What makes a milsurp collection?

StrelokM38

StrelokM38

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As a collector of 'surps, its a question I usually run through my head as I browse the EE or just poke through threads between Red Rifles and Milsurps on this forum.

What guns would you guys consider the essentials of a milsurp collection? Are they shooters or safe queens? Let me hear what your perspective is on this kind of thing. Hell, talk about goals or guns you hope to acquire or things that you've got on the way.
 
More than one un-altered ex military firearm makes the start which will then usually just grow from there! All ex-mil firearms are collectable and everybody likes one type or another so don't worry about meeting what ever criteria that some may give here!
 
As Mkrnel said above, it's really your own preference. I myself would like to have a balanced collection of WW2 rifles (American, German, and Commonwealth). As for shooting, I do not shoot my 'minty' rifles unless it is a very special occasion. I wouldn't want something to happen to them. I keep an SKS on hand to sate the urge to go shooting.
 
mkernel and SMcGeown have it about right... A collection is what you want it to be, not what someone else tells you it should be.

My collection is tiny, by most standards... 4 WWII era rifles and an SKS... But it is my collection, and it's growing as finances allow. WWII is the era I'm focusing out out of personal interest, and a dim hope of keeping some constraints on it - so many beautiful rifles from that era alone that I could never have them all.

It isn't so much the amount, type, or quality. It's about the intent. If you set out to gather, preserve, and occasionally use, military arms of any category, then it is a collection.
 
Well as others have said its personal preference. I personally prefer smokeless powder long rifle bolt-actions but my goal is to eventually collect every type of main issued service rifles which were smokeless powder up to the early semi-autos. I shoot all my rifles but I try to balance out what ones get range time (so I don't shoot each one very much).
 
The military firearms are a great start . But a great addition to any collection are the various accessories. They are the most overlooked
part of collecting. Some accessories are more valuable and collectible than the guns
 
'Perhaps' one decent 'correct' example from each country that were the major players in WWII. (As a start)
U.S--Russian---German--- Italian--French ---Commonwealth---etc.

Take your time and wait for the right pieces----and give it lots of thought. (Do your research)
In time it will become more clear to you which direction you wish to pursue.
Go for the best 'correct' pieces that you can afford.

David

This piece might be in the best condition in my Commonwealth collection.
No.5.Mk.1 Lee-Enfield
1945 dated S/N 9924.
On the left wrist 1945 /47C---BSA manufactured ---purchased a long time ago.





It also depends if you are interested in iconic WWII guns that have been deactivated---e.g. the German MP44
as shown below.

 
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As a canadian you must have a Ross or an Enfield in your collection somewhere. Both would be better!

I started off my collection with an No4 Enfield, a Mauser and a Mosin. Then it grew from there. Once you start you cant stop. Its that kind of bug. All of them are shooters unless you have a DP rifle, or one that came straight from the arsenal with packaging/grease still there. Heck, I even shot my G43 when I had it.

Happy collecting.
 
My collection consists of about 40 Lee Enfields a 1892 Winchester & a Chiappa M1-22 i have owned most of the other bolt action rifles used by everyone else but found they used up space that you could fit another Lee in :)
 
Collection: a gathering of things, a grouping, any accumulation.
That's the dictionary. If you had two sported military rifles, that's a collection of milsurps. What you WANT to gather is up to you.
 
I started collecting when I was 16 with a list of a dozen WW2 firearms I wanted... By the time I finally had everything on the list, my collection had hit triple digits... Careful what you start!

I agree 100% on what everyone else says about just buying what you like. You can always justify it later. That said I always make sure my WW2 firearms are actually wartime examples... A 1954 Polish Nagant just doesn't do much for me, personally.
 
...I have no interest in filling my walls with unaltered, issue-correct militaria, although I have great admiration for people who do...instead my interests are in what it actually felt like to fire these, and as far as my LE's are concerned the only difference between them and a correct rifle is the last foot of wood at the muzzle, everything else being equal (although some will no doubt contend that the longer stock will make some sort of a difference in how it shoots, but I can't really tell the difference)...I have LE's so my kids can experience what their great-grandfather and great-great uncle experienced in Europe...something to chew on in your off-time...but no, I'd never be a re-enactor (that's just weird...no offence meant)...

...guess I consider myself a collector of sorts...still want an M1, 1903 Springfield, and 8mm Mauser...can be modern remakes/sporters...
 
I started collecting just about any milsurp rifle and bayonet I could get my hands on. As I grew older I started finding it difficult to really research all the different pieces (this was pre internet) so I ended up selling most of them off. I rebooted the collection to focus mostly on Canadian and Commonwealth items as I found them the most interesting. This also made it slightly easier to put together a decent reference library.

My collection has grown both in size and depth over the years. I have added many bayonets as well as other military accessories. This includes things like helmets, medals, uniforms, grenades, gas masks, entrenching tools, web gear, etc. I find the accessories really enhance the collection, especially when showing it to "non gun" people. The other thing I find now is that it's difficult to afford most of the firearms I want, but I can still swing the odd sword or regimental photo from time to time.
 
No Canadian collection is complete without an enfield.

If you actually like to shoot the guns, sks and mosin are must-haves because ammo is so cheap...

And we can't forget about the Swedish mauser or swiss k31. They are both supposed to be top notch rifles.
 
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