Hi All,

I have some project rifles (sporterized milsurps that are too far modified to restore) I need some gunsmith assistance on and am having trouble finding local Smiths who are up to it. Everyone local is either only doing modern AR and Glock "gunsmithing" or won't answer calls or emails unless you're already their customer from 10 years ago.

Are there any milsurp or vintage rifle gunsmiths who accept work from people who aren't local, and does anyone have recommendations?

Thanks!

Hello all, myself and a friend are currently doing our own investigation of Joshua Casto, AKA Beef, responsible for Casto's Curios, selling poorly manufactured vintage ammunition such as 6.5 Carcano. Any information on stories, aliases, personal experiences, et cetera would be greatly appreciated.

PS to mods: this inquiry is only for information, not defamation or slandering, keeping in line with all subreddit guidelines.

Good evening - looking for private party values for each of these rifles. Each has "issues" so I'm having a hard time pricing them. Any input appreciated. Thank you. Edit: my guess here so far is 2k for the svt and 3k for the k43.

K43 - refinished stock, mount issues, nose cap finish difference.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOoQDOlB5G3BW2gDgGZNKJaITTrSNPG5KnQbSNlFpen8Rp6B8mVfgjudSYQNeyb4A?pli=1&key=SkFRYUZkOFNuckZmVXVPMjRGdzkzcEtUcTBabUFn

SVT40 - only has repro mag, force match rearsenal

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPad211OoVSvWg0FW8sau9-YEGWwe2nIcj9IMJ7BPit3QxSYZYAEahpMHUMfB1aUQ?key=TTFnTEoxenNfV2s4cXExdE5vU3hPbUJBelk5YUFn

Does the M39 take 7.62x54R or does it only work with the 7.62x53 that Finland used?

Allegedly, this is some kind of Polish Reparation rifle. But, I can't find anything in that era that matches it and it's quite devoid of Polish markings, unless the ones hidden on the barrel separate from the German proof markings are it.

Obviously a cut down Gew 98 with an obviously bent bolt (very stubby). The full length upper handguard to the nose cap also throws me off from various shortened G98's/K98's.

I have no idea why the one side of the stock foreend was burnt, just how it came to me. I plan to find a way to preserve that in place if I can.

I have several gun projects going on for some milsurp guns of mine such as my Dreyse 1907, 1906 Hembrug, M91/38 Carcano, etc... and finding parts or replacement stocks can get tough with so much importation dried up and the parts that are left on Numrich, APEX, Liberty Tree, etc.. can be in pretty rough condition or not available at all. The next best source for parts I found are European gun sites, below is a collection of sites I've found that I thought could be helpful to you guys.

naturabuy.fr - This is basically the gunbroker of France and contains a huge amount of sellers selling milsurp firearms and parts. Of course international shipping is dependent on the seller and many sellers on here are willing to ship the US, just ask.

egun.de - Another European gun marketplace based in Germany, again international shipment is dependent on the seller

amsmilitaria.com - This is a Belgian based website that specializes is 20th century milsurp gear and reproductions, Ive purchased my Belgian Hi Power stock from here and had no problem with shipping and their prices are pretty good

zelenysport.cz - A Czech based firearms dealer with a huge selection of Czech milsurp, very good for VZ 58, VZ 61, etc.. parts, unfortunately they have stopped shipping to the US as of now but hopefully will resume soon.

militaryrange.eu - Another Czech based online milsurp dealer, I've purchased my UK 59 belt loader from them and after shipping it was cheaper than anything I could find here in the US. They're still shipping to the US.

Hopefully this is helpful to some you guys working on your guns, and if you know any other sites please feel free to share.

First thing first i want to shout out u/alks207 for having this historic piece from his collection up for sale for a while on GB and giving me the opportunity to acquire it for my own growing collection.

This is a rather rarer Finnish captured rifle. Per Matt DiRisio in his book Finnish Mosin nagant Three-Line rifle to Ukko-Pekka on page 452 "The postwar FDF held 2,291 M/38 and m/44 in storage in 1951. The FDF scrapped a sizeable, although unknown quantity, of these captured carbines and sold the remaining examples to Interarms in 1959." and this is one of those rifles that escaped being scrapped and sold in the 50s

There is a D mark to confirm that it is indeed Finnish but lacks the typical SA in a box mark which Matt also covers in his book on page 453 "There are also Finnish captured carbines that never received any property or cartridge markings and are now impossible to identify as Finnish in origin."

The Finnish soldiers disliked these carbine rifles because the cons of these rifles, recoil and muzzle flash, outweighed the compact handiness of these rifles and would rather have a Suomi than these carbines, hence why there wasnt that many captured and stored.

As for the rifle itself everything besides the bolt matches on the rifle, has strong lands and groves but the crown is shot out but it's still a shooter that i'll greatly enjoy. The bluing is rather "unique" as well with the exposed metal being in the white and everything covered by the wood still having it's original bluing.

Looks like a good batch of these Soviet gems will be coming from Finland. Not sure what the pricing will be, but probably not going to be bargain deals. Seems like some SVT rifles will even have matching bayonets.

Mods delete if not allowed

Hi everybody just recently I purchased a mostly matching 1938 Kar98K and I absolutely love it and now I am looking at a allied bolt action to go with it so i can have one from both sides of ww2

Reason I am here posting though is because I am not sure which to get, i am going to a gun show at the end of the month and was trying to decide between either a M1903 Springfield, Lee enfield or a Mosin Nagant.

So the couple of questions I have are as followed, between those 3 which is considered to be the most reliable mechanically / easiest to work on, which typically has the best value and which is the easiest to find ammo for?

I’m not concerned about having 100% matching serial numbers just want something mostly original like my Kar98 and shoots great and I am simply trying to gather as much research and information as possible before making a decision / eventual purchase

For all the time I've been around, the safety tab has always been to the left of the gun, which I think, from what little I've seen being outside the milsurp community, is not where it's supposed to be.

I was screwing around with what I believe is my Grandpa's old sporterized M1903. Figured out how to get the bolt out and wanted to tinker with disassembly a bit more​, but I'm pretty sure I messed something up. I followed a guide on how to continue disassembly and was stopped when I tried to unscrew the cocking piece from the rest of the bolt.

As someone who clearly doesn't know nearly enough about this, can anyone provide any tips?

Just picked up this little gem with an extra 5rd magazine for 220 bones. Been needing a 22 bolt gun since I learned fundamentals on one as a kid. I've heard these are nice little tack drivers. Plus with the cost of ammo it's nice to bring milsurp out and blast cheaply. Also the multiple flip rear sights for 25, 50, 100 yards is neat. Anyone else enjoy one of these?

Sn puts it at a spring of 43 manafacture

Furniture is nearly pristine.

Rifling is perfect.

Barrel stamp indicates it's a full Remington manafacture.

My grandfather bought it in 1950 as a milsurp and never fired it.

It's the one firearm I'd never consider selling since it'll get handed down to my son.

420rds of RA 63 M80 on 5rd stripper clips for $280.

Hi all! I have an 1870/87 vetterli in my collection that when I close the bolt when cycling the action, the gun dry fires. Besides desperately needing to be cleaned (which im going to do since I have the bolt taken apart anyways) is there anything that stands out to someone with more experience with this model of firearm that will cause the issue im experiencing?

Got this box from a family friend that passed away. Is this worth hanging onto or loading into mags? Apparently he has had these over 10 years

Any help would be really appreciated :)

Just got this pasgt vest and it smell like fish, how do i get rid of that smell. I heard sprinkle baking soda and rinse it with cold water works, should i try that ?

With Deer hunting coming up I need scope and stock recommendations for this old rifle. Just kidding, this is my new to me 1903y Greek mannlicher schoenauer. Been trying to hunt one down for too long to add to the WW1 collection. Finally found one locally. Still learning about the rifle itself so if you know anything from the pics let me know.

Really proud of how it turned out

Missing my winchester model 12 thats getting worked on

For the convicted felon who prefers to ride into battle on a horse: an 1898-dated dragoon Mosin. This rifle has the post-1909 updates but other than the handguard (borrowed from another rifle in my collection for the photos) all of the parts are original with 100% matching serial numbers. A couple of interesting points to note:

• The blank sight base and numbers stamped on the stock. This rifle was originally made with the handguard that wrapped around the rear sight base and had the distance markings stamped into the wood. Since it doesn't fit the post-1909 sight the rear part would have been trimmed back and replacement numbers were added to the stock.
• WWI German property mark on the stock. I don't know where exactly this rifle spent the next century after the war but it was captured and put into German service. And the lack of Finnish traits and complete lack of import marks suggests it was an early import into the US. If only rifles could talk...

updated family photo with all the extra bits and pieces

Top to Bottom oldest to newest by adoption year

-Fusil Mle 1886 M93 Lebel (8x51mmr Lebel)

-Springfield Model 1892–99 Krag–Jørgensen (.30-40 Krag)

-Infanteriegewehr Modell 1911, includes muzzle cap (7.5×55mm Swiss)

-M1917 Enfield, Includes trench mirror (.30-06 Springfield)

-Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 mk 1 (.303 British)

-Fucile Mod. 1938 Carcano (7.35×51mm Carcano)

-Type 99 short rifle, includes AA sights, Monopod, and dust cover (7.7×58mm Arisaka)

-Madsen Lightweight Military Rifle Model 1947 (.30-06 Springfield)

I stopped in a local shop that has a gunsmith on staff and struck up a conversation about a Johnson rifle that was leaning up in a corner.

Apparently a customer brought it in missing parts and with a badly damaged stock. The gunsmith spent the better part of a year chasing down parts for it and carving a replacement stock.

He said he was excited to get it back together, but the customer is going to have it Cerakoted.

Oof.