Increased my rifle knowledge this week...

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txgunsuscg

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As with any good story, this one starts with "So I walked into my LGS...", and there on the rack were a bunch of guns that I had never seen before. As a matter of fact, they had never seen them before either. A local guy dropped them off asking if they wanted to buy them, and they hadn't had a chance to look at them yet. So I took it upon myself to do the research. Turns out they have a French MAS, Spanish FR8, Brazilian Mauser, Swedish Mauser, 3 Enfields, VZ 52, and a Swedish AG-42 Ljungman. The Mausers and Enfields I was at least familiar with in passing, but it was really cool to see the MAS, 52, and Ljungman.

The only problem is, now I want the FR8 and Brazilian Mauser.....:D
 
I have a rockin' sweet FR-8 that I walked away with for 100 bucks a long while back. It's arsenal fresh, .308 and kicks like a mule but man do I love it. The thing turned out to be very accurate with 148 grain and points like an M1 Carbine for me. It turned out to be the basis for a very nice bolt carbine collection with an Enfield "Jungle", Mosin carbine, custom garand "tanker" (no bolt of course) and a Mauser carbine. All the bolt guns look very happy together. Get that FR-8 if the price is right! Excellent sights on them.
 
I love my MAS...was it a bolt or semi-auto? If the bolt gun it was a MAS 36 if automatic it would likely be a 49/56.

If they have been switched over to 308 I would shy away, some have had problems with them, but in the original 7.5 french they are great rifles.
 
I believe the MAS was the 49/56. It was semi-auto with a detachable mag, if I remember correctly and was marked as 7.5 French.

They don't have a price on the FR8 yet, as they are still trying to figure out if it will be worth their while to try to sell it.

From looking on Gunbroker, the two Swede guns look like they would be most profitable for them.
 
Since they haven't priced the FR-8 yet - if you go back note whether it has a straight or down-turned bolt handle and make sure they understand you were really hoping for the "other" configuration. Also, check that the bolt handle serial number matches the receiver number, the condition of the rear sight and if the cleaning kit is in the holding tube below the barrel.
 
It has the straight bolt, the numbers match I believe, the rear sight is in pretty good shape, bore looks pretty good (strong rifling, actually the whole rifle looks pretty good, just dry), and I don't know how to get into the holding tube, but I'm going to google that now...
 
No idea which the VZ-52 is chambered in. Apparently the older gentleman selling them doesn't know either. I suppose we could headspace it, but I don't know if the LGS has 39 headspace gauges, and I certainly don't. It also has the nasty black crinkle paint some monkey painted the stock with (either the Czechs or Century)...
 
easy way to check
get a wooden dowel that will fit down the barrel
take a x39
if it drops completely into the chamber (past the rim slot) it's x45

also on the receiver it should have SHE (or AVM?? other arsenal code, kinda rare)
X (actually crossed swords) and a 2 digit date, a converted on will have a date like 54/57 being double dated to indicate rearsenal conversion. OR a date of 57 or 58 being originally chambered for x39
 
Shadow 7D said:
easy way to check
get a wooden dowel that will fit down the barrel
take a x39
if it drops completely into the chamber (past the rim slot) it's x45

also on the receiver it should have SHE (or AVM?? other arsenal code, kinda rare)
X (actually crossed swords) and a 2 digit date, a converted on will have a date like 54/57 being double dated to indicate rearsenal conversion. OR a date of 57 or 58 being originally chambered for x39
Click to expand...
They were not factory converted....they are either Vz52s in x45 or they are 52/57's in x39.

Vz52 has 1 barrel pin, 52/57's have a second barrel pin below the rear sight.
Serial numbers...52 has a single letter then numbers..52/57 has two letters then numbers.

IF it's a 52 AND its x39 then its been converted HERE (in the USA)....usually by shortening the original x45 barrel OR installing a x39 sleeve.

I converted my 52 with an original 52/57 barrel and it shoots great. An original 52/57 barrel is CHROME LINED while the x45 is NOT.
 
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