410 M.35 AIRFORCE SURVIVAL

Research notes

The M6 rifle/shotgun was originally developed during early 1950s by the Ithaca Gun Company for the US Air Force as an aircrew survival weapon. The idea was based on the Marble Game Getter that was manufactured between 1908 and 1934. It was adopted by the US Air Force in 1952 and intended to be used by pilots of downed aircraft as a survival rifle to hunt small game in case of being shot down far from populated areas. It was in use until the early 70’s. It was not designed as an anti-personnel rifle, although it can be lethal at short range. It was a break-open, over & under rifle chambered for the .22 Hornet and a 410 3” cartridge and had a large, unprotected paddle shaped trigger that made it possible for a wounded pilot to still be able to fire the gun. The buttstock has an integral storage compartment for spare cartridges and the gun could be folded for easy carry. The M35 shotgun cartridges were aluminium cased with no. 6 shot and was made by Winchester.