Wave of Spanish Mausers - Coincidence?

[theotherwaldo]

In the last six months I have found and picked up a Mauser M43 in 7.9mm, a Mauser M16 in 7.62 NATO, a thoroughly (and fairly nicely) sporterized m16 rebarreled in its original 7mm Mauser and carrying a clean Weaver K-4, and an extra M44 stock, Total price was just over $500.00.
In the last sixteen years I had never seen a Spanish here on the border but suddenly they seem to be everywhere.
What's going on? Has there been some warning that I didn't notice? I don't think that these are new imports.
-Or is it a coincidence?

 

[kBob]

Umm those of us that were buying these 30 to fifty years ago are dying off and the kids are selling them?

This is the reason Arisaka are more common at shows and shops than they were fifteen years ago as well.

Wish I had bought an FR8 when they first came in of even an M43 when I was first starting out unfortunately the parts mauser barrel at Woolco had guns a bit cheaper than a clean M43 went for at the time and those 15 round boxes of 7.92x57 on strippers for 89 cents a box. How else was an 18 year old in pre internet days supposed to learn about corrosive ammo?

I am willing to bet you have seen a few Mexican bolt guns, but I have yet to see one. I always thought an M 1954 faux Springfield 03 A3 would be neat as all get out but have never seen one in Florida.

Lots of folks from elsewhere have gotten jobs and "Gone to Texas" and a lot of old farts have retired there. The wives generally out live them and what does she want with those old guns anyway?

-kBob

 

[Ignition Override]

There are so many retired military people in the San Antonio area (my late father-in-law), which could be contributing to those types of guns

They are not allowed to have them in retirement/nursing homes, such as the A.R.C. in n.e. San Antonio, and so the supply might be radiating outwards in all directions.

 

[bannockburn]

kBob

I remember those cardboard barrels of Mausers at Woolworths back in the '70s too! Man those were some really rough looking mix-n-match rifles. Actually back then Woolworths had a pretty decent gun department. They had a small but nice selection of rifles, shotguns, and handguns and even had the two 100th anniversary Colt SAA commeratives in the display case.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I bought a pile of FR 8's back in the early 90's with cases of ammunition. The FR 8's were in the $100.00 range and the tins of ammo were like $80.00 for 500 count.

Unfortunately I sold all of them too. Before they were worth anything.:banghead:

 

[theotherwaldo]

Oddly enough, I have yet to see a Mexican Mauser here on the border.

 

[HoosierQ]

Oddly enough, I have yet to see a Mexican Mauser here on the border.

I saw one in, of all places, Terre Haute Indiana about 15 years ago.