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This is my M4A3 Sherman and it's the only known one in private hands to have been used during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It's a live-fire 75mm and also has two 1919A4's as well.
I didn't plan on selling it but I won't lie.... I would have taken $1,500,000 for it. I own another live-fire Sherman and wouldn't have been heart broken.
@VegasTankOwner. What if the mostly peaceful protesting spreads even further? Aren't you worried that in your remote location, all BLM/Antifa would need to do is lay down across that desert road and then there would be absolutely no way for you to get that tank back to your driveway?
Their quantity and their reliability. Its a rather interesting contrast amongst the 4 major players on what their cultural perception of "quality" and "reliability" was.
Germans: High quality, High performance, with an expectation of it having to be returned to the factory for repair multiple times during its time of life. Most german tanks would only survive a year of active service before being irreperably damaged from wear and tear, but they were confident in their ability to transport tanks back and forth from factories for repairs, so quality was key. I mean, yes, your Panthers final drive MIGHT randomly break off if you try to use it for 150km without maintenance, but if you actually got it to the battlefield, it would kick 20 shades of ass by the time you'd had to retreat.
Soviets: Poor Quality, High performance, but easy to repair on the field. Sure, your T-34 had reliability problems out the ass, its hull may or may not have sections with the structural integrity of scrap metal (this was actually a thing due to flawed casting methods), it was cramped as all shit, and the entire crew would probably die upon a single penetration, but it GETS SHIT DONE, and most of any failure you get would either be fixed with the next wave of reinforcement or with your drivers mechanical kit.
Brits: Highly specialized for a singular purpose until the US took over their tank provisions supplying duties. definitions of quality based on their place in the british stratagem. Their cruiser tanks for example weren't marked off for poor survivability for the era, while their infantry tanks suffered reliability problems out of the ass but they didn't care that much as the infantry tanks weren't meant for rapid movements, but to act as rolling bunkers.
US: Medium quality, Medium performance, but made with both reliability and ease of repair in mind because once you land one of those badboys overseas that beauty is gonna have to do duty until the end of the war or tragedy claims it, because no way in fucking hell you are sending it back to Detroit for repairs, and despite overblown myths of the "Tommycooker" problem, it had the best survival-on-knockout rate for its crew out of any tank in the war. Yes, relative to the T34 and Panther, you might have the worst all-round protection (unless you a Jumbo), and yes, your 75mm and 76mm perform worse than the 75mm and 88mm of the germans and the 76mm and 85mm of the Sovjets, but its a heck of a lot more comfortable, far more stable (making it more suited for urban combat and offensive scenarios), will run from Normandy to Berlin within a single bout of maintenance and even if that Panther shoves a 75mm through your frontal hull, you'll probably just end up with a dead engine, a wounded but alive radio man, and 4 crew members who will just get out and nick one of the 50 shermans coming for backup to return the favor.
We’re you really trying to sell it? Or was it more exposure than anything? I always felt like the people going on his show with incredible $1mil+ things, they don’t actually expect to make a deal with Rick, but hoping someone who will make a deal will see it and contact them.
Btw, that’s probably the coolest thing anyone can own.
The market price of an item like a Sherman is impossible to predict. Sure you'll find plenty of people that want to debate and argue about what it should be worth. Which is fun too, don't get me wrong.
But any item is only worth what someone else is willing to pay you for it.
Without a buyer, the number at which you price anything is irrelevant.
Guys that own tanks have tons of money typically as they can afford the maintenance and storage costs. The variable costs of upkeep on the tank is what is a killer.
Not that it's cheap to buy at $1.5 million. That is a lot of lettuce. But that $1.5 million just buys you the opportunity to take over the maintenance costs.
I'd wager you could easily spend six figures a year keeping the thing in running order.
You'd need at least one full-time tank mechanic on your staff I'd think, most likely more than one, especially if you had two Shermans you wanted to keep up and running especially.
And good Sherman mechanics don't exactly work for minimum wage, or are easy to find, I'd think.
Then you have to have a place you can store it that is near a place you can drive it.
Every time you do take it out you will break something.
They are always in the process of refurbishing something on these old tanks, as most guys rich enough to have one want them restored at least to running order, if not museum quality for public display.
But when it comes to wealthy people they are almost always willing to sell anything for the right price, IME. They didn't get to be rich by being stupid.
But how many people, organizations, or museums are really out there actively looking to actually purchase a tank? I can't believe there are very many.
You know, VegasTankOwner, usually I'd question the wisdom of structuring your entire identity around a single thing... but when it's a fucking tank, I get it, and fully support you in your endeavors.
Phenomenal jewel of history there! I would love to see it up close, lay my hand on it and imagine the battle. I'd cry for sure, but also feel such pride remembering our amazing Veterans and how they triumphed!
The rounds aren’t taxed as they are just solid projos and not explosive. We have to load the rounds out at the range or otherwise we’d have to get permits to transport them. We fire what we make.
We still don't know why it was saved. I brought two Marine tankers out to Vegas and they both remember this tank. It was knocked out three times in the first 24 hours and one of them had to move it out of the way. The 37mm anti-tank round hit the turret and caused it to stick in the 3 o'clock position and the tank crew bailed out. The problem was they were running point and blocked the column of tanks. The young Marine who had to go jump in it and move out of the way is still alive and we got to ask him about it. They didn't want to drive of the cleared route because there were anti-tank mines buried all over the place.
I can't in good conscience promise I'll never complain about ammo prices ever again, but this should shut me up for a couple days, at least. Dare I even ask, if the point isn't moot?
This is my M4A3 Sherman and it's the only known one in private hands to have been used during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It's a live-fire 75mm and also has two 1919A4's as well.
We had a good day with Rick... who is a YUGE Trump supporter.
I didn't plan on selling it but I won't lie.... I would have taken $1,500,000 for it. I own another live-fire Sherman and wouldn't have been heart broken.
Wow, not one, but two Shermans?
Lucky guy!
@VegasTankOwner. What if the mostly peaceful protesting spreads even further? Aren't you worried that in your remote location, all BLM/Antifa would need to do is lay down across that desert road and then there would be absolutely no way for you to get that tank back to your driveway?
KEKEK
YASS!
You can dual wield Shermans.
They did say in WWII the best quality of the Sherman was the quantity of them.
You'd technically have a Sherman tank battalion then, right?
That and their mechanical reliability.
Their quantity and their reliability. Its a rather interesting contrast amongst the 4 major players on what their cultural perception of "quality" and "reliability" was.
Germans: High quality, High performance, with an expectation of it having to be returned to the factory for repair multiple times during its time of life. Most german tanks would only survive a year of active service before being irreperably damaged from wear and tear, but they were confident in their ability to transport tanks back and forth from factories for repairs, so quality was key. I mean, yes, your Panthers final drive MIGHT randomly break off if you try to use it for 150km without maintenance, but if you actually got it to the battlefield, it would kick 20 shades of ass by the time you'd had to retreat.
Soviets: Poor Quality, High performance, but easy to repair on the field. Sure, your T-34 had reliability problems out the ass, its hull may or may not have sections with the structural integrity of scrap metal (this was actually a thing due to flawed casting methods), it was cramped as all shit, and the entire crew would probably die upon a single penetration, but it GETS SHIT DONE, and most of any failure you get would either be fixed with the next wave of reinforcement or with your drivers mechanical kit.
Brits: Highly specialized for a singular purpose until the US took over their tank provisions supplying duties. definitions of quality based on their place in the british stratagem. Their cruiser tanks for example weren't marked off for poor survivability for the era, while their infantry tanks suffered reliability problems out of the ass but they didn't care that much as the infantry tanks weren't meant for rapid movements, but to act as rolling bunkers.
US: Medium quality, Medium performance, but made with both reliability and ease of repair in mind because once you land one of those badboys overseas that beauty is gonna have to do duty until the end of the war or tragedy claims it, because no way in fucking hell you are sending it back to Detroit for repairs, and despite overblown myths of the "Tommycooker" problem, it had the best survival-on-knockout rate for its crew out of any tank in the war. Yes, relative to the T34 and Panther, you might have the worst all-round protection (unless you a Jumbo), and yes, your 75mm and 76mm perform worse than the 75mm and 88mm of the germans and the 76mm and 85mm of the Sovjets, but its a heck of a lot more comfortable, far more stable (making it more suited for urban combat and offensive scenarios), will run from Normandy to Berlin within a single bout of maintenance and even if that Panther shoves a 75mm through your frontal hull, you'll probably just end up with a dead engine, a wounded but alive radio man, and 4 crew members who will just get out and nick one of the 50 shermans coming for backup to return the favor.
Shermans akimbo
That all depends on how many 75mm shells you can get your hands on.
Last time I checked Ammoseek I don't remember 75mm HE rounds being an option, but after seeing this picture, I'm thinking there really should be.
Tree Fiddy
We’re you really trying to sell it? Or was it more exposure than anything? I always felt like the people going on his show with incredible $1mil+ things, they don’t actually expect to make a deal with Rick, but hoping someone who will make a deal will see it and contact them.
Btw, that’s probably the coolest thing anyone can own.
The market price of an item like a Sherman is impossible to predict. Sure you'll find plenty of people that want to debate and argue about what it should be worth. Which is fun too, don't get me wrong.
But any item is only worth what someone else is willing to pay you for it.
Without a buyer, the number at which you price anything is irrelevant.
Guys that own tanks have tons of money typically as they can afford the maintenance and storage costs. The variable costs of upkeep on the tank is what is a killer.
Not that it's cheap to buy at $1.5 million. That is a lot of lettuce. But that $1.5 million just buys you the opportunity to take over the maintenance costs.
I'd wager you could easily spend six figures a year keeping the thing in running order.
You'd need at least one full-time tank mechanic on your staff I'd think, most likely more than one, especially if you had two Shermans you wanted to keep up and running especially.
And good Sherman mechanics don't exactly work for minimum wage, or are easy to find, I'd think.
Then you have to have a place you can store it that is near a place you can drive it.
Every time you do take it out you will break something.
They are always in the process of refurbishing something on these old tanks, as most guys rich enough to have one want them restored at least to running order, if not museum quality for public display.
But when it comes to wealthy people they are almost always willing to sell anything for the right price, IME. They didn't get to be rich by being stupid.
But how many people, organizations, or museums are really out there actively looking to actually purchase a tank? I can't believe there are very many.
Paul Allen put down $2.5 million for a Panzer. Not everyone has the money ha had, of course.
Last I read was their was a lawsuit about it not being delivered.
You're wrong.
The explosion was "enhanced" for viewer pleasure. The round was on point but we don't shoot HE rounds.
99% chance that car had explosives in it. I guess it could have been an HE round with a fuse?
Oh ok. Still don't think the round make that firey explosion.
I think it is believable. Even without explosive rounds, a lot of things ignite just from the impact.
I'll be his bitch..
My grandfather was a tank gunner on Iwo. Would never talk about it. EVER.
Beautiful tank. How did you come by it?
We brought two Marine tankers who served in Iwo Jima to come drive and shoot it. They signed the hull for us.
Amazing. The red tape must have been crazy. Do the tanks run and maneuver?
They do. There's a video of this gentleman on Pawn Stars, where Rick drives and fires it. Really cool.
That's awesome!
Did he offer them five bucks for it?
Okay, you just won this Sunday Gunday. lol beautiful
If a commie had enough money before they became a commie and decided to buy a tank they will soon be unable to afford to maintain one.
Nobody needs a ...
okay, fuck, I want one!
Nobody needs 30 75mm rounds to kill an elk!
Hey I wish I didn't have to use so many too.
But unfortunately it's the rutting season, and the elk are especially ornery around here.
Take the problem up with them.
Well, do you want the elk to just run off and die from blood loss???
“Where’d the elk go?”
There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded mosquito....
WE HAVE THE BEST M4A3 SHERMAN TANK OWNERS
There will never be a Sunday Gunday post that surpasses this
Next week: "Hi! This is my ICBM with a 30 megaton nuke."
I have the greatest weapon of all - the truth.
Would that come before or after the Sunday Gunday post where one of our pedes shows off his F35? Asking for science.
I do have bigger guns.. just say'n.
😍
ahem....Pics or GTFO.
(I don't really want you to GTFO, I just want to see pics.)
Check his post history he's shown off other tanks
Is there an M109 in your future?
Make Grapeshot Great Again
. . . who drop a mortar shell on top of it with a drone, just like their heroes in Syria.
You know, VegasTankOwner, usually I'd question the wisdom of structuring your entire identity around a single thing... but when it's a fucking tank, I get it, and fully support you in your endeavors.
LOL!!
Them: "I mean... there has to be limits to what the 2nd amendment covers right? It's not like you're allowed to have your own tanks!"
Us:
Flamethrowers are allowed
M4 goes BRrrrrrrrr
Don’t know if this is a serious post...but I want it to be true!
It’s my truth!!!
Definitely legit. I own quite a few live-fire tanks.
Username checks out
Life goals right here gentleman.
This is a man with straight priorities.
He's got priorities so straight you could set your watch to 'em.
looks legit.
Ok, you win.
This guy is the Literal Chad that fucks everyone's wife. A fucking tank Bro, a FUCKING TANK!
I love you, no homo.. unless...
VIRGIN PP SHOOTER.png
CHAD TANK BOSS.jpg
I’m not a cuck or anything but uh, you know. If I get to fire one shot out that thing...
Everyone has their price...
Do you get in it and yell at the neighbor kids to get off your lawn?
Haha, do you have to have a stamp for that? Love it.
It has three stamps total. one DD and two MG's.
Phenomenal jewel of history there! I would love to see it up close, lay my hand on it and imagine the battle. I'd cry for sure, but also feel such pride remembering our amazing Veterans and how they triumphed!
Awesome piece of history. How does the DD stamp work for the 75 mm? Is every round taxed?
The rounds aren’t taxed as they are just solid projos and not explosive. We have to load the rounds out at the range or otherwise we’d have to get permits to transport them. We fire what we make.
I see. Thanks for the info. I bet rolling your own 15 pound rounds is quite a process on its own.
You win.
Saved from the rust of the Pacific, glorious tribute to our fighting forces and industry team, thanks for sharing. God Bless America
We still don't know why it was saved. I brought two Marine tankers out to Vegas and they both remember this tank. It was knocked out three times in the first 24 hours and one of them had to move it out of the way. The 37mm anti-tank round hit the turret and caused it to stick in the 3 o'clock position and the tank crew bailed out. The problem was they were running point and blocked the column of tanks. The young Marine who had to go jump in it and move out of the way is still alive and we got to ask him about it. They didn't want to drive of the cleared route because there were anti-tank mines buried all over the place.
Yes, I'll take three of them please. Thank you.
Does the gun still fire?
Yes sir. We don't use it as often as our other tanks because of how rare it is.
makes me happy when i see metric posts, and not pounds and inch's :)
Shiny. I suppose ammo is hard to come by. What are the wood planks for covering the road wheels?
The wood along the hull and the suspension was to prevent the Japanese from attaching magnetic "Lunge" mines.
Yes thanks. I watched the video after my question. I hope Pawn Stars paid for the target at least. 😀
Hi I'm Ian Mccollum and welcome to "forgotten weapons"
Cool, so we have a tank
Thank God for General Pienaar.
Was it difficult getting out of that tank after firing it with such a huge hard-on?
Holy moly what a great experience and deal. Congrats!
That is badass
I'm beginning to feel that my own preparation is woefully inadequate.
Not many tanks that have their own idioms in English, "Built like a Sherman tank" is well earned honor.
Every time I meet a tank owner I think of Tank. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0088224/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_8
Man that's all the way back from WW2 when men were made of steel and boats were made of wood.
Is that the Sherman featured in the movie "Tank", with James Garner?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088224/
No, that was from another collector who passed away about 3-4 years ago. I'm not sure where that one ended up.
"But if you followed the 2A exactly, then private citizens would be running around with tanks, and you wouldn't want that, would you?"
Yes. Yes, we would.
Wait, we have tanks?
Wait, we have tanks.
We have tanks.
"We"? Commie.
Is this the tank featured on Pawn Stars?
Yes sir.
Super jelly. Two questions... what does one do to afford this, and are they hiring?! Keep on with the MAGA my friend.
We own and indoor range, outdoor range and a retail gun store. I avoid the retail store and my son runs that one for us.
Very nice! I think I may know the place you’re talking about.
We have an armored division in the making. POG
I was at my local gun store yesterday, and they had no 75mm ammo on the shelves at all, are you able to find enough ammo in your state?
Uhhh, do you need a roommate?
"I do believe I've got you covered"
James Garner in Tank.
BTW you win Sunday Gunday this week.
I can't in good conscience promise I'll never complain about ammo prices ever again, but this should shut me up for a couple days, at least. Dare I even ask, if the point isn't moot?
Next: Tank rally
I've got a pair of 75mm shells next to my fireplace. Nice decoration.
🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
That should be standard issue for God fearing constitutional pedes!
Username checks out.
This is incredible.
Between the various types of armor.. MBT's, APC's and SPG's, we are at over 40 pieces.
Can I borrow that for our next Patriot Prayer rally? I don't need a lot of ordinances to keep it really fucking peaceful.