He must have run into a mean badger to bite off the bottom of the stock and buttplate. I guess that's why he carrying the sword, but it looks like he bit the grip off, too.

Chuckster wrote on Jul 25^th, 2019 at 11:29pm:


I was just thinking the same thing. The unnatural contraction of his left hand and rather limp look of the same arm. But the left leg forward with weight shifted aft looks like a guy who is injured or suffering from some condition. 

Rick

May be a war vet.

Just thinking out loud, but I don't believe that's any manner of brace. 

There appears to be a small gauge projection from the object (with what appears to be a bright tip), and you can see it's fabric covered and grows larger in diameter as it nears his belt line, with at least one fabric tie. I have half a dozen fly rods of similar vintage which, when cased, might pass for that object. 

Looking at the background, you might even begin to see a creek, with a higher bank on the far side. But being an old fly fisherman, I'm always looking for trout water!

And that left hand looks plenty strong. Just not enough resolution to know the answers, but it's always fun to puzzle on them! 

Cheers...   Jim

maybe a halo? I can see why nobody here recognized it.

Wish I could see the hat.  For some reason all I can see is his head enclosed by what appears to be a circular hole in the sky and something floating above it.  

UFO?

Aaron

A few photographic notes. By the time this was taken film speeds had increased considerably plus the lens appears to be wide open (from the minimal depth of field) and was focused on the plane where the rifle crossed his left arm or maybe even a little closer. It wasn't a great lens and is showing spherical aberrations that get worse in the corners and the bottom edge while the center was fairly sharp. Possibly a simple single meniscus. Aaron, do you have the print? If so, what is the size?

Film speeds and cameras may indeed have vastly improved by the time that picture was taken, but it doesn't mean everybody automatically began using the most modern equipment and methods.  Some folks are prone to dragging their heels awhile.  Take this bunch for example.   

Hayface

When I securely hold something in my hand. my thumb goes on top of my fingers, not inside them; so there may indeed be something wrong with the man's left hand.

Next, I suspect that what's been called a cover tie may instead be a loop on the pant leg through which the mystery object is further secured.

I also suspect that the bottom of the stock and the buttplate have not been damaged; rather that area of the photo or the plate from which it was printed has.

Last couldn't the "thing" above his hat just be the blurred image of a bird?

Bill Lawrence