think I've figured out that string...It's a 'safety' to aim the rack skyward while he loads all 10 magazines and c0cks the 10 hammers...So he doesn't accidentally shoot someone on the ground... :p

He doesn't load 10 magazines and c0cks 10 hammers. He only inserts 10 clips strips them in and pulls them out. at the last round the bolt stays open and the hammer c0cked. taking out the emty clip closes the bolt and chambers the 1st round.

By the way. This could be from the first Balkan war in 1912.

Looks like an innovative approach to making a semi-automatic "volley gun". I suspect that it is intended to lay down a withering fire of twelve rounds with each trigger pull. That would make a pretty effective pattern against an opposing "stick and canvas" aircraft. Pretty neat but a bit of a bear to reload.

Fascinating photo! I would think it could be quite effective at close enough range.

You have to pull back the bolt (which c0cks the hammer) to insert the stripper clip. And the magazine is internal in the C96. :D

It's a fascinating setup. I still wonder how you fire the 10 pistols. A rod through the trigger guards linked to the tube he is holding would do it. If all ten triggers were lined up.

...I'm sure Alvin could figure out how to do it... :thumbup:

Doesn't 00 buckshot have 4 (or is it 6?) 32 cal lead balls per round? It would be like letting both barrels of a 12ga loaded with 00 buckshot go at once... :p

Doug,

Never seen such a usage of C96!
Apparently 7,63 Mauser was a bottlenecked pistol cartridge with a rather straight and long range (for a pistol) trajectory, so I imagine could be pretty effective against "stick & canvas" biplanes.
Thanks for sharing!


Sergio

The photo came by way of a friend in Finland. The uniform is undoubtedly Austro-Hungarian, (enlarging the image brings out the distinctive collar tabs).
That's all I really know about the image.

Someone has already filched this image and has it up on Facebook!