The DoD only ever had the two toolroom prototypes for testing, right? I'm not sure a full set of drawings would have ever existed, let alone formally ratified.
Still worth a shot. The worst they can say is 'no'.
And as long as we're making wish lists, I'd really like the prints for the M3 37mm Gun, or really any other sliding wedge breech cannon. I want to scale the breech mechanism down to 3.5" 12ga and make a punt gun.
I don't know if they would have those. It would be awesome though. I love retro spaceguns.
Check the link that ahmed posted at the top. There was a couple entries that dealt field artillery guns. You might get lucky.
Out of the three two of them were fully functioning guns. The one that survives is the actual proof of concept, i.e no mag release and other vital features outside of trigger making the bang finger hit the bang button.
Can't we just send them a polite letter that says
SEND EVERYTHING!
and call it a day?
No, they require you to be specific about what you want on the FOIA request. I can only assume that's why I see parts lists that have drawing sheet id numbers on them are so sought after. So people know exactly what exists in the construction of the weapons and what to ask for.
Do they only have American guns, or captured foreign ones too?
The forum post in the OP strongly suggests the idea that aberdeen has blueprints for the gewehr 43, if it has stuff that obscure then it def others. I don't know about the artillery place but do some digging and send foia requests. I'm sending the springfield request to aberdeen today so stay posted.
How specific, though? Is it enough to say, for instance, 'ordinance blueprint for 1903 stock', or do you have to have the exact drawing number and filing location?
I guess we'll find out.
depends on how much shit you want to wade through. see this link:
unredacted.com
knowing the drawing identity will offer a better guarantee that you get what you want, let alone that they're even able to find it.
and yes, you need to know the EXACT filing location, which should be aberdeen, provided mr. Willie Sutton knows his shit.
another research update. see pic for important excerpt.
gunhub.com
another day, another mile. we're definitely headed in the right direction.