I'm just now completing a similar collection that I began last year. Unless you have deep pockets and unlimited space in your gun safe, you need to set some clear parameters
before you embark on building a WW2 collection. Otherwise, you wind up chasing every "deal" you find on odd bits of WW2 rifle militaria. Yes, you can say that the Stutzens, K31s, and MAS 36 rifles played some role in WW2, but ultimately I don't think their roles were significant enough to justify inclusion in a limited collection. Others may see this differently, but I chose to focus on what I considered to be the biggest players.
For me, I had eight spaces in the cabinet and a decent but not large budget to work with (mainly coming from the sales of existing rifles and handguns in my collection). I decided right away to limit myself to
typical rifles used by
major WW2 participants. I also wanted an equal number of Axis and Allied rifles, and I insisted on rifles made either during or right before WW2. I did not, however, insist that the rifles be totally period "correct," and so a rearsenaled Garand or Mosin that was initially made in or before WW2 would be fine. Finally, I decided that I'd get a correct bayonet for each rifle, if that rifle would have had a bayonet in WW2.
A Mosin-Nagant 91/30 is a great place to start, as they're cheap, mostly correct, and usually already come with a bayonet. You can often get one of these for under $100.
Following the Eastern Front theme, a Russian-capture German k98 Mauser is a "must-have" rifle. These are relatively cheap now and absolutely dripping with history (and cosmoline on mine
). You'll have to procure the capture screws and a cleaning rod, and bayonets are also a bit spendy. My total cost was around $375, with the bayonet making up about a third of that.
An often overlooked Axis rifle is the Italian Carcano. These are long gone from the milsurp market, but there are lots available via on-line auctions. I got a great deal on a 6.5mm Cavalry Carbine that turned out to be a totally correct G.I. bringback. I spent about $225 and that includes the integral folding bayonet.
You cannot forget a good British rifle. I chose the Enfield No. 4 Mk. 1 as a representative piece. These can be found for around $200, but I spent $250 on a nice specimen with matching numbers. British WW2 bayonets can also be picked up for about $20.
If you stick to a bolt-action theme, the American rifle to get is the 1903 (or 1903A3) Springfield. However, you can easily spend $500-$600 on one of these, and for the money I preferred a WW2 Garand from the CMP. By driving to one of the CMP stores, I snagged a 6/44 Springfield Armory Garand with an original barrel for under $550. Bayonets for the Garand are pretty steep, too, costing $100-$150 and up.
While I was shopping at the CMP, I also picked up a 3/44 M1 Carbine for about the same price as the Garand. Even though I already had an American WW2 rifle in the Garand, I really wanted a Carbine since both were used by G.I.'s in roughly equal numbers (actually there were a bit more Carbines made during WW2). Even though my Carbine was fitted with a bayonet lug when it was rearsenaled after WW2, I have not bought a bayonet since my rifle would never have worn one during WW2. Besides, genuine WW2 Carbine bayonets are very expensive.
One of my last purchases was a Japanese rifle. Like Carcanos, the Arisakas are no longer on the milsurp market but can easily be bought through auctions. They are, however, quickly escalating in price. You can pick a good-condition 6.5mm Type 38 or a 7.7mm Type 99 for about the same price, generally around $250-$350. I like the Type 99 a little better, and they are OK to shoot if you get a pre- or early-war example. Later Type 99s are more suspect as shooters, though. Both the Type 38 and Type 99 rifles used the same Type 30 bayonet, although there are many manufacturing variations in that basic design. Expect to pay $100-$150 for a good one.
For my last rifle, I picked up a Finn M39 for under $250. Some might argue that the Finns played no greater role (and maybe less of a role) in WW2 than nations such as France or Switzerland. If you feel this way, sink about the same amount of money into a good MAS 36 (if you can find a genuine WW2-made example) or a K31. For me, though, I'm convinced that the Finns' defense against invading Russia in the Winter War (and later in the Continuation War, when the M39 served) is what persuaded Hitler that Russia was weak enough to be invaded by German forces. Without the Germans' opening up the Eastern Front, WW2 would have been
very different. Besides that, an M39 rounds out my four Axis rifles, and it's a fine shooter to boot. Finally, despite having a bayonet lug, only the Civil Guard Sk.Y. M39 rifles actually received them. I'm not even trying to find one of these rare birds.
I hope this helps. Have fun and be sure to learn a lot about history in the process of building your collection!
