You're right it's a line throwing gun. I've seen them listed for sale multiple times. It should of had a canister mounted to the barrel.

I saw them in use in 1961 by US Navy. Used to throw shot lines to a ship coming along side for refueling, etc.  I do not remember the canister attachment. The shot line was coiled in a galvanized 10-quart pail with a metal cone brazed inside.  Gunner would shoot from a sitting position, with the bucket held between his feet.  IIRC, he shot while sitting on the edge of a hatch or something similar.   

The shot line was then tied to a bigger line, etc., and eventually to a line about an inch in diameter. That line was clamped or hooked to a large hose for fuel.

The ones I saw had an ordinary blued finish, not chrome plated.

Here's a picture of one with a canister that I found online. 

Yep it looks just like that but with no cannister. Any idea as to what it is worth?



JMH

waterman wrote on Mar 22^nd, 2024 at 2:53pm:


Much more nicely made than the later rifles with the side lever that you press down. And if I recall correctly from the one example I handled, the trigger guard is actually steel, not plastic.

My first thought was that one would make a dandy rifle. Stub in a barrel and I would say that pretty much any reasonable rimmed cartridge would work out very well.

1964 to 1968 i served aboard the USS Hancock, CVA 19. we UNREPPED (underway replenish ) with several other ships, oilers, ammunition ships, stores ships, tin cans. i was in the gang that made fresh water working in "B" Division. they used these guns to send small lines across to get bigger ones across in return. Sometimes we sent water over to the other ship but mostly we took on oil.just like waterman said above. i never shot one but stood by the Gunners mate who did. Fun days in the south china sea.

It got a lot of attention at the show and a few people knew what is was. It didn't sell so I purchased it from the estate. Don't know what I will do with it yet.



JMH