looking for project firearms

[eejohnson]

Hello,
I have finally managed to get into a couple of the NRA gunsmith classes at Montgomery College.
I would like to add a few project guns to my collection, but I am on a budget. I also live in Northern VA which seems devoid of any good pawn shops. So, I am looking for an online source for cheap bubba’d - non working - horror storied firearms. My only requirement is that there would be some hope of making them fire again.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[rattletrap1970]

I love finding guns like that. I think it's a good way to learn not to be a bubba.

 

[Smokey Joe]

"Project firearms"...

E. E. Johnson--I think that's a lovely euphemism for what are aka rusty wrecks or bubba'd horrors! Good luck on your finding a patient on which to work!

Any gun show would be a source of supply for you. (I know I could have picked up something like that at every gun show in recent memory!) Also, make the rounds of all yr local gun shops, gunsmiths, and similar businesses, and tell them what you're looking for and why. Ask if they have anything in the back room which they're ashamed to put on display. You never know--you might even get a donation for a patient!

You're fairly close to Hunters' Lodge--they're in Alexandria, I think--Go there, too, and try your story on them.

Anyhow, good luck on finding a nearly ruined firearm (Gee, that's the opposite of what most of us are seeking!) And pull-EEZE keep us posted, preferably with before, during, and after pix!

 

[545days]

Century Arms used to sell "Gunsmith Specials." They were damaged or had missing parts. Often advertised as "may be missing bolt." Many were C&R, so you could get them delivered to your door with a C&R license. The last few times I checked, the price delta between a gunsmith special and the same gun in better condition was too low for me to justify buying the gunsmith specials.

I did however pick up a five for $250? special on Turkish Mausers that was a good deal, a six for $100 deal on GEW 1888's (missing bolts) from Old Western Scrounger, a three for $100 deal on MAS 36's from Gun Parts Corp, and a three for $100 deal on Carcano's converted to 8mm Mauser from one of the importers. All of these purchases were made before I was called to Active Duty in 2004. I have not seen deals like these in recent years.

At least one of the other on line dealers also offered gunsmith specials on batches of pistols. The ones I saw were not C&R, so if you didn't have an FFL, the shipping and transfers would eat you up.

I recommend trolling the gunshows for bubba'd milsurps and abused firearms. The only trick is establishing a reasonable price. Broken guns that are not obvious wall hanging antiques are often quite reasonable... if you can find them.

 

[Ian Sean]

I would check flea markets, I usually see a few long guns pretty cheap at ours. Some bubba'd...some just rusty or incomplete.

I would also ask at gun shops, explain what you are doing. They may have a gun or two laying around that are "junk". One shop in Delaware I used to frequent (about 10 or so years ago) actually had a barrel in a corner with old junk long guns. The prices varied, many were missing parts but rarely over $50.

I myself did find a bubba'd up Enfield #4 (for $60), someone took a saw to the stock to sporterize it, thank god they didn't saw anything else off. It was a filthy mess.

I cleaned it up, found a stock at Numrich plus the missing metal parts. Took time with cold bluing it and it came out pretty nice.

Turned out to be a really good shooter.

 

[eejohnson]

Thanks,
Eric


Hey folks,

First thanks for all of the great replies, you guys are great!

FYI… I will be cut and pasting part of this reply to a couple threads on several forums. Please don’t think I am being weird or trolling or something…

Replies and thoughts:

I will be adding a WTB in the sales section, thanks.

I live in Northern VA:

…and the pawn shops suck. The ones I have found (in Manassas) are mostly jewelry, the tools and firearms are overpriced junk that has been in the window so long they’re sun faded.

…and the gun shows near me have not been that great recently ether. Between the great prophet and Heller vs. DC the gun market around here has been hopping. The shows have been mostly new or overpriced. At the last one I saw a S&W model 10 that was perfect for me, the cylinder moved about a 1/16th at lock-up, I think the crane was bent, and the finish was maybe 60%. I would not have fired that as it was. I was think’n $75 for it, they wanted $450, firm. Sigh… The market is cooling down, so I will try a few more shows before my class and see if I get lucky.

Rebarrel/restoring/ sporterising a mauser or Mosin Nagant: Great idea, and definitely on my to-do list. I am not sure if I will have time at the class to do this…

A H@R (Harrington and Richardson) revolver would be fun, there seems to be lots of folks online trying to find someone to work on them. They could be a good, fun, niche for me to work on.

“Any Kel-Tec Pistol should do for a good project Gun.” That is “blow milk out my nose” funny! Hey, wait a minute, I like Kel-Tec’s…


Some places folks suggested (haven’t check them all out yet):
Century Arms used to sell "Gunsmith Specials." They still do, but they don’t have much right now.
J&G
http://www.sarcoinc.com/3-10-10_P page.pdf
Old Western Scrounger
VA guntrader
centerfiresystems.com

Thanks,
Eric