One rifle from each major WW2 power - what would you get?

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Mikeyman

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I am pumped about getting started in milsurp collecting. I have read almost all the posts and am impressed by the depth of knowledge shown here. My ultimate goal is to collect one rifle from each major power in WW2 (Brit/USA/USSR/GER/JAP/ITALIAN). My question - and this might be too much to ask in one question - is what would YOU get?
For example - I want/NEED a garand (have loved these rifles for years) but it is confusing the number of manufacturers who made them / which years should I try for (idealy I would like each rifle to have been manufactured during the war years or earlier). I would like to be able to take some or all of the rifles with me to the range at some point so I am not interested in deactivated or a museum piece I won't want to use.
Another example - SMLE should I avoid rifles built in India/Australia etc...
Mauser 98K - avoid russian rebuild? etc etc... Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Mike
 
If you're collecting WWII then all firearms should be wartime manufacture, IE no Breda Garands or No4 Mk2's. Do you consider the Commonwealth nations to be one rifle? If not, the list gets bigger. If you want untouched, original rifles be prepared to spend a lot of money on some. You can start with refurbs and the like and replace with better examples as you progress.

Here's my representative list from the major combatants:

US Garand or 1903 Springfield - Any manufacturer.
UK No1 MkIII or No4 Mk1
Canada Long Branch No4 Mk1 or Mk1*
Australia Lithgow No1 MkIII
USSR Mosin Nagant 91/30
Germany K98k
Italy Carcano of some sort
Japan Type 99
France MAS 36

There's lots of others out there to chose from.
 
Stevo said:
If you're collecting WWII then all firearms should be wartime manufacture, IE no Breda Garands or No4 Mk2's. Do you consider the Commonwealth nations to be one rifle? If not, the list gets bigger. If you want untouched, original rifles be prepared to spend a lot of money on some. You can start with refurbs and the like and replace with better examples as you progress.

Here's my representative list from the major combatants:

US Garand or 1903 Springfield - Any manufacturer.
UK No1 MkIII or No4 Mk1
Canada Long Branch No4 Mk1 or Mk1*
Australia Lithgow No1 MkIII
USSR Mosin Nagant 91/30
Germany K98k
Italy Carcano of some sort
Japan Type 99
France MAS 36

There's lots of others out there to chose from.
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Pretty much what stevo said. That collection would have some good variations, in both looks and price - mosin being less than $200 while the garand or springfield will be $600+.
 
I'd start with a Longbranch and a Garand (Whinchester or Springfield).

After that your going to realize you have milsurpitus and the doors will be flung wide open....

Hello my name is SKScanuck and I have Milsurpitus...

I started with a Yugo SKS, decided to start collecting WW2 stuff, got into Enfields, bought a Garand, Mosin Nagant, Carcano or five, SVT40, K98 or two, A couple Arisakas and a MAS36.

And then I got my restricted PAL....:)
 
I would just try and get your foot in the door, it's going to cost plenty to get the collection mentioned above! In my mind you can always refine it later, but it would be nice just to get something from all the players in the war.
If you think about it too much, next thing you know you're going to have to have semi autos from each country, then pistols, then all the different bayonettes, etc, etc, $$$$$, $$$$$$$$$$$... y'see what I mean?
That's just my take though. Ideally, I would buy Stevo's list I guess.
 
- France: I would go for a Berthier 1907/15 or 1916 rifle or carbine since most of the troops were armed with those anyway, finding a MAS 36 WW2 original is going to be hard and expensive (not many produced before the Fall of France in 1940). The majority of MAS 36 on the market are Post WW2 made and are different from the original WW2 specifications (sights, barrel bands, sling wivels).

- Japan: most common rifle used was the Type 38.
 
As far as what kind of rifle to get (rebuilds, matching serials, etc), you will have to decide how 'collectable' you want your collection to be. Some guys just want nice, representative shooters while others want all-original, matching serialed safe queens. I have a bit of both in my collection. No fun if you can't shoot anything!
 
Gibbs505 said:
They did do a lot of fighting in North Africa. Well led they were as tough as any other army, navy and air force.
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And that's the point. "well led"
Not to mention that their ally used them as cannon fodder. When it was time to retreat, the germans loaded in trucks, and the Italians walked.
 
Thanks for the info so far. I think as a good Canadain Kid I will start with a WW2 dated LB no4 mark1. In VG condition - ie. bore and rifling, I expect some wood dings obviously, about 400.00?
 
Here on the equipment exchange...

...and don't forget Finland. They produced/reassembled the best versions of the Moisin Nagant.
 
John Sukey said:
And that's the point. "well led"
Not to mention that their ally used them as cannon fodder. When it was time to retreat, the germans loaded in trucks, and the Italians walked.
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Reading book by those who fought them, a couple of the Italian divisions fought very well. just ask the surviors of the malta convoys about the ilalian avators sent against them and while the navy was gennerly poor, the frogman who sunk two british battleships in Alex, were pretty tough!
 
One rifle from each major WW2 power - what would you get?
So gfar as standard infantry weapons are concerned.

Commonwealth: CNoIVMkI* or the Lithgow No1MkIII*
The CNo4Mk1* is still in service with Canada today. What other nation can say that ?
USA: M1 Garand (of course)
Soviet Union: PPS-43 (was never a fan of the nagant until I got my VZ-54 sniper) The PPS is a MG (not a rifle) but thats OK in my book because it was a good small arm to have in close quarters. Highly regarded piece considering the time it took to build.
Germany & Axis Allies: K98k (although I like the FG-42) The K98k was the work horse of the Wermacht.
Japan: Arisaka Type 99 (7.7mm)

In my opinion there were no other "World Powers" than the one's I've noted here - especially the Italians and French.

The commander of the Italian garrison surrenders to Capt. G.R. Coderre of Sherbrooke, Quebec.
italy_surrender.jpg


Canadian soldiers inspect a captured German MG34 machine gun
italy43_cdnmg34.jpg


(I love the P14 Sniper)

Orsogna, Italy January 29, 1944. Canadian Soldier, Pte. Jack Bailey (Stratford, Ontairo) of Perth Regt., in hiding, aims towards the town of Orsogna.
italy_orsogna.jpg
 
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Yes I gues I shouldn't have called Italy a major power but I'd still like to get my hands on a Carcano some day.....

Very cool pics Riflechair
 
berger said:
:dancingbanana::dancingbanana:

I was thinking the same thing!! During WWII they were good at running away! :)
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I thought that and have read some different opinions from various sources.

However, while their heart was not in the fight, the better units were quite capable of putting up stern resistence when well lead. Esp when backed up by german troops.
 
I would only want rifles I could shoot. Arasakas and Carcanos are difficult to find ammo for but can be found at very reasonable prices if you just keep your eyes open. Any Lee Enfield manufactured before 1945 could have seen service in WWII. I prefer the Long Branch or Lithgow although the best shooter I had was an Ishapore one. I would like a Garand but don't forget the M1 Carbine. It's a great little gun to play with at the range. Any Mosin-Nagant up to the M-38 would do and can usually be found in very good shape for $100 or less. I would take my time (perhaps several years) and eventually you will find what you want. Gun shows are an excellent place to start. I got a very interesting No.1 Mk III at the Irishtown show last week. Made at Enfield, it later was converted to a .410 shotgun, then converted back to a .303 rifle at Ishapore in 1942. That's history!
 
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