illinoisburt
Member
Twenty five years ago the Mosin Nagant in any flavor was an ugly, noisy, hunk of bayonet handle that could shoot a few bullets with the overall perception of a poor $45 boat oar. "Why on Earth would anyone want that?" and "where or why did someone dig up that thing?" were common thoughts and not unusual comments at gun shows and stores.
As the proliferation of rifles began to flow in more earnest and Bubbas were merrily hacking away we saw a little sparkle, somewhere aways off in the distant night.
I joked with people 15 years ago to be mindful of the mighty Mosin, for some day they would earn cool collector status and folks would be beating a path to the door of he who hath them. Elicited laughter and occasional "eh, there's plenty more for $75 where this one came from."
The die had been set, the writing on the wall, all signs were beginning to show. Whispers could be heard speaking of the magic of the hex, and someone told of an old codger building a *gasp* collection! No, it could not be...
The once endless bounty of cheap old junk was beginning to dry up. Prices were rising and the whispers were being overtaken by actual talk about matching numbers and original markings. Somebody might have even talk bad about a Bubba and how might it be restored. The magic fairy had twirled about her cleaning rod and with a poof of cosmoline and Hoppes smoke, a junker might have been reborn!
People could be proud to own a Mosin Nagant! The slavic fire benching dragon of doom wasn't staying hidden at the last table on the range, but brought forth for on lookers to gaze and ponder.
Can it be? Should it be? Has the Mosin Nagant become a cool collector's piece with all the rights and privileges known to such realm?
As the proliferation of rifles began to flow in more earnest and Bubbas were merrily hacking away we saw a little sparkle, somewhere aways off in the distant night.
I joked with people 15 years ago to be mindful of the mighty Mosin, for some day they would earn cool collector status and folks would be beating a path to the door of he who hath them. Elicited laughter and occasional "eh, there's plenty more for $75 where this one came from."
The die had been set, the writing on the wall, all signs were beginning to show. Whispers could be heard speaking of the magic of the hex, and someone told of an old codger building a *gasp* collection! No, it could not be...
The once endless bounty of cheap old junk was beginning to dry up. Prices were rising and the whispers were being overtaken by actual talk about matching numbers and original markings. Somebody might have even talk bad about a Bubba and how might it be restored. The magic fairy had twirled about her cleaning rod and with a poof of cosmoline and Hoppes smoke, a junker might have been reborn!
People could be proud to own a Mosin Nagant! The slavic fire benching dragon of doom wasn't staying hidden at the last table on the range, but brought forth for on lookers to gaze and ponder.
Can it be? Should it be? Has the Mosin Nagant become a cool collector's piece with all the rights and privileges known to such realm?