Military Surplus Question
I would like to buy a pair of military surplus rifles for my son. More as collectors than shooters, but would probably put a few rounds thru them occasionally. What would be the best example of the Czarist era Russian rifle? What would be the quintessential U.S. battle rifle of approximately the same historical era? My wife is originally from Russia so getting both a U.S. and Russian rifle would be a way for him to look at both sides of his ancestory. Is there anything in particular that I should be looking for or watching out for?
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That's a period of roughly 1700 to 1900, isn't it?
Lots of rifles to consider I should think. I am no Russian expert. But I do on occasion shoot an 1873 Trapdoor Springfield in 45/70. There's nothing wrong with shooting this all original rifle and the bore still looks new. Proper powder and proper cleaning is the key- plus it does not come out of the wood
A Springfield trapdoor or trapdoor carbine (think Little Big Horn) will not break the bank, either0 -
mauser. 0 -
A Moisin-Nagant rifle and a 1903 Springfield. If you want to get earlier and can afford it, a Winchester 1895 in 7.62x 54R that was puchased by Russia and a 30-40 Krag. 0 -
By Mil surplus do you mean the stuff that is available for cheap, like the Mosin Nagats and Mauser 98s? Or like a M1 Garand and or AK47/Clone? An idea of your considered price range would help... 0 -
Something like this maybe? http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122408754
Go thru gunbrokers Collectable firearms section and subsection antiques, lots of historical and interesting stuff there.0 -
quote:Originally posted by ern98
By Mil surplus do you mean the stuff that is available for cheap, like the Mosin Nagats and Mauser 98s? Or like a M1 Garand and or AK47/Clone? An idea of your considered price range would help...
Well, Czarist era ends after the Revolution of 1919 [;)] All dead, don't you know...0 -
Used M1895 Winchester (both US and Tsarista's used them). One gun for both applications.
For a two-gun combo, Early Moisin/Nagant bolt rifle [Russian representation] and either the M1899 US Krag (difficult to get, and costly) or the M1903 Springfield with the flip-up rear sight on the barrel and non pistol-grip stock [both for US representation].
Above post is concerning "the look" of period rifles. Both mentioned above can be later than the Tsarist regime, as long as it's representative of the earlier rifles in general contour. Hope I helped. Joe0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
mauser.
While a Mauser belongs in any well rounded collection (well, a dozen of them...[:D]) for US and Russian collecting it's outside what you need.
Again, this is a long era to contemplate. However, for something you actually want to shoot, even occasionally, ammo availability will be the limiting factor. In which case I would recommend the Mosin-Nagant model 91 (not the later 91/30 as it was well into the Soviet era) and the US Model 1903 Springfield. The US 30/40 Krag would be another fine choice. The Mosin 91 was made from 1891 through 1930, the Krag from 1892 to 1903 (though I have yet to see one from either extreme date) and the Springfield from 1903 right through WW2 in one variation or another. For a slightly later US rifle the M1 Garand comes to mind.
Now if you are willing to give up on shooting it regularly or even occasionally (unless you want to get into handloading some very expensive cartridges) the predecessors to the 1891 Mosin would be the Berdan II and Berdan I rifles; before the Springfield and Krag you'd be looking at the Trapdoor Springfield. But again, I'd hardly call those entry level pieces.
Plenty of Mosins and Springfield 1903s right here on gunbroker.0 -
Just a few more you may want to think about - United States Rifle, cal .30, Model of 1917 - The British(US produced) Pattern 1914(P14) and the British Lee Enfield #1Mk3 (SMLE)
Just a little more food for thought0 -
quote:Originally posted by Blairweescot
quote:Originally posted by ern98
By Mil surplus do you mean the stuff that is available for cheap, like the Mosin Nagats and Mauser 98s? Or like a M1 Garand and or AK47/Clone? An idea of your considered price range would help...
Well, Czarist era ends after the Revolution of 1919 [;)] All dead, don't you know...
You mean February revolution of 1917 which deposed Nicholas II. Of Course there are two that year, the one in October 1917(Bolshevik) overthrew the provisional govt and started a civil war.
You could buy a Westinghouse or Remington made M91 Mosin Nagant Russian rifle, which was made for the Czarist army of WW1, but when the Revolutions came, the undelivered rifles were used for drill and training guns in the US.
There is also the US Model of 1917 Rifle for US guns and for the Russians, the Berdan rifle.0
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