Left handed!!!

[Paul Kernan]

Ok, strange question of the day!!
Would a left handed individual be forced by convention to sling his weapon or fire it right handed? I want to sling a weapon on the left side of a figure but the way it will orientate would indicate a leftie.

 

[billyturnip]

Paul, what nationality and time period are we talking about?
It depends on the weapon, personally I fired a SLR lefthanded and when the SA80 was introduced had to learn to fire it righthanded.

Being a leftie I'm interested.

 

[Paul Kernan]

WW2 German. I figured regardless of era, you would be forced right while on parade. However, this is in the field so I assumed there would be more leniency unless, as you point out, the weapon dictated otherwise.

BTW, 50/50 (left vs right) in my family so seating around the table is always interesting

 

[billyturnip]

If I was you I would trawl through every photo you can find of WWII German troops, when you find one with the weapon slung on the left shoulder there's your evidence.

If it was common practice it shouldn't take long. Reading this it might sound like I'm taking the mick but I'm not I'll look too.

Roger

 

[Paul Kernan]

Cheers

 

[Paul Kernan]

Does this count

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35875495@N04/3772693632/#

 

[Paul Kernan]

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=...g&esq=16&page=35&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:609
I think I'm good to go

 

[billyturnip]

Does this count

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35875495@N04/3772693632/#

Lol, I've just wasted 10 minutes looking at lego men with guns.

Roger

 

[billyturnip]

There's not many but definate evidence to let you crack on with the project Paul.
There's a good one at the bottom of this page, http://www.freewebs.com/13thpanzerdivision/history.htm


Roger

 

[Paul Kernan]

The LEGO man was the first pic I found, I kid you not! Thanks for the rest of the info.....leftie it is.

Happy New Year

 

[kansas kid]

I used an M-1 Garrand in basic training. . .

Paul:

I was drafted into the USA Army in December of 1960 right after I graduated
from College, at Jayhawk University in Lawrence of course. That long ago,
in basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas we were using the M-1 Garrand Rifle,
so popular with American infantry in WWII. The duty station troops were
using the M-14 at that time.

I was then and of course am still left handed. During formation or on parade
I shouldered the weapon on the right shoulder just like everyone else, but
during the 8 weeks of basic training when we were qualifying on the shooting
range, I fired the weapon with my left hand. So I could do this quite easily,
but had to reach across to the other side of the chamber with my left hand
to retract the bolt. I don't know if this helps, but my guess is that a left
handed infantry soldier in any period or era, would fire the rifle/musket/etc.
from his or her left shoulder.

Jaybird

 

[Paul Kernan]

Rick;

Thanks for the info. General consensus (anecdotes, photos) seems to be I'm ok with a left slung MP.

Cheers
Paul

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Im wouldnt put too much trust in Lego, not since they started portraying vikings with horned helmets, they being a Danish company should really know better.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Paul Kernan]

LOL And here I thought this was a solid reference