蔣介石的手槍

[M16A1]

•2013-01-31
•第201302期

•秦嗣林

我的學徒生涯是從過去的知名當鋪「萬利當鋪」開始的。

記得我剛到店裡的時候，只能從掃地、搬貨、包衣服之類的打雜做起。但在每天的例行事務中，我偷偷觀察老闆與客人的應對進退，揣摩專業經理人的氣度，逐漸累積出經營當鋪的基本功夫。

當時許多上門的客人都是隨著國民黨撤退來臺的高級將領，他們原本是權傾一時的達官顯貴，可惜到了臺灣以後，因為不再位居要職，影響力銳減，收入不比從前，最後迫於經濟壓力，只好將珍藏的古董拿到當鋪換錢。

因此，我有幸接觸到一般人想都不敢想的國寶，也看盡了人生的興衰，其中讓我念念不忘的人物，莫過於末代貴族曹將軍。

曹將軍出身於廣西地方貴族，家族擁有私人軍隊，在廣西可以說是呼風喚雨的大家族。曹將軍年輕時曾在保定軍校接受專業軍事訓練，當時黃埔軍校還沒成立，保定軍校可以算是當時中國軍事學校的最高學府。

軍校畢業後，曹將軍承接家族的軍隊，在軍事理論和實際武裝的結合下，勢力更是發展得非常迅速，沒過幾年儼然已經成為廣西不可輕視的軍閥。再後來，曹將軍因為響應了蔣介石的北伐，在北伐戰爭結束之後官拜軍團司令，威風程度更是不可一世。當時政壇上的大人物看到他，都要尊稱他一聲「曹老」，影響力可見一斑。

1949年，曹將軍隨著國民黨撤退來臺，擔任「國大代表」一職，還有一個專屬的勤務連照應生活起居，即使編制沒有上百人這麼多，但是不論伙房兵、勤務兵、駕駛兵，還是警衛，無一不備。每次出門時，曹將軍都搭著以前日本總督的配車，雖然已經七八十歲，可是精神旺健、紅光滿面，身上流露出軍人的威武氣勢，不論走到哪裡，都是眾人目光的焦點。

曹將軍出身富貴，性好玩樂，在臺北娛樂圈威名遠播，政商名流都要讓他三分。據說，以前國劇名角顧正秋在永樂戲院唱《蘇三起解》時，現場座位一票難求，曹將軍竟然可以跟蔣經國搶頭等座位。而且不論是捧明星還是投資電影，他都從不缺席，甚至有傳言說他包養了當時鼎鼎有名的女影星，可以想見出手多麼闊綽。

不過，即便曹將軍過去的資歷再顯赫，來到臺灣之後，因為大環境的變動，再加上時間的推移，他在政治圈漸漸失去了原有的影響力，慢慢沒有人願意搭理他了。

可是他講究排場的性格始終沒改，加上妻妾成群、部屬眾多，可想而知每天的開銷多麼驚人，但其真正的收入只有一年兩次的國大代表出席費，要拿來支應如此奢侈的生活，實在是杯水車薪。

所幸曹將軍過去擔任過不少要職，因而搜集了不少珍奇古玩和金銀財寶，只好隔三差五拿個國寶或是金條來當鋪借錢。每回他出現時，總是穿著上等衣料製作的禮服，拄著雕工精細的拐杖，抽著進口的雪茄，始終沒有放棄外在的風光。

曹將軍拿來當的寶貝太多了，每一件都讓我們大開眼界。我記得他曾經當過一把深具歷史意義的武士刀，是日本侵華日軍總司令岡村寧次在投降時所獻的。這把刀被當到當鋪後，最後因為曹將軍無力贖回，只好轉賣給日本富豪。當日本富豪把刀抽出來檢查時，一瞬間滿室生寒，室內溫度彷彿瞬間降了攝氏兩度，令人汗毛直豎。我第一次見識到武俠小說中所說的劍氣是真有其事。

另外，他還來當過兩千五百多年前的古物—吳王闔閭劍，劍匣中還附有大學教授蓋章的佐證文件，證明來歷不假。這柄劍收到庫房之後，某天晚上我們一群學徒在庫房門口睡覺，竟聽到門後傳來奇怪的聲音，起初我們以為是老鼠作亂，於是走進庫房檢查，後來發現聲響居然是從劍匣中傳出的。

我們趕緊請教見多識廣的老朝奉，老朝奉沉思了一會兒解釋道：「一般古物多少有些靈性，這是傳說中的『劍鳴』，表示最近會有事情發生。」果不其然，第二天就有人上門把闔閭劍買走了。

其實典當古董並不稀奇，當時從大陸撤退抵臺的達官顯貴多少都收藏了一些，一有急用便會帶來當鋪變現。我們天天看個一兩件，日子久了也就習以為常，但沒想到曹將軍總有新鮮貨，有一天，他竟帶了一把白朗寧手槍上門。

照理講，當鋪是不能收槍械的，一般人更不可能持有，可是此槍大有來頭，原本是當年一外國使節贈送給蔣介石，爾後再由蔣轉贈給曹將軍的槍。手槍保存在一個精雕細刻的木盒之中，內附六發子彈，槍柄鑲著象牙裝飾，還有一張蔣介石親手寫的便箋，上寫「本槍供曹兄防身自衛使用」。

這薄薄的一張紙等同於「總統親頒」的持槍執照，所以曹將軍可以帶著這把槍光明正大地四處遊走。

店內伙計看到槍都不知如何是好，老闆倒是氣定神閒地在當票上寫明「白朗寧手槍壹把、子彈陸發」，然後拿了兩萬元給曹將軍。

幾天後，附近的警察到店裡例行查贓，隨意地翻閱帳本，赫然發現帳目上竟有「手槍」兩字，驚訝地問老闆：「你們店裡怎麼會有槍？這是犯法的啊！趕緊拿出來！」只見老闆不疾不徐地轉身回庫房，不一會兒工夫拿著槍盒走向警察，連同盒內便箋一起遞到警察眼前。警察一看便箋上的字，「刷」的一下臉色大變，連忙搖手說：「就當我什麼都沒問，什麼都沒看到！」說完就一溜煙跑掉了。

雖然曹將軍靠變賣收藏品維持生活，不甚光彩，但如果能省吃儉用，其實安享晚年也不成問題。可惜由奢入儉難，他拉不下臉過儉樸的生活，還是硬撐著維持鋪張的排場。漸漸地，值錢的寶物變賣光了，甚至連將軍的戎服、軍刀、勳章都拿來典當。到最後，原本幫忙開車、做飯的部屬也一個個離開了他，而原本最親的家屬不是出國就是失去聯繫，都不在身旁。

曹將軍的生活愈過愈困難，他一輩子由別人服侍，怎麼也沒想到九十多歲時會落到自己燒飯的地步。我曾親耳聽他跟我的老闆抱怨說，他非常痛恨自己年紀一大把，身子骨卻還硬朗，眼睜睜地看著自己的日子一天不如一天。

幾年後，我意外地在報紙上看到曹將軍自殺身亡的消息，不勝唏噓。他曾經貴為司令，一呼百應，沒想到幾十年後成為沒落的貴族，客死異鄉。富貴如浮雲，來則來，去則去，當初蔣親賜的白朗寧手槍，沒想到可能就是他用來結束自己生命的手槍。

(裴雄飛／摘自長江文藝出版社《29張當票—典當不到的人生啟發》一書，圖／李小光)

http://mag.chinatimes.com/mag-cnt.aspx? ... 107&page=1

[M16A1]

誰呀　　
　　把曹姓　當成一個借用的假姓　出身廣西也當成一個隱其身分的假設地　那就可能對的出人
　若是打轉曹為真姓　地名也真　自然找不出人

[Mike The Moomin]

I wonder what kind of FN Browning was it?

[春田]

最多可能是 FN 1910，我覺得送柯特小手槍才上路。

[春田]

柯特1903 以前做過 general officer pistol （將軍手槍）

General officer pistol program has rich history

When Gens. Omar N. Bradley, George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower retired, they purchased the pistols they were issued when they were on active duty.

And still today, when general officers retire they can buy the pistols they were issued.

The General Officer Pistol Team, of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command Rock Island's Weapons Product Support Integration Directorate, oversees the process for the active Army, National Guard and Army Reserve.

The GO Pistol Team has records of issue on the original three by five cards dating back to World War II, said Sid Kemmis, Associate Director, Weapons Support Group.

Title 10, USC Section 2574 allows each active duty general officer to receive a general officer model M9 pistol on loan and purchase it when he or she retires, he explained.

The pistols are special in that they are procured especially for general officers, with serial numbers prefixed with the letters "GO," explained Tara Octaviano, logistics management specialist

Jodie Creen Wesemann, museum technician at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, said the first General Officer Model RIA M15 .45 caliber pistol produced at the Rock Island Arsenal is in the museum's collection. According to museum records, it was produced in 1972, and is a modified version of the Ithaca Gun Co. M1911A1 made in 1943.

According to "The Colt U.S. General Officers Pistol" by Horace Greeley IV, the pistol's original GO1 serial number was hurriedly changed to GO178 to discourage a visiting dignitary, who asked to see the new pistol, from taking the weapon.

The practice of issuing pistols (the Colt caliber 380 pocket model) to general officers began in 1944 during World War II (Greeley). It was replaced by the shorter-barreled M15 in the 1970s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M15_pistol) followed by the more modern M9 9mm pistol in 1984 (http://tri.army.mil/LC/cs/csi/satoc.htm#M9).

"When a general officer requests a pistol he has to either go through the GOMO office (General Officer Management Office) or come through us with a request to receive the pistol," Octaviano said.

Octaviano then verifies the requester, assigns the pistol and logs the request into a database, which notifies Anniston Army Depot personnel who ship the pistol to the general.

"Because it's a loan, the general needs to confirm annually that it's in his or her possession," said Kemmis. "All of the transactions, which include the purchase request and annual inventory certification, are automated and web based." There are 650 pistols issued according to current records.

"In addition to the pistol they get a flag, belt buckle, holster, magazine, cleaning rod and brush and other accessories," said Kemmis. The pistols cost $497.

Most general officers purchase their pistols when they retire, said Kemmis. "They are general officers after all, and we give them exceptional service. We try to take really good care of them."

[春田]

George S. Patton 不是退休吧？他是在德國出車禍死的。所以文章的第一句似乎有點問題。

[Mike The Moomin]

He retired to the Big Kahuna

[春田]

I have a story about a "general officer's rifle". Years ago I saw a strange looking Mosin-Nagant carbine at a gunshow. I liked it. The seller told me it's a "general officer's rifle". I asked back why a general officer had a rifle. But like any sucker in the gunshow, I bought it. Paid big money (kind of) for it too. Few days later (it was before the internet) I found out it was a New England Westinghouse M91 sporterized. Only worth a fraction I paid for.

[春田]

Think back, if I were a general oficer, I definately would request a general officer's M4 carbine. That would be really cool addition to general officer's M9 pistol and 1902 sword (which I don't think is available anymore. Someone can still get it through private purchase thou).

[Mike The Moomin]

Yeah...I was taken by a "gun show tale" once as well. It was a Finn marked Swedish M4O Lahti used by the Danish police with "D" serial number prefix....I was told it was a pistol used by the Swedish volunteer in the Winter War...and end up paying 50% higher for a "normal" Lahti.

[MikeH]

George S. Patton 不是退休吧？他是在德國出車禍死的。所以文章的第一句似乎有點問題。

同一句還有另一個錯誤
美軍五星上將終身現役 形式上並不退伍
艾森豪就職總統前 辭退軍階 避免軍人干政
總統卸任後 國會又任命他為五星上將

[Ed]

一看「長江文藝出版社」，基本上對岸這種名稱類型出版社的出版物當小說、寓言看看就好，不必當真深入研究。

[春田]

Ed 兄說得對，甚至當小說、寓言都不值得看，除非白看，而且還不要花力氣。手槍正是大家興趣之所在，可以順便聊下。