Time for a border run.

[Noel]

Today is a good day. Sunday will be even better when I pick up five long awaited firearms. For ever and a day I scoured for four of these guns, the last one was an impulse buy I could not resist.

Many will likely yawn at what I am bringing home with me but they are the long gone replacement guns from the old homestead. That goes back to 1911. I've based my search mainly off of family pictures, notes in a log book from the mid thirties and oh yeah, about 60 cartridge cases that came to the surface where the homestead once stood! Add that with the two Receivers and hammer from an old side by side and I had quite a search going.

It is not done quite yet, but these ones were hard to find up here. More like impossible in a short time so I went shopping south.

-Pre war Mauser in 9,3x57. 1/2 Octagon barrel, full length rib. Small ring 98 Mauser ( like you didn't know already)
-Savage sporter 23C 32 WCF bolt action w/detachable mag.
-Steven's Visible Loader, full Octogon barrel straight grip stock (oddball configuration)
-Remington 12A pump action
-Remington No6 Boy rifle.

I thought the day would never come I finally get to pick these up at the Sweetgrass crossing this Sunday. The grin on my face is starting to hurt like the end of a photo session on my wedding day. Whoohoo!!!!!!!!

 

[Lazy Ike]

That should be a very enjoyable drive!

 

[Crazy.kayaker]

congrats and enjoy your shooters and put lots of rounds down the pipes and show us pictures

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

Nice, Noel. Enjoy your trip and take lots of pictures for us when you get back. I too wanted a 'family' rifle for many years, it feels good finding an exceptable example.

 

[Noel]

That should be a very enjoyable drive!

Cannonball run IV.

Nice of the exporter to meet on the weekend. It is also the beginning of my holidays. I can take these bad boys out and try them. If only my 32WCF dies would show up at Russels...

Crazy.kayaker, rest assured there will be lots of shooting. Thank goodness three of them are 22's so Iwill be able to afford to shoot them after this spending spree!

As for pics I have these from the sellers to tide you over until I get better done:

Savage sporter 23C, built around 1930-32

Remington No 6 boys rifle, 22LR Circa 191? Origonal

Steven's Visible Loader Pre 1920. Normally the octogon barreled guns had a pistol grip. The barrel looks replaced but we aren't sure if it was sent back to the factory for that. There is no SVG roll mark on the receiver like all the typical Oct barreled rifles had and it has the early narrow extractors like the one I found in our field. Until I have it in my hand to properly ID it the story remains a mystery. It came from an 80 year old Gent in Oregon who swore it was like that since his Dad bought it. With Steven's Savage...who knows!

Don't have any pics of the Mauser. The Remington 12A I would imagine most folks know what that looks like. Picture a dainty little pump action made to knock over rabbits, squirrels, gophers and crows with a slick little action.

 

[czechitout]

Very nice Noel! .. Glad you were able to pick up some of these fine, old rifles. They look fantastic.

 

[bronco_mudder]

Nice little Remington, to bad I didn't know you were looking for one. I've got one here that I haven't shot in about 3 years. I could have sold it to you, it would have been easier than importing one, and I'm guessing less money.

 

[Noel]

Nice little Remington, to bad I didn't know you were looking for one. I've got one here that I haven't shot in about 3 years. I could have sold it to you, it would have been easier than importing one, and I'm guessing less money.

No worries Bronco.
I ran an ad here for 9 months for all but the savage sporter and the Mauser with very little response if any at all. Our local community has gathered it's resources and wrote up a history book. I was asked to help with doing a homesteading display. Time was of the essence if I was going to have these guns to go with the pictures for the display.

As for prices you might be suprised. The TOTAL cost for import was $175 for ALL FIVE. Plus paying Leroy big valley gunworks $175 for gas to meet me at the border. I'll likely burn $60 to $80 in gas to go down there but that is a drop in the bucket. I am still getting the guns for less than what I was finding up here and they are in better shape! Guaranteed I missed seeing a couple guns up here but the import was really easy once I got settled down and looked at it. Leroy has an FFL which they send to the seller, who in turn hold the guns until you A, are done buying a whack to make it worth while or B can arrange a time to meet at the border.

I got that little Remington for just over half of what ones in worse shape are going for on auctions of even at Joe Salters for that matter.....

 

[bronco_mudder]

Wow, that's not a bad price at all. I've never looked into importing a firearm....it seems I haven't found an end to the ones here that I want Good for you on finding what you were looking for, and putting some family history together.

 

[Noel]

Thanks Bronco, it meant selling a few guns I thought I'd never let go but now the stash will be great to not only use but to have for display as well.
The little stash here seems to be entertaining for the gunnutz who has stopped by to visit lately. It's an honor to be able to share the history with them.

 

[Noel]

Managed to find pics for the Remington 12A. She isn't the most pristine example but the price I could not refuse. Honest wear makes her more ###y IMO.

And the Mauser, I found this pic on the net a couple years ago, this one is a 318 Westley Richards in Sweden if I recall. Mine looks nearly identical.

 

[Gibbs505]

Great story and photos there.

Glad you got some of your history back!