TheSamba.com :: View topic - Great find today-Rifle mount bottom bracket

Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:27 pm

I went round to Jimmy's in Livermore to look at his group of Things.

I got what I was going to get in Germany next year.
A bottom bracket for the rifle mount.

I also scored two original bungees to hold down the rear seat panel uprights. I guess that a rusty German Thing was not in the California smog so the rubber was not rotted.
I already have the top bracket so now I can go and get a plastic toy rifle and maybe get stopped!

Here is my old posting of the parts manual and my top bracket.

Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:17 pm

Nice find

Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:45 am

Sam,
Check out this site for K98's you can build for $50, they also have MG34's & MG42's
I built a MG 34 for my 181 and at 10 ft you can't tell it's not real.

http://www.cushmanpaintball.com/replicaK98.html

Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:19 am

What was the NATO rifle that was in the mount in the 70's?

I believe that the K98 was a WWII rifle, not right for a type 181, but would look really impressive.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:26 am

Probably the FN FAL (7.62x51mm NATO round). The FN has been the weapon of choice by many foreign countries from the 70s to today.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:44 am

From the Samba gallery...

Not positive on this model. I'm guessing an early model FN FAL.

SilverThing identifies this as a HK G3...

I'm going with the FN FAL as the de facto weapon used in a 1970's era, european military type 181.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:30 am

Zombie hunters on the Samba Thing board? Who knew? Anyway, I have a rifle mount. I haven't mounted it yet, but I've given it a test fit with double stick tape and several long guns. I don't think it would accommodate that FN FAL with the carry handle attached.

When the gun is in the mount as pictured, the top of it is very close to the bodywork. If the gun has a high capacity magazine, and is to be clipped into the mount with the magazine attached, it must be placed in the mount sights first, and there would only be room for the most inconspicuous optics, and no carry handle. This is sad, because my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and most of my rifles are fitted with optics. It's possible to put the weapon in the opposite way, with the magazine well towards the bodywork. In that case, a scope could be accommodated. Of course in that case there could not be a high capacity magazine in the mag well, but no tears shed there, because I can't legally drive the car with the magazine in the rifle anyway, unless I'm on private property, in which case I'd be hunting, and then the high-cap mag wouldn't be an issue. Even with the magazine removed, if the rifle has a pistol grip, it won't work inserted into the mount mag well down. Short barrel carbines may be, well, too short, even with a collapsable buttstock fully extended.

BTW, I think these cars may sometimes have been fitted with four sets of rifle mounts. If seen photos of the mounts placed so the rifle would be on the floor next to the doors. I know if I were driving that vehicle somewhere where I needed a weapon, I would want the mount close enough that I could reach the weapon easily from the driver's seat.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:02 am

"Zombie Hunters" LOL. That kills me. :lol:

Actually some valid points here. We live in a "War Zone" here at the moment due to the border stuff in Arizona/New Mexico. Hand guns stuff in nicely but, I perfer a rifle anyday. Where else would you stash one? I like the floor idea.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:22 am

Captain Spalding wrote: Zombie hunters on the Samba Thing board? Who knew?

Anyway, I have a rifle mount. I haven't mounted it yet, but I've given it a test fit with double stick tape and several long guns. I don't think it would accommodate that FN FAL with the carry handle attached.

Hardy-har-har. Listen Spalding, I know you think the impending Zombie Apocalypse is all a big joke, but rest assured that the Judgment Day is on it's way! Consider yourself "lucky" as only gun-toting Thing owners will be the only ones with even half a chance when the undead rise up against the living!

BTW, the carry handle on the FAL folds down off to the side of the receiver so it would probably be able to fit in the mount. I believe even the early FALs had this folding handle.

As an aside... I sold my FN FNC a few months back. The FNC was the .223 "paratrooper version" of the FAL (Pacino used one in "Heat"). I got double what I paid for it, but I knew it was worth a LOT more. Gotta do what ya gotta do when the tax man comes knocking. Unfortunately it was my primary defense weapon against the zombies. Now all I have is my visceral disdain of zombies and a 14" iron skillet. Pray for me.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:35 am

Belgian quality... :lol:

Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:38 am

Doc*181 wrote: Belgian quality... :lol:

Yes I hear that the Belgian zombies will be especially hard to defeat.

Oh, you meant Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal (FN). Well, of course!

Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:47 am

Fun 181 wrote: Doc*181 wrote: Belgian quality... :lol:

Yes I hear that the Belgian zombies will be especially hard to defeat.

Oh, you meant Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal (FN). Well, of course!

Is it a coincidence that there are no more Belgian Zombies? I don't think so...

Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:47 am

off topic

Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:00 pm

Fun 181 wrote: Hardy-har-har. Listen Spalding, I know you think the impending Zombie Apocalypse is all a big joke, but rest assured that the Judgment Day is on it's way! Consider yourself "lucky" as only gun-toting Thing owners will be the only ones with even half a chance when the undead rise up against the living!
Au contraire. I know one day they'll be shambling my way. But I'm ready for 'em.

Quote: As an aside... I sold my FN FNC a few months back. The FNC was the .223 "paratrooper version" of the FAL (Pacino used one in "Heat"). I got double what I paid for it, but I knew it was worth a LOT more. Gotta do what ya gotta do when the tax man comes knocking. Unfortunately it was my primary defense weapon against the zombies. Now all I have is my visceral disdain of zombies and a 14" iron skillet. Pray for me.

I'm sorry for your loss, of course (seriously.) But as I understand it, to disable a zed you have to sever the spinal cord in the neck. You'd better off with a shotgun or a high caliber handgun for that. Heck, even a machete might be better than a rifle. Cast iron is always intimidating as well. It'll knock 'em down, but not out. :wink: How about a nice Mossberg or Remington 870? Very competent and won't break the bank. Plenty of bolt on's for the Mall Ninja.

It's amazing just how far off topic one can go.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:09 pm

surfarii wrote:

I am on the left and Rey's gun on the right looks like the one posted above.....bad camera photo I know

Dude, no way! Were you an "Other"?!?!

And yeah, the guy on the right looks like he's got an FAL.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:14 pm

Doc*181 wrote: Is it a coincidence that there are no more Belgian Zombies? I don't think so...
Who says? I know of at least a dozen in the moat at Casteel Alden Biesen.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:13 pm

The standard German rifle of that time would have been the Heckler and Koch G3, which is shown in that manual picture. I believe that is what the gun mount would be designed for. NATO used the G3/HK91, FAL, and US M14 interchangeably during that time period.

There are plenty of CETME rifles floating around if you want something affordable and semi-automatic that will look the part. The real HK G3 tends to sell for well over the price of your average Thing.

Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:18 pm

Off topic

Tue Sep 14, 2010 3:39 pm

Funny you found those in CA because I had those same parts set aside for you when you came here to visit this summer. Only my parts are not rusty... Still have the rifle butt mount available and lots of other OG Thing parts.. My new production run of OG Thing door seals with the original manufacturer just arrived from Germany and my my are they beautiful. These are not NOS but truly new OG parts. Both my Things are getting a full set. (This means that two full sets of good used door seals will also now be available.

Although this is not verified I have "heard" that eating at the International House of Pancakes tend to leave you "Belchin Zombie Waffles" is that the same as Belgian Zombie Waffles?

Tue Sep 14, 2010 4:47 pm

Just as an FYI, here are some photos of the rifle mounts set up to position the rifle on the floor between the driver's seat and the door.