Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine 9mm found

[bikemutt]

I wasn't even looking for one of these but I ran across a local fellow who had this one and wanted to trade something for it. So, one 357 mag handgun and one 22lr rifle later, we traded.

I had seen one of these in person a year or so back at an out-of-town pawnshop and really liked it, but it was pretty beat and they wanted a lot for it, I passed.

This one came with the original box, manual and tools as well as 4 hi-cap mags and 2 regular mags. Also came with the cheapo Barksa scope. The scope mount is interesting in that the riser permits co-witnessing with the iron sights, I'll probably keep that mount and replace the Barska with an RMR or Sightmark red-dot. Right now the drop angle on the buttstock is excellent for the irons but is way too low for the scope.

The fellow said he is the original owner, he ran a couple of mags through it when he bought it, then parked it in a safe until now. It is in absolutely mint condition.

So, I figured I would share Linda (gotta rename her) with you all and see if anyone else out here on THR may have one and wants to share a thought or two? Share a thought even if you don't have one

 

[Fleetman]

NICE! I haven't seen one of those in years and years.

 

[B!ngo]

I don't know much about them. Any history that you can share? And what mags does it use?
I have an 9mm MP94 clone from ATI myself. Love it and it's as close to a real MP5 that I will ever own. But I like almost all PCC's.
Thx,
B

 

[dfariswheel]

It appears to have been heavily modified.
The original didn't have an AR type stock, and I don't remember a vented barrel shroud.

 

[Fremmer]

What kind of mags does it use, and would you consider an electronic sight for it?

 

[bikemutt]

All the ones I've seen (in person and pictures) have had a vented barrel shroud.

The AR15 buffer tube is a commercial tube which appears to fit naturally into the receiver. The other one I saw in person had several different buttstocks, including a folder IIRC. My guess is the interface lug for the buttstock was offered in different flavors to accept different stocks.

The mags are proprietary but they are still available. They appear similar to the Colt-style AR15 mags.

I'm going to try and squeeze in some range time with it today, not sure what I'll do about an optic until I figure out if she's a keeper. The rail riser used was a bit of a kludge since the receiver is not milled for a picatinny rail. It's milled to a similar width as a picatinny but there are no cross grooves, accordingly the rail riser bolts left scratches on the receiver as they had nowhere to seat

If it shoots as nice as a I hope, I'd like to figure a way to mount a Trijicon RMR dual illumination holographic sight.

 

[Fremmer]

Man I can't believe they milled that rail like that, let us know how you work around it.

 

[bikemutt]

My gunsmith says if I decide to mount a picatinny rail or optic he can cross-mill grooves.

Not so sure I want to go hacking into a semi-collectible rifle though.

 

[bannockburn]

I remember those from many years ago. Seem to recall the original model having a wooden forend and some sort of conical flashhider (like the ones you would find on M1/M2 Carbines). Interesting design and I believe Wilkinson Arms built a couple of .25 ACP semi-autos (one of them was named Sherry).

 

[hoobens]

I have one of these. I put a straight adapter on it and installed a MagPul stock. I also drilled and tapped the flat top to install a full section of rail on which I placed a red dot. The original fixed sights that were designed for the Linda pistol were pretty useless. I did a Youtube video, check it out.

 

[Dr.Rob]

One source I found says it uses Browning Hi-Power magazines (which makes sense given when they were designed it was one of the few hi-cap pistols around).

 

[chicharrones]

What kind of mags does it use, and would you consider an electronic sight for it?

Yeah, that cool little gun is screaming for a red dot.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The Linda pistol doesn't have the barrel shroud. The Linda carbine has the 16" barrel and shroud. You have to miss the 1980s - the era when 8lb pistol caliber carbines walked the land . It does make them very pleasant to shoot though.

 

[bikerdoc]

Can't wait for the range report.

Right now my favorite PCC is a Ruger PC 9

 

[Mp7]

Now - that with a folding stock screams "truck gun"!

 

[50 Shooter]

Seeing that makes me wish I never sold my HK94A3, fun to shoot and one of the most iconic carbines ever made.

I guess the trade off is I can lob 750gr bullets 2000 yards if I drive out to my desert shooting spot.