Terry G
Member
Yugoslavian SKS New In Crate
CZ 82
M-1 Garand CMP
SMLE MKIII and No,4 Many more. 03 License and a Credit Card. I went berserk.
CZ 82
M-1 Garand CMP
SMLE MKIII and No,4 Many more. 03 License and a Credit Card. I went berserk.
Those military surplus days. Top 3?
- Thread starter valnar
- Start date
Dave DeLaurant
Member
Darn, forgot the MAS36! I didn't appreciate how good it was until I got one of my own. Despite the short length of pull and tiny aperture, that is one a well-designed rifle deserving another honorable mention.
My top 3 would be Bern K-31, Husqvarna M-38 and BSA No 4 Mk I
If I had been astute enough to pick up an M-39 when they were just beginning to get market traction, that would be in the third position. Alas.
If I had been astute enough to pick up an M-39 when they were just beginning to get market traction, that would be in the third position. Alas.
GunnyUSMC
Member
I bought my first milsurps rifle in 1985, and picked up some others here and there. It wasn’t until 2007 that I started collecting.
To me, it was never about the guns I likes the most, it was the hunt and making the deal. And let me tell you, I did a lot of hunting and dealing.
I look at it as the guns that I had the most fun collecting. But I do have to say, the only problem I have when it comes to collecting surplus weapons is lack of focus.
Turkish Mausers were so much fun to collect, with all the different variations. I probably have one of the largest collections of Turkish Mausers in the South.
Next I would say that collecting Mosin M91 rifles have been fun. It might be because my first Mosin rifle was a New England Westinghouse M91 that was used in the Spanish Civil War. I bought it for $75 at a gun show. I now have 14, M91s in my collection. Here’s one of my four N.E.W. Rifles.
My third favorite milsurp to collect is Enfield rifles. Never could decide if I liked the No1s or the No 4s more.
I’ve picked up a couple of more since these pics were taken. I have around 25 Enfields in my collection now.
To me, it was never about the guns I likes the most, it was the hunt and making the deal. And let me tell you, I did a lot of hunting and dealing.
I look at it as the guns that I had the most fun collecting. But I do have to say, the only problem I have when it comes to collecting surplus weapons is lack of focus.
Turkish Mausers were so much fun to collect, with all the different variations. I probably have one of the largest collections of Turkish Mausers in the South.
Next I would say that collecting Mosin M91 rifles have been fun. It might be because my first Mosin rifle was a New England Westinghouse M91 that was used in the Spanish Civil War. I bought it for $75 at a gun show. I now have 14, M91s in my collection. Here’s one of my four N.E.W. Rifles.
My third favorite milsurp to collect is Enfield rifles. Never could decide if I liked the No1s or the No 4s more.
I’ve picked up a couple of more since these pics were taken. I have around 25 Enfields in my collection now.
rb288
Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2012
- Messages
- 192
I have been a surplus collector for a while.
1. 1903 Springfield
2. Mosin M-44
3. Enfield no. 5 mk1 (jungle carbine)
4. Mauser Kar98k
5. M-1 Garand (Springfield)
6. M-1 Carbine (Rock-Ola)
7. Swiss K31
8. Russian SKS
9. Mosin 91-30
10. Japanese Arasaka 99
My pride and joy...
11. Tokarev SVT-40 sniper
They all get shot on occasion.
1. 1903 Springfield
2. Mosin M-44
3. Enfield no. 5 mk1 (jungle carbine)
4. Mauser Kar98k
5. M-1 Garand (Springfield)
6. M-1 Carbine (Rock-Ola)
7. Swiss K31
8. Russian SKS
9. Mosin 91-30
10. Japanese Arasaka 99
My pride and joy...
11. Tokarev SVT-40 sniper
They all get shot on occasion.
GunnyUSMC
Member
illinoisburt
Member
Haha! And people got upset with me a few years ago for suggesting the Mosin-Nagant had become a collectible. ...So there! That'll learnt em.
illinoisburt
Member
Honestly for me personally I got into them in the late 80s and frankly only cared about cost vs volume of fire. I heard plenty from old timers spinning wonderful yarns about barrels full of ww1/2 rifles and handguns but by then pretty much all I saw from Allied countries was picked over and expensive. I did however take note of anything with cheap center-fire ammo available in big cases for cheap. I was not focused at all on historic importance nor did I care who used what in war. I cared about what was affordable for me to shoot A LOT. So Chinese and Russian surplus was on my menu - 91/30, SKS, AK for long guns, Spanish Star for pistols. So I don't think my opinion about surplus mean much for quality or whatever. I just went with lowest cost bulk ammo.
caribou
Member
Mosin's Mosin's, Mosn's.....
My M-39's top the list, folowed by M1 Carbine, Type99 Arisaka and my Berdan II Carbine.
My M-39's top the list, folowed by M1 Carbine, Type99 Arisaka and my Berdan II Carbine.
Grumpy_old_Fart
Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2021
- Messages
- 261
I'll take most any 1917 Enfield made by Remington or Winchester. Too much good going to waste out there.
JCooperfan1911
member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2020
- Messages
- 2,709
1. M1 rifle.
2. M1 rifle.
3. M1 rifle.
2. M1 rifle.
3. M1 rifle.
GBExpat
Member
The last 3 that I have handled.
Really, there is no way for me to answer that question. Whenever I am holding one of them, that one is my favorite.
Like some (many?) here I used the opportunity a couple of decades ago to Accumulate rather than Collect.
I still have 15 M1s, 6 SVT-40s, 5 03A3s, 5(6?) Mod of 1917s, ~8 Nº4s, et cetera ... you get the idea.
Alas, I never managed to find a decent G/K43 at what I considered to be a reasonable price. Yeah, poor me.
GBExpat
Member
<sigh>
Seedy Character
Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2021
- Messages
- 2,064
Only 2 I own:
1. 03A3 .30-06
2. M96 6.5x55 Swede
Grandsons have 2 Mosin
I remember seeing baskets in the aisles of surplus rifles. Lee Enfield $8, 8mm Mauser $10
1917 Springfield $12, Lee Navy 8mm $8, Swedes $10, South American 7mm Mauser $8.
Floods of Chi-Com SKS $75 and sardine cans of ammo for $0.015 a round
Oh to have had expendable cash and the foresight to buy. The desire to buy was there. Not for historical or collector value, just to HAVE one "those".
1. 03A3 .30-06
2. M96 6.5x55 Swede
Grandsons have 2 Mosin
I remember seeing baskets in the aisles of surplus rifles. Lee Enfield $8, 8mm Mauser $10
1917 Springfield $12, Lee Navy 8mm $8, Swedes $10, South American 7mm Mauser $8.
Floods of Chi-Com SKS $75 and sardine cans of ammo for $0.015 a round
Oh to have had expendable cash and the foresight to buy. The desire to buy was there. Not for historical or collector value, just to HAVE one "those".
earlthegoat2
Member
@GunnyUSMC is cash poor but the Warren Buffet milsurp investment.
I like police surplus.
HK P7s and Sig P6s.
I like police surplus.
HK P7s and Sig P6s.
GBExpat
Member
I recall walking thru the Medina, OH Gunshow in 1987(?) and seeing those ~$75 ChiCom SKS everywhere. As I was leaving I noticed that it appeared that at least 25% of the folks heading towards the carpark with me had one of those SKSs hanging from their shoulder.
The SKSs did not appeal to me. On my shoulder was the Marlin 1894 that did.
GunnyUSMC
Member
Do you mean a US 1917?
The US 1917 should never be confused with the Pattern 14 Enfield. This is my P14 that is still waiting for me to finish the restoration.
Grumpy_old_Fart
Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2021
- Messages
- 261
[QUOTE="GunnyUSMC, posDo you mean a US 1917?
View attachment 1036299
The US 1917 should never be confused with the Pattern 14 Enfield. This is my P14 that is still waiting for me to finish the restoration.
View attachment 1036300[/QUOTE]
I didn't confuse them at all. And yes, I meant a US M1917 Enfield. And I like the 1914 bolt, when modified, make a great magnum action that will hold up to anything.
View attachment 1036299
The US 1917 should never be confused with the Pattern 14 Enfield. This is my P14 that is still waiting for me to finish the restoration.
View attachment 1036300[/QUOTE]
I didn't confuse them at all. And yes, I meant a US M1917 Enfield. And I like the 1914 bolt, when modified, make a great magnum action that will hold up to anything.
Catpop
Member
I bought my first from Sears, yeap I sure did, a 1891 Modlin for $8.
My second, some kind of Italian rifle with a ramp bolt guide behind receiver and bayonet for $7.50 (bayonet was $4 of the total price) Still unsure of the exact model of that one or which mail order company- could have been Century Arms.
My third, a 1903A3 Remington for $30 something from Potomac Arms.
All mail order, pre 1964—- I was 12 yo
The last surplus one I bought was a Mauser 98 in 80s for $25 when the local Roses was closing out.
Of the three I only got around to shooting the Moslin about 5 years ago and sadly the barrel was shot out.
But boy did I have fun as a kid taking it apart, cleaning it, and putting it back together.
Today My favorite shooting surplus are
1898 Krag, 1903 (‘31), 1903A4, Garand
I do love watching my grandson shooting that Garand—-twang it goes!!!!!
My second, some kind of Italian rifle with a ramp bolt guide behind receiver and bayonet for $7.50 (bayonet was $4 of the total price) Still unsure of the exact model of that one or which mail order company- could have been Century Arms.
My third, a 1903A3 Remington for $30 something from Potomac Arms.
All mail order, pre 1964—- I was 12 yo
The last surplus one I bought was a Mauser 98 in 80s for $25 when the local Roses was closing out.
Of the three I only got around to shooting the Moslin about 5 years ago and sadly the barrel was shot out.
But boy did I have fun as a kid taking it apart, cleaning it, and putting it back together.
Today My favorite shooting surplus are
1898 Krag, 1903 (‘31), 1903A4, Garand
I do love watching my grandson shooting that Garand—-twang it goes!!!!!
Sebastian the Ibis
Member
1. Garand, because I love it that Uncle Sam will mail a semi-auto “assault rifle” straight to my house!! Plus, ‘Merica!!
2. Izmash Saiga AK. These were made on the same production line as the real ones going to Putin’s little green men, so I think they count. Just like lake city 5.56. Best version of the AK IMHO, and ingeniously designed to avoid import restrictions (922r).
3. Enfield MKIII, oozes history, and it was the first gun I ever shot.
2. Izmash Saiga AK. These were made on the same production line as the real ones going to Putin’s little green men, so I think they count. Just like lake city 5.56. Best version of the AK IMHO, and ingeniously designed to avoid import restrictions (922r).
3. Enfield MKIII, oozes history, and it was the first gun I ever shot.
luzyfuerza
Member
Mine's easy.
M1 Garand
M1 Carbine
Had Mosins...dumped 'em
Had an SKS...dumped it
Had some K-31s...sold 'em off
Had a K98k...sent it on its way
M1 Garands and M1 carbines...not going anywhere!
M1 Garand
M1 Carbine
Had Mosins...dumped 'em
Had an SKS...dumped it
Had some K-31s...sold 'em off
Had a K98k...sent it on its way
M1 Garands and M1 carbines...not going anywhere!
