M1 Garand and German K98 Mauser

[TA]

This is a Springfield USGI M1 Garand and a Russian captured German Mauser. I really enjoy the old military firearms. To hold a historical rifle like these is a sobering feeling. The K98 still has intact Nazi Swastikas. My Father qualified Expert with the M1, so I had to get one of those. They are both a lot of fun to shoot too.

[TMan]

I was just looking at your collection again, and I realized that is a beautiful pine tree in the background.

I miss the pine trees, they don't do well in this part of Texas. Actually, a lot of things don't do well here. The exception being weeds - they do real well.

["DoubleAction"]

TA; Those are beautiful Rifles, However the pine tree would be one more fitting for Christmas ornaments in Georgia. I'll miss hundred foot high pines trees when I miss having a bad case of the flu.

[TMan]

Different kind of pine tree DA! One place where I lived in NY was across the river from Ice Caves Mountain. Once you got to the top of the mountain, there was ice in the caves year around because of the altitude. What was amazing was what grew at those altitudes. There were blueberry shrubs and pine trees that weren't much taller than I.

I could not believe the height of the pine trees in Georgia. They are like 3 times taller than what I grew up with in upstate NY. I have no idea why the trees in Georgia grow so tall. My daughter has three of those big suckers in her back yard. They are scary. I wonder how deep their root system is? Do you think their height has something to do with the red dirt?

For the Yankees reading this, you have to see these things to believe it.

["DoubleAction"]

TMan; I don't know what causes these trees to grow so tall. A military map instructor at Fort Benning refered to the Southern Eastern United States, around Georgia, as the Slash Pine Belt.
I once went to Florida in the aftermath of hurricane winds and saw these pines broken off about half way up, for miles and miles; It was a real mess to witness.
I cleared my own property years ago of these things and I've been to court to have those of my neighbors' adjoining properties removed as well, at my own cost. I spent over two years in court fighting one neighbor, whose trees were falling all over my property.
I have seen several councilmen unseated just for cutting down trees in their own yard. I just don't get it when people hug up to these kind of trees. Pine straw constantly covers my gutter guards, my roof, my deck & pool area, my yard, my automobiles, driveway, and everything below. Funny thing is I don't have any pine trees on my property. I had one large Pine leaning over my house at a 25 degree angle; the limb spred was over 45 feet in length, it was eatened up with rust fusion and beetles, and I still had to beg the owner to let me pay to have it removed (After I spent 5 months fighting and loosing in a court battle).
These tall pines in Georgia are good for nothing but cheap lumber, and Pine Boxes.

[TA]

The pine trees in Ohio serve a much different purpose. First, it is about the only green you will see in the winter months. Second, when properly placed, they help to block the wind and drifting snow in the winter.

Those particular trees in the picture are in my back yard. They were planted by somebody other than me and are not placed well. They are in the middle of the yard, serving no useful purpose other than blocking my view. I have removed two of them already to open it up a bit so I can keep an eye on things.

The pines in Ohio don't commonly grow to the heights of the GA trees and they are a pain if near the house or anywhere near car parking areas. They are nice to be viewed from a distance.

["DoubleAction"]

TA; I appologize for getting off topic here but I get carried away at the mere mention of Pine Trees.
In Georgia one can live 1,000. yards from the nearest pine tree and still get bombarded with pine sap ( which removes most car paint finishes ) and pine needles.

[TA]

No apology required DA. I understand completely.

[5ontarget]

ever wonder how a garand works? I've seen the STI version for the 1911, but this is the first I've seen for the M1.
www.dav32.com/feeding.html

[MLB]

That's teriffic.

[blueglass]

You want Pine Tree's, come to Canada and help yourself as we literally have millions of them here. WE use them for their lumber in some house building and cheaper lines of furniture. We don't complain about them too much as they are just part of the greenery around us. Especially at Christmas where people up here still buy live tree's for inside their homes at Christmas.