Thanks, Ma — I stand corrected. I was told (while in the Navy in the 60’s) that no enlisted personnel were allowed to have any personal weapons. I had enquired because I’d had the chance to get a blue-printed Colt 1911 45cal from the personal collection of a retiring Chief Gunner. My Dad wouldn’t allow me to send it to him (he was a Quaker), and I couldn’t stow it in the Ship’s Armory, so I lost the chance.
Besides the various pistols, rifles and shotguns, there were a bunch of cutlasses and some pikes in that armory; an interesting place to spend some down-time helping with maintenance, as I was on the ship’s Pistol Team. Guess there was a little good time in my service after all. ;^)
El Gato — my apology that I passed you wrong information; guess it only applies to the Navy.