What rifles for a WWII battle rifle collection?

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DMK

DMK

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I'm putting together a collection of Axis and Allied battle rifles(ie. no carbines or subguns for now). I have a Mosin 91/30, M38 and M44, a couple Enfield No.4s, and a Garand. I've ordered a 1903A3 from CMP.

So here's what I'm thinking I need:

- A 1903 since it would be a better example of a US WWII combat rifle than the A3.

- No.1 MK3 Enfield. Were these used by the British or just the commonwealths during WWII?

- Mauser, What's the representive Mauser for the German army. It would have to be a 98K right? Were the Czech and Yugo Mausers used by the German army too?

- Arisaka, type 99 or type 38?
 
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DMK said:
- No.1 MK3 Enfield. Were these used by the British or just the commonwealths during WWII?

- Mauser, What's the representive Mauser for the German army. It would have to me a 98K right? Were the Czech and Yugo Mausers used by the German army too?
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The Brits used No. 1 Mk. 3s throughout the war particularly early on but less so later as the No. 4s became more plentiful.

The 98K was the standard battle rifle of the Wehrmacht.
 
Both Arisakas were used by the Japanese, and I believe the Wehrmacht did use captured Czech Mausers. Yugoslavia didn't make Mausers until after the war AFAIK. You need a Carcano too, and maybe a MAS-36 (if you consider France a combatant :rolleyes: )
 
Don't forget an M1 Carbine! They are pricey (an original WWII version) but it was carried by thousands of US troops in all theatres not only in WWII, but in Korea and Vietnam.

The 03A3 came out in '43 and saw lots of use by both the Army and the Marines early on in the war so I think it would be a bit more representative than the original '03 unless you found a really high serial number '03.
 
Also the Russian SVT-38 and/or SVT-40. Nice semi-automatics used, and eventually copied by, the Germans. And, believe it or not, the first SKS' were used in battle towards the end of WWII, as well.
 
Dates & rifles

DMK--Consider getting a 1917 Enfield--The U. S. Army used alot of those also. BTW, a heck of a good rifle in its own right. Built like a brick pizzeria.

Yugo Mauser--It is the M-48 mauser. As in 1948. None of them saw combat in WWII, as they handn't been born yet. It was made by the Yugoslavs on captured German equipment after the war. I think design work was begun in '47.

Can't help you on the Czech Mauser.
 
Regarding the 1903 vs. 1903A3

A 1903 since it would be a better example of a US WWII combat rifle than the A3.
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The 1903A3 and 1903A4 were products of WWII. They were a modification of the pre-WWII 1903 to expedite production, namely in substitution of stamped floorplates, stamped barrel bands, and a cheaper rear peep sight compared to the windage-adjustable vernier ladder previously mounted on the barrel shank.

I would consider the 1903 to be indicative of WWI and the between-wars period. But the 1903A3 and 1903A4 are purely children of WWII.
 
the first SKS' were used in battle towards the end of WWII, as well.
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I'm just curious if you have any info confirming this. I've heard peopel say this before and I've heard people say that the SKS was officially adopted after the AK-47 (1947).
 
Gewehr98 said:
The 1903A3 and 1903A4 were products of WWII. They were a modification of the pre-WWII 1903 to expedite production, namely in substitution of stamped floorplates, stamped barrel bands, and a cheaper rear peep sight compared to the windage-adjustable vernier ladder previously mounted on the barrel shank.

I would consider the 1903 to be indicative of WWI and the between-wars period. But the 1903A3 and 1903A4 are purely children of WWII.
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Hmmm. It was my uderstanding (possibly incorrect) that the 1903 was in issue during the beginning of the war and that the soldiers at Bataan, Wake Island, etc had them. Plus that the Marines doing island hopping used a lot of them. I always figured it took a while to ramp up on 03A3 production and that those would mostly go to new recruits rather than replace the working '03s in service.

I'll just have to get both! :)
 
To a point, yes.

Hmmm. It was my uderstanding (possibly incorrect) that the 1903 was in issue during the beginning of the war and that the soldiers at Bataan, Wake Island, etc had them. Plus that the Marines doing island hopping used a lot of them. I always figured it took a while to ramp up on 03A3 production and that those would mostly go to new recruits rather than replace the working '03s in service.
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But the 1903A3 was pushed into production to supplement low delivery numbers for the standard issue Army rifle, the M1 Garand. The Marines balked at adopting the Garand until quite a bit later in the Pacific theater of war, preferring to use their beloved 1903 and 1903A1 rifles. Even their WWII sniper rifle was a match-grade M1903A1 with 8x Unertl scope, compared to the Army's M1903A4.

I've got several pictures of soldiers in the European theater carrying their 1903A3 rifles. I'll have to scan them in, but I'll post them here.

In the meantime, enjoy this M1903A4:

1903a4-3.gif
 
I always figured it took a while to ramp up on 03A3 production and that those would mostly go to new recruits rather than replace the working '03s in service.
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That was my understanding. I have seen examples of both used in WWII photos, but I see 03's more often than A3's. Simple answer? Get both :D

Enfield No. 4
Finnish Mosin
M1 Carbine
French MAS
Austrian Steyr M95
Italian Carcano
Arisaka, probably T99 but IMHO it is about the same argument as the 03/A3 one.
K98 Mauser, Czech or German

Probably missing some, though

Also:
Swiss K31
Swede m96

Just because they were there to be used if necessary, and tehy are probably the nicest guns of those listed.
 
I've got several pictures of soldiers in the European theater carrying their 1903A3 rifles. I'll have to scan them in, but I'll post them here.
Click to expand...
That would be very cool. I'd love to see them.

In the meantime, enjoy this M1903A4
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I never tire of seeing that beautiful rifle. You have good reason to be a proud papa. IIRC, you built that up from just a receiver right?
 
Get both
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The war cry of the Cruffler! :D

Well, it looks like I'll just have to buy both the 03 and the 03A3. Hopefully, I still can get an 03A3 from CMP. :uhoh:

I decided to cover both bases with the Mausers too. I just worked out a deal for a VZ24 and am working on another one for a K98 too. It's a Russian Capture, but that just shows it's "been there".

Now I just need to trade one of my No.4 Enfields for a No.1mk3 and scour the pawn shops, classifieds and auctions for Carcanos and Arisakas.

Boy collecting is fun. :)
 
Don't forget:

Hungarian M-95 carbine
Greek Mannlicher-Shoenauer
French MAS-36
Siamese Mausers
Eddystone Enfields (the parkerized ones used as reserve rifles)
 
It's my understanding that the Mosin-Nagant M38 and M44 are both considered carbines, not MBR's. Is that not correct?

Wheeler
 
define 'MBR'. It is just an arbitrary term that, IIRC, was developed on the internet.

Mike
 
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