Any collectors or shooters out there? I really like the old military surplus rifles. Besides the history, they are a blast to shoot. Right now I own a couple South American Mausers and a No.4 Mk1 Enfield. I'd like to get an M39 Mosin next.
shareIt's been many years, but I used to go to the range with a buddy who was a collector. I fired a Mauser of some kind and an M1917 Enfield, plus a number of other guns. He had quite a collection.
shareIt's amazing these rifles are still used today. Both Denmark and Canada use Enfields in Arctic conditions because of its reliability.
shareLegendary quality. They knew what they were doing!
shareYes-quality indeed!
In the post war 50's lots of guys used the war surplus stuff to hunt
They would switch out barrels and change the stocks to go out for game
It was called 'sporterizing' back then
Some of those guns still go into the woods every autumn
Fantastic engineering, tolerances and durability
I've read you could order them for next to nothing from mail order magazines back in the day. My Enfield is actually sporterized and was used to hunt in Alaska by my Grandfathers brother. He always called it the "bear rifle", so I assume he used it on Black Bears...
Oh yes they were giving them away!
I used to collect old hunting and fishing magazines
I had a ton and the really old crumbly ones had surplus gear for sale including firearms
There are also great stories about GIs who mailed weapons and equipment home piece by piece...i even heard about a guy who shipped an entire Jeep home a few pieces at a time through the mail but maybe that was bullshit
Great story either way
Id like to try some out but never had the chance
Ive seen Italian Carcanos and Japanese Carbines available for decent prices but never bought...
Maybe someday
Ya Milsurp Rifles can be found for pretty cheap, however the prices have been steadily rising lately. Where did you see them, gun shop?
shareIm a 'flea market' fan so ive seen them there (i LOVE to hunt for antiques lol...silly hobby for an average dude but here we are)
My mom and grandma were antiquers so ive met other people in the business who have them once in a while
Nazi/US GI weapons go for the most money but Japanese, Italian, French surplus is cheaper and pretty cool too
I want a German Luger in the worst way but so does everyone else
Thats why they go for big bucks
I have an AR-15, a German P-38 from WWII, and an old hunting rifle which used to belong to my late Uncle. I enjoy firing the AR-15 on the range.
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I fired the AR-15 once. I remember being shocked at how light the recoil was.
Yes, that's one of the reasons I enjoy firing it, though I'd rather fire the M-16, the military version. They both have a spring in the stock which absorbs most of the recoil. During Army Boot Camp, the instructor demonstrated this by firing the M-16 holding the stock against his groin. That has always stuck with me.
Btw, if you're interested in firing the M-16 or a variety of other automatic weapons, you should consider going to the Knob Creek Gun Range Machine Gun Shoot. It's held every April and October near West Point, KY, which is just southwest of Louisville. The next one is April 13 - 15, and their web site is at www.knobcreekrange.com. Note: If you go, take lots of cash. That's all they accept at the machine gun rental range (although I do believe they have an ATM). Admission is $15, and parking is free.
I've been to it two or three times, and fired the M-16, AK-47, AK-74, Thompson Machine gun (both magazine and drum fed), and several other machine guns including a Russian one, and the famous (or infamous) MG-42, nicknamed "Hitler's Buzz Saw" by American troops.
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I've seen a documentary on the Knob Creek Gun Shoot a few years ago. Sure looks like an intense event. Las Vegas has a few places where you can shoot automatic weapons, the most famous being Bullets and Burgers.
https://bulletsandburgers.com/
Thanks for that info. I might do that next time I'm in Vegas.
You really should try to attend a Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot. It is unique. Also for a $100 donation (they take credit cards) you can take a ride in a Huey Helicopter (Vietnam era) with the doors open! It is intense and very cool, and I highly recommend it. The wait to get on is very long. The best way to do it is to sign up for a ride on the next day.
Btw: funny story: The last time I took a ride, I noticed one of pilots sitting next to me, and he didn't have his seat belt on. (I did!) When I asked him about it, he smiled and said "They've been trying to get rid of me."
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$100 isn't bad at all! The Wings of Freedom Air Show stopped here in September and the rides were not cheap:
30-minute flight on the B-17 or B-24 is $450 per person
30-minute flight on the B-25 is $400 per person
30-minute flight training on the TF-51D is $2200
60-minute flight training on the TF-51D is $3200
Yep. Not cheap.
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PS Did you take any of those rides? I'll be taking a ride on the Zero G Plane, aka the "Vomit Comet", hopefully in March. It costs around $5,000. I was scheduled to take a flight in September, but they
had to cancel it because they didn't have enough passengers.
BTW, I assume you meant the T-51D Mustang, the "Cadillac of the Skys"?
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I haven't. I should probably mark it on the calendar for next year. They're only here for 2 days and if there's bad weather, they don't make it up. Its still cool to see them flying around town though.
Nope, I meant a TF-51D. It's a two seater training aircraft. One of three originals remaining in the world! Here's a link o the foundation. They have a huge collection of restored aircraft.
I watched Empire of the Sun a few weeks ago. Great scene.
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/aircrafts/north-american-tf-51d-mustang/
Okay, cool. And yes, the scene from Empire of the Sun was awesome! "Cadillac of the Sky!"
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PS You also need to bring eye and ear protection.
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Nice home defense gearπ
My buddy loves his AR/Bushmaster
its got the rails, tripod, flashlight, foregrip, laser scope, its camo'd out...i told him he looks like a fat Navy Seal lol π
5.56/.223
Depending on date of manufacture that P-38 could be worth several thousand or more! Even the original magazines are very rare now
Not that you would sell it if its an heirloom
Was it a war 'prize' someone in your family took off the field over there?
What sort of old hunting rifle?
I love old hunting rifles!
They never die and always look beautiful
Thanks.
The P-38 is an interesting story. My late father was in the First Special Service Force in Italy in WWII. They made a movie about his unit called "The Devil's Brigade". That's the nickname the Germans gave them. They also called them "Black Devils". They would black out their faces and go out at night. They would find a German sentry, and kill him silently by knife or garrote. Then they would stick a Force Sticker on his forehead, or pin one to his uniform. In the morning the Germans would find the dead man, and they knew who killed him.
Dad brought a P-38 and his American 45 home with him after the war. We used to shoot both of them on New Year's Eve and the fourth of July. I assumed that I would inherit them both. Then my father pulled a fast one, and sold (or gave away) the P-38. That kind of pissed me off. He also had a WWI knife with brass knuckles. I took it, and told my Mom that I wasn't going to wait for him to sell that one also. I still have it.
So we flash forward to 2009 and I purchased a P-38 complete with holster for $600 from a gun range. So I have one, but it's not the one I really wanted. Ah well, that's life. Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.
I'm not sure about the hunting rifle because I have temporarily misplaced it. I will look for it again tomorrow. If I find it I'll let you know what it is
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Thats awesome about your pop and his unit during WWII
I think ive heard of the Black Devils or at least i saw an old action/war movie that sounded something like that
Yeah let me know if you locate the old hunting rifle
Those are my favorites by far!
I snatch them up whenever i can
Thanks and roger willco.
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