hunter63
09-05-2009, 08:17 PM
I have heard this saying, and wondered where it came from.
Appears that a lot of you have been around the range a bit, what do you think?
There seems to be a lot of discussion on a couple of the shooting forums and so far this seems to be the top runner,
http://www.xent.com/pipermail/fork/2002-June/012965.html
http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorl.htm
Lock and Load
This imperative phrase originally referred to the operation of the M1
Garand Rifle, the standard U.S. Army rifle of WWII. Its meaning is more
general now, referring to preparation for any imminent event.
The original phrase was actually reversed, "load and lock." The phrase
refers to inserting a clip of ammunition into the rifle, "loading," and
"locking" the bolt forward thereby forcing a round into the chamber. The
phrase first appears in Gach's 1941-42 In the Army Now. It was
immortalized by John Wayne (who else?) in 1949's Sands of Iwo Jima,
where the Duke reversed the phrase to the current "lock and load."
The term "lock" in this phrase is a different use of the word than in
references to the firing mechanism of a weapon, as in "flintlock."
Appears that a lot of you have been around the range a bit, what do you think?
There seems to be a lot of discussion on a couple of the shooting forums and so far this seems to be the top runner,
http://www.xent.com/pipermail/fork/2002-June/012965.html
http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorl.htm
Lock and Load
This imperative phrase originally referred to the operation of the M1
Garand Rifle, the standard U.S. Army rifle of WWII. Its meaning is more
general now, referring to preparation for any imminent event.
The original phrase was actually reversed, "load and lock." The phrase
refers to inserting a clip of ammunition into the rifle, "loading," and
"locking" the bolt forward thereby forcing a round into the chamber. The
phrase first appears in Gach's 1941-42 In the Army Now. It was
immortalized by John Wayne (who else?) in 1949's Sands of Iwo Jima,
where the Duke reversed the phrase to the current "lock and load."
The term "lock" in this phrase is a different use of the word than in
references to the firing mechanism of a weapon, as in "flintlock."