A rifle story: tales of a gun #1
The military stock has been efficiently sporterized in a seemingly ubiquitous manner - at first glance a plain and minimalist utilitarian re-purposing - until some fine details penetrate your awareness
The wood has been stripped and sanded and restained - varnish has been applied - nothing fancy but attention to detail is apparent
The stock has been relieved and notched at the wrist - and a prominent pistol grip had been added - the wood joined and dovetailed with skill and care
Fore end has been cut down and reshaped / re-profiled and the top wood is gone - at first glance it appears to be an unadorned commercial spotter stock
Quality blued steel sling swivel estuchions / anchor points have been added fore and aft - the steel buttplate is extant - the magazine footplate has been smoothed and shaped and blued
The blue steel trigger is a commercial aftermarket replacement or parts swap upgrade - though the change from its original military trigger is not obvious upon initial inspection
The left side of the buttstock bares witness to testimony - a penknife has been used to keep a record of successful hunts
Nov 30 1958
Nov 21 1961
Nov 19 1962
Nov 20 1967
Nov 01 1968
The wood and steel are imbued with history - they whisper to me when I pick the gun up and feel it's balance point - I am handling a talisman that has accrued a special energy over the last 125 years
It's not fancy but is a work of art - it's not heavy but possessed of its own weight - gravitas is apparent via fingers tactile touch
Mike
The wood has been stripped and sanded and restained - varnish has been applied - nothing fancy but attention to detail is apparent
The stock has been relieved and notched at the wrist - and a prominent pistol grip had been added - the wood joined and dovetailed with skill and care
Fore end has been cut down and reshaped / re-profiled and the top wood is gone - at first glance it appears to be an unadorned commercial spotter stock
Quality blued steel sling swivel estuchions / anchor points have been added fore and aft - the steel buttplate is extant - the magazine footplate has been smoothed and shaped and blued
The blue steel trigger is a commercial aftermarket replacement or parts swap upgrade - though the change from its original military trigger is not obvious upon initial inspection
The left side of the buttstock bares witness to testimony - a penknife has been used to keep a record of successful hunts
Nov 30 1958
Nov 21 1961
Nov 19 1962
Nov 20 1967
Nov 01 1968
The wood and steel are imbued with history - they whisper to me when I pick the gun up and feel it's balance point - I am handling a talisman that has accrued a special energy over the last 125 years
It's not fancy but is a work of art - it's not heavy but possessed of its own weight - gravitas is apparent via fingers tactile touch
Mike
0
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Dismounted the bbl'd action from the stock and removed the buttplate for further cleaning - inspection - and to reveal any proof marks or stamping...
There is a trapdoor like pocket or cylindrical void inset into the buttstock - and snugly set inside is a roll of folded oil cloth - gun cleaning cloth
Inside is a 1950's KBAR folding electricians pocket knife with wood scales and nickel bolsters - internal partitions are brass - 4 pins per scale and a swivel half ring on the round end
2 blades both opening in the same direction - non locking
A straight single edged standard blade with thumbnail crescent groove
An electricians single edged non sharpened blade with flat screwdriver tip and two wire stripping crescent cut outs on opposite sides and ends of the blade - thumbnail crescent groove
Also present are two large sewing needles and a flat old school roofing nail
This surprise find only further advances my interest in the rifle - and reinforces it's talisman like aura and energy
For the price of $50.00 this rifle continues to impress me on a number of levels
I would have liked to meet the man who owned and improved it - to share a drink and heat some of his stories - I feel we would have gotten along well
Mike0 -
It's Sunday night and I think that we can conclude this rifle story - I think we explored the tale of this gun in depth
One of the reasons I dive so deep into a near forensic examination of the guns I own is to hear their story and see a fuller vision of the tale they have to tell
The origins - the COO and DOM and the arsenal and production run QED changes made or conversions performed - the models and variants - the history of the world when and were it was made and the conflicts or actions it might have participated in - colonial interests and internal conflicts - decline of empires...
The life and use after retirement from front line military primary or guard / reserve / gendarme / militia secondary service to civilian life in the hands of collectors or use as a modified sporter
We all own a gun like this - or are their current stewards...
I would like to hear your tales of a gun - and perhaps be the voice of some of my firearms if you are interested in their stories and my narrative.
Mike0 -
Bump - BTT
Mike0
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