January Purchases

I recently received this US Springfield Model 1861 rifle from Weimajack. Made in 1863 by the Norwich Arms Company (one of the biggest civilian contractors for Springfield rifles in the Civil War), complete with bayonet and all original except for the hammer retaining screw. I think the metal was cleaned up at some point but that doesn't really bother me with a firearm issued in the white. Overall its in good shape and I'm very happy with it - I think I might even try shooting it!

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I also received this Enfield Mk.II from Collector's Source, made at Enfield in 1884. Nice bore, the frame latch seems pretty beat up but I understand that's common with these - looking at the design I can certainly see why. Very odd design, and to my eye incredibly impractical, even more so than I expected when I bought it, but very cool. It doesn't seem to have the upgraded safety, I'm wondering if it might have been one of the later unmarked NWMP contract guns. The serial number is A1459 if anyone has a copy of the Arms and Acoutrements book and doesn't mind looking it up.

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Nyles said:
I recently received this US Springfield Model 1861 rifle from Weimajack. Made in 1863 by the Norwich Arms Company (one of the biggest civilian contractors for Springfield rifles in the Civil War), complete with bayonet and all original except for the hammer retaining screw. I think the metal was cleaned up at some point but that doesn't really bother me with a firearm issued in the white. Overall its in good shape and I'm very happy with it - I think I might even try shooting it![/IMG]
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Outstanding Nyles! Very cool piece of history. If/when you shoot it take some pictures and or a video!
 
Those old Springfields were issued in the white. I have never been able to find out if they were intended to stay that way. I have been given a couple of different opinions by some very knowledgeable people that they were intended to aquire a nice brown patina with time and use. It supposedly saved the government at the time 17 cents per rifle to have them blued or browned and added to much extra time to the build.

Those are both very nice specimens, thanks for posting them.
 
This is my January purchase, picked it up at P&S last week. Its a rather interesting 1919(95% sure, the numbers on the tang are hard to read) Issy Mosin Ex Dragoon. The interesting thing is the original date on the receiver has been stamped over with 1936 and a 43 and 50 date have been added with a MO marking. You can see where they tried to stamp out the imperial eagle and you can also see a very faint Soviet crest.

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Thanks for the kind words guys - although this was my first muzzle loader I'm now very much in the market for a P53 Enfield. Definately caught the bug!

Also, I've managed to confirm that the Enfield Mk.II actually was a NWMP gun, which makes it a great piece of Canadiana.
 
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Just received this Belgian Frontier Bulldog revolver from a board member. It's registered as a .44-40, but there's no shoulder in the chambers so I think it's a .44 Webley or .44 Russian. The grips are marked FN, but I doubt very much it's actually Fabrique Nationale. Kind of a mystery at this point but it's an interesting project.
 
If it's Belgian, it's more than likely made by FN.

If it is indeed chambered for an obsolete cartridge and falls within the verifiable "antique" guidelines, you may be able to get it deregistered.
 
Nyles said:
Just received this Belgian Frontier Bulldog revolver from a board member. It's registered as a .44-40, but there's no shoulder in the chambers so I think it's a .44 Webley or .44 Russian. The grips are marked FN, but I doubt very much it's actually Fabrique Nationale. Kind of a mystery at this point but it's an interesting project.
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I have one very similar most probably made by the same guy (not FN, Fabrique Nationale, did not make handguns that early), also registered as a 44.40 (why I bought it) has Fronter stamped on it, but it is no way a 44.40 a 44 cleaning jag does not fit the barrel, never slugged it only used micrometer on end, chambers fit a 44.40 round, but no machining for the 44.40 bottle neck..

Here is the info:

""The logo of the grips is that of NEUMANN Frères in Liege… and not that of the Fabrique Nationale of Herstal. (see link below for more)""

http://www.firearmspositive.com/bgun/

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A good website for Belgium guns http://www.littlegun.be/, they did some research for me.
 
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forty4forty, you're right, thanks for the correction. I know that Belgium produced Nagant revolvers 1878 and another variation and was under the impression that FN made them. I was also under the impression that they made other revolvers. Seeing as there were 60+ firearms manufacturers in Liege alone in that time period, the pistol make may be difficult to pin down, unless there is a contract number or mark on it.
 
bearhunter said:
forty4forty, you're right, thanks for the correction. I know that Belgium produced Nagant revolvers 1878 and another variation and was under the impression that FN made them. I was also under the impression that they made other revolvers. Seeing as there were 60+ firearms manufacturers in Liege alone in that time period, the pistol make may be difficult to pin down, unless there is a contract number or mark on it.
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Nah, FN actually didn't get started until 1889 - the Nagant 1878 was made by the Nagant brothers. Here's mine:

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I was also thinking Neumann Freres, but I always saw it written that way instead of Freres Neumann (which would make more sense in French). I'm going to try a .44-40 round and see if it chambers, I have been thinking it's a .44 Bulldog. I want to get a chamber cast done eventually. Mine's a little different as well, it's actually marked FRONTIER BULLDOG and the rear sight groove runs the length of the frame.
 
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