That contemplative stare is him trying to figure out how to fire the gun, hold the hopper cover open, and load clips into the gun simultaneously with only two hands.
Vintage Saturday: Type 11 Nambu
Vintage photo
Vintage Saturday: Japanese ZB
Japanese troops with a ZB light machine gun in China, circa 1937
Bolt Action Rifles
Book Review: The Early Arisakas
Are you interested in Japanese weapons and militaria? There is a group you should be aware of – Banzai. Formed in 1982, Banzai has been publishing a newsletter full of Japanese-weaponry-related articles for more than […]
Light MGs
Type 97: Kijiro Nambu Adapts the ZB-30 for Japanese Tanks
Introduced in 1937, the Type 97 was basically a copy of the ZB 26/30 pattern light machine gun adapted to use in Japanese tanks and armored cars. The adaptations included mounting an optical sight to […]
I think troop regardless of weapons platform get that same stare at one time or another.
Interestingly, the that particular Type 11 has a detail not usually seen – a sort of improvised handguard! It doesn’t seem to be made of wood though (my guess would be canvas or some similar material).