Nagant,K98,PPS 43 found under water!
- Thread starter O'mega
- Start date
I read an article in "Shotgun News" several years back about recovered WWII guns in Russia. First, you had the "hobbyists" who went to known battlefield areas and dug stuff up, mostly for thier own use/interest. Rifle wood was (but not always) semi-rotted, depending on if this stuff got into the perma-frost. Metal condition varied, but most were still shootable. There were pics of Russian cops showing off k-98's, moisons with original metal, but handmade stocks. Both metal and stocks had been cut down (for ease of handling apparently)by the criminal groups that these had been confiscated from. Most of the handguns/machine guns could be "brought back to life" with metal/machine work by any machinist I'm sure.
Second, criminals would seek these dumps out for obvious purposes. The thing that freaked the Russian cops out the most was reports of small underground ex-Soviet/wehrmacht dumps which contained artillery shells etc., some of whose explosive compounds were linked to organized crime bombings. Apparently if the Russian mob failed in obtaining modern explosives from corrupt sources, they fell back to these WWII sources!
Second, criminals would seek these dumps out for obvious purposes. The thing that freaked the Russian cops out the most was reports of small underground ex-Soviet/wehrmacht dumps which contained artillery shells etc., some of whose explosive compounds were linked to organized crime bombings. Apparently if the Russian mob failed in obtaining modern explosives from corrupt sources, they fell back to these WWII sources!
Hi Gentlemen,
Here are only a couple of many finds I have recovered off my family's property in Eastern Europe over the years. Pretty much all of it are remnants dumped by Schorner's 9th Army during the last futile days of the war. I framed the two pieces below, after bringing them home and having Customs certify they were not functional. Just to clarify, these are not grave or battlefield dug relics, but come from a bottom of a pond in this instance. Thanks for looking
edit...sorry pics too huge, will repost....
Here are only a couple of many finds I have recovered off my family's property in Eastern Europe over the years. Pretty much all of it are remnants dumped by Schorner's 9th Army during the last futile days of the war. I framed the two pieces below, after bringing them home and having Customs certify they were not functional. Just to clarify, these are not grave or battlefield dug relics, but come from a bottom of a pond in this instance. Thanks for looking
edit...sorry pics too huge, will repost....
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fat tony
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
One of my ancestors - dug up a luger from a hole somewhere (allegely dumped by German Soldiers getting the heck out of dodge) he carved some new grips for it as the originals were in bad shape, & shot it but his uncle came by one day & wordlessly confiscated it lol.
- dug up a luger from a hole somewhere (allegely dumped by German Soldiers getting the heck out of dodge) he carved some new grips for it as the originals were in bad shape, & shot it but his uncle came by one day & wordlessly confiscated it lol.Eastern Europe is one huge battlefield graveyard.
I have seen pics of recoveries where folks dig out a new basement for their house and find hundreds of artifacts from WW2.
Metal detectors would be a fun hobby over there...depending of course what the local Governments allowed you to keep.
I have seen pics of recoveries where folks dig out a new basement for their house and find hundreds of artifacts from WW2.
Metal detectors would be a fun hobby over there...depending of course what the local Governments allowed you to keep.
Military dumps
You don't have to go to europe....go to Prince Rupert BC. The US/CDN forces dumped tons of guns, shells etc in the harbour and the ocean dumping grounds outside. My DAD worked at the shipyard building liberty ships and re-building Corvettes in WW2. In 1946 he worked on the barges that took the military surplus equipment to the dumping grounds.
A few years ago they were dredging the harbour around where the US PBY's flew from and came up with Browning 50's.
South of Prince Rupert is a munitions ship full of equipment leaking oil. we took the DFO camera team to take the pictures. Shells etc everywhere.
You don't have to go to europe....go to Prince Rupert BC. The US/CDN forces dumped tons of guns, shells etc in the harbour and the ocean dumping grounds outside. My DAD worked at the shipyard building liberty ships and re-building Corvettes in WW2. In 1946 he worked on the barges that took the military surplus equipment to the dumping grounds.
A few years ago they were dredging the harbour around where the US PBY's flew from and came up with Browning 50's.
South of Prince Rupert is a munitions ship full of equipment leaking oil. we took the DFO camera team to take the pictures. Shells etc everywhere.
