Sniper position in DalTex building by Shel Hershorn

 

Some Shel Hershorn shots, quite rare (not any more :) ) and show a possible sniper position, which has a way better view than the so called sniper’s nest on the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository.

I have no idea when and  why they went into the DalTex building to take these pix of a possible sniper’s position.

ROKC Exclusive scans from the Richard E. Sprague collection at NARA.

 

I asked Bob Prudhomme what rifle was being used in these shots and he replied the following:

“This is a sporterised 6.5mm Carcano, but not the short rifle model that Oswald allegedly used. This is a sporterized 6.5mm Carcano M91 (or M91/41) long rifle. Three things give it away.

1. The distinctive protruding Carcano magazine.

2. The very obvious split bridge on the receiver, requiring the bolt handle to be almost vertical when extracting a cartridge.

3. The M91 and M91/41 were made with straight bolt handles. If you look closely, you can actually see where a gunsmith has heated this handle up with a torch, and bent it downward, giving it a more sporty look.

I might also point out that, if this is a Carcano rife (and I believe it is one), there is no way a scope could be mounted directly above the receiver, as shown here. It would have to be offset to the left of the receiver, as can be seen on C2766.

There are two reasons for having to offset the scope to the left on a Carcano.

1. As I pointed out, the bolt handle stands straight up when extracting an empty cartridge, and would hit a scope directly above the receiver. Even the bent down handles will interfere with a scope.

2. As the Carcano must be loaded with a clip, there is no way a clip can be inserted into the magazine with a scope directly above the receiver.

 

Then there is the issue as to when these were taken, well….at the education forum the discussion pointed to an old thread started by Don Roberdeau about Mack White who was in Dealey Plaza as an eleven year old.

I quote: “At one point, my father pointed out the so-called “sniper” window to me. As I was looking up, my eye wandered away from the window to the fire escape on the building across the street–the Dal-Tex building-where I saw two men taking turns looking through the scope of a rifle mounted on a tripod.

I was alarmed. “What are they doing?” I asked.

“It’s part of the investigation,” said my father.

So the police were checking out an alternative sniper perch. Evidently, that morning, there was still something resembling a real investigation. The investigation, of course, would end the next day with Oswald’s death.”

More at Mack White’s website.