December 2013 Purchases

[Nyles]

Well, since no one else has...

Picked up a few good items this month. Maybe the most interesting is a Chinese Chiang Kai Shek Mauser, made in June 1944 at the Hanyang Arsenal. It's in pretty rough shape, and pretty roughly made - a close examination of the thing tells me I should never shoot it! But that's alright, I knew what I was getting when I bought it. It actually gives me a new respect for the Chinese soldiers that went into battle with these things. Interestingly, the ideographs on the butt apparently indicate issue to local defense militias after the Communist revolution, which accounts for some of the hard use the rifle has seen.




Also picked up a nice refurbed Mosin M38, in a proper wartime laminate M38 stock with no bayonet cutout. Unfortunately it's import marked, and unfortuntaely I paid a very fair price based on what Westrifle has been selling them for, but nowhere near as low what Tradex just put them up for. Ooops!



I also picked up a bayonet for my Berthier 1892 artillery carbine from a board member, which is a pretty neat one.

 

[Andurp]

M38 from Tradex! No images yet as I only bought it today.

Your new items look great. Why shouldn't you shoot the Mauser, is it that shoddily put together?

 

[Mark-II]

I just bought 3 for sure, and maybe 5 M38's LOL (not all for me. I have relatives who don't believe in eCommerce).

Traded something for a 1930's Finn M27 (with the popsicle stick nose cap).

...The rest is a blurr between November and December...

I really need to get off my arse and upload photos.

 

[CanadianAR]

Another crude mauser......only poor pics right now, its in the mail.

 

[Nyles]

M38 from Tradex! No images yet as I only bought it today.

Your new items look great. Why shouldn't you shoot the Mauser, is it that shoddily put together?

Yeah, I can actually wiggle the bolt back and forth when it's closed, and have the shimmy it past the bolt stop as it's hanging up on the locking lug. Plus the receiver is actually deforming where the bolt handle hits it when it closes, which doesn't exactly give me a warm fuzzy about the metalurgy!

 

[Andurp]

Yikes. That's not something I'd be shooting either.

Nice conversation piece, though!

 

[Nyles]

Whether shootable or not, when you consider the scale of the Chinese contribution to the war against the Japanese (from skirmishes starting in 1931 all the way to 1945), no WW2 collection is complete without one!

 

[Horilka]

And another Mauser. Beautiful condition, all numbers are matching, one digit serial number.

 

[Pcmx]

All these Mausers and M38s, you guys are killing me. But I like looking at these photos

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Wow! That 71/84 is a beauty piece. I can only hope the bore is in great shape too.
The beasty would make for a great 200yd. gong ringer with a good bore.

 

[Cdn303]

Guess I didn't get the memo that it is Mauser month. I already have the funds set aside to get another 91/30 as a present to myself.

 

[tiriaq]

Another crude mauser......only poor pics right now, its in the mail. QUOTE]

Why would you want a crude one like that, when there are nice, smoothly machined ones?
Great find!

 

[polaris]

And another Mauser. Beautiful condition, all numbers are matching, one digit serial number.

That's a beauty.
Where did you find it?

 

[sledge]

MAS 49/56 Sniper with transit case and full kit. Cannot wait to take it to the range this month.

 

[smellie]

Well, I did get a chopped Home Guard Ross but no photos as yet. It is away, being analysed so that a couple of the parts can be reproduced.

I will put it up when it comes home.

Gotta get away from all these Mousers one way or another! Sheesh!

Although some of them are pretty and others are interesting........

......but you never heard that from me. I have a reputation to live down to!

 

[Ballsofice154]

Steyr M95 rifle in 8x56r and I got a bayonet to go along with it.

 

[Steve1987]

MAS 49/56 Sniper with transit case and full kit. Cannot wait to take it to the range this month.

That looks like a great set! Very cool.

-Steve

 

[Smitsauce]

MAS 49/56 Sniper with transit case and full kit. Cannot wait to take it to the range this month.

Is that the one from the EE? Or did you import it from the US? I have been thinking on trying to import one as you never see them for sale up here. I love these rifles!

Ian

 

[johnny rotten]

Sledge, that's quite the treasure trove you got yourself there!

Can you tell us a bit more about the rifle and support kit?

Looking forward to hearing a range report on this too.

Congrats on your new acquisition!

 

[sledge]

I knew I would stir the hornet's nest with that pic!

Yes I got it from the US of A having had a really good experience bringing in a full-mum Arisaka (finally!) last year from our friends to the south. It was not cheap, every mag had to be pinned, and shipping was a prick but I really liked the fact it came with everything. Including a dummy grenade, blanks for launching it, night sight, training sight, the APX scope of course, a lot of mags (I could do service rifle with it!), and all kinds of other neat stuff including original French manuals.

I will put a range report with info on the extra goodies just after the holidays on the forum. This rifle was made towards the end of the MAS 49/56 run and the barrel is dated 83'. The bore looks almost new.

But just by handling it, stripping it, it definitely feels like a fantastic service rifle. I have always loved the FN, but I have to admit this thing feels great in the hands. The book "Proud Promise" was a great read too.

I heard these rifles cost $500 to be produced in 1950s dollars (what would a car cost...2-3k?). They are very well made from what I can see, solid wood, good workmanship all around.