buffdog wrote;
If we are serious Milsurps Collectors, then part of our obligations is to preserve History. In reality, we do not "own" anything - we merely have the pleasure of being Custodian of something over a period of time, and in most cases when we depart this World, someone else will own that object.
People here are mentioning "unless it is a SKS or a Mosin-Nagant." I would say that these two Russian Milsurps are the equivalent of the Lee Enfields, Mausers and Milsurp Bonanza of the 1955 to 1965 Era, and where are these earlier imported Milsurps today, and what is the asking price of some of them?
Now that I am a lot older, I seem to appreciate our Heritage and History a lot more, and find that I gravitate toward projects that will preserve some of that History, both local and Canadian. SMELIE and I spent three years in obtaining a particular rifle for one of the Military Museums, and we consider it time well spent.
Well said!
The SKS's and Mosins are the Enfields and Mausers of yesterday.
One day and maybe not long in the future, I can just here it now, "why the hell did they sporterize these" (Bubbas).
Remember these words;
If we are serious Milsurps Collectors, then part of our obligations is to preserve History.
If we are truly serious about our passion, please don't pick and choose from the flock.
There are a lot of truly fine custom sporting rifles out there that started life as mil-surp. I suppose Holland & Holland should be condemned as "Bubba" as well for turning hundreds of ex-military Mausers into .375's & .300 magnums.
Not trying to cause a sh*te storm, but yes Holland & Holland are just as guilty. (in the literal meaning of the word)
Just because they have prestige, do they fall into a different category?
Does this prestige make them above the law (Bubba law), as the saying goes?
In there defence, I will say;
My last few visits to Holland & Holland, this very question was brought to light.
It was explained to me that after the war, everything was in shortage, including custom made actions, thus they used what they could find.
Oh, and yes, I have spent a fare number of hours at Holland & Holland.
And as far as all the offers to find suitable donor actions, it is I who decides what is a suitable action for my custom builds. When selecting an action I want one as new and original as possible, and from certain makers. If all I can find is a match-numbered rifle, and the price is not prohibitive, then that is my choice.
I take it that you are not a serious Milsurp collector!
