Civilian sporting guns turned Military / LE

Horilka

Horilka

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Toronto, ON
Less than a year ago I became interested in civilian firearms that were converted for military or law-enforcement service, and these are the items I’ve collected so far. There are still many more to be found - it’s a great topic for research and collecting. Unlike military-surplus guns that were re-arsenaled and stored safely for decades, these were mostly surplused back to the civilian market immediately and have had a hard life. It’s really difficult to find ones in decent condition.
Huge thanks to the collectors who parted with some of these very uncommon guns so I could have them.

1914 Remington 14-1/2 in 44WCF DCP marked UK Navy WW1 contract
1926 Spanish Winchester 92 clone "Tigre" in 44 Largo (44WCF) used in Spanish Civil War
1929 Winchester 92 Argentinian Police use and later WW2 service rework into .45ACP
1915 Winchester 92 in 44WCF WW1 UK contract (not DCP)
1914 Winchester 92 in 44WCF WW1 French contract, later interwar Belgian Congo security forces
1914 Winchester 94 in 30WCF Canadian Toronto Police Services
1942 Winchester 94 in 30WCF WW2 Canadian PCMR acquisition

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superbee said:
Don,t forget British lee speed sporter rifles used by the navy
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A full circle - designed as a military rifle, adopted for sporting use, then pressed back into military service.
Thank you, I did not know about Lee Speed Sporter. That's why I like topics like this - no matter how much you know there's always something new you learn.
 
Excellent hobby and a great niche to collect.

There would be some modern ones as well, if you are looking at ones that were commonplace in civilian hands before military use, including the Remington 700, known in the USA as the M24.
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Someone with more knowledge than me can chime in with a few others as well.
 
Northern, remote detachments of the Mounted Police had non-issue civilian arms for hunting, etc. I suspect some were local purchase from the HBC, etc. Winchester .22s, double barreled shotguns. I saw a Remington 722 in .308 with B&L 4x scope and mount. I think most were recalled to Depot and destroyed.
 
Winchester Model 70's used by the USMC as a sniper rifle, with some Army and other military elements also using it in support roles and for stateside training. The Marines acquired many Model 70s for sniper use during WWII, continuing to use them in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, with legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock famously using one in Vietnam.


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Then there are all the shotguns used like Browning Auto 5's, Winchester Model 12's, Remington 870's, Ithaca M37's and a bunch of others.
 
MiG25 said:
That's awesome! Would love to see more detail on the Argentine 45 ACP.
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As of Nov of 2025 only 49 such specimens are known to collectors.
IIRC Argentina procured them sometime in 1910x and used in original 44WCF. It is then Police property markings were applied. Most of them have a variant of markings indicating "Santa Fe" province. Mine is a bit different as it is the only known specimen that has the crest of the Santa Fe province instead of plain text. It is also marked Departamento Belgrano - territorial unit of Santa Fe.
Sometime in WW2 Argentina could not procure 44WCF as all US factories were focusing on ammo for the army, so they decided to overhaul these Winchesters by refurbishing and fitting them with shorter barrel in .45ACP, a caliber popular in Argentina. Conversion was performed by OTME SA (Organización Técnica de Mecánica Especializada Sociedad Anónima) of Córdoba (Argentina) and by Fábrica Militar de Armas Portátiles "Domingo Matheu”. 5,300 modifications were carried out. Conversion also included replacing and re-fitting some internal parts, it's not just the barrel.
I am not sure if there were fitted with swivel at conversion time or before, but all known specimens have swivels, all are reblued, all are chambered in .45ACP and all have shorter barrel (~16"), some have front sight hoods, some don't (maybe lost?) - mine doesn't have one.

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Germany is known to have issues thousands of hunting rifles to snipers as well as in Togoland as that Colony did not have an Army.

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The issue with many civilian guns pressed into service is that their provenance can’t be proven. That’s why I only collect examples with clear, documented provenance. Every gun in the original post picture has proper military or law-enforcement markings confirming its history.
 
I know a chap who has a Midland Gun Company 12 bore side by side with a large broad arrow stamped on the butt. It saw service as a command post defense weapon with a British unit during the Korean War. Family gun & provenance.
 
A friend of mine has the Remington 14-1/2 in 44-40 with the dcp markings and a Remington 12 gauge shotgun that has the US military proof marks on it they are pretty neat with some great history behind them
 
Horilka said:
The issue with many civilian guns pressed into service is that their provenance can’t be proven. That’s why I only collect examples with clear, documented provenance. Every gun in the original post picture has proper military or law-enforcement markings confirming its history.
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A excellent stipulation to put on this collection. Very interesting choice to collect as it is a road not really well travelled, thanks for sharing.
 
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