Well, I posted about waiting and finally receiving my Garand. I just picked up a 1944 Inland for too much but I wanted one before they go up any more. Now, I have a business trip to Birmingham, which puts me driving right by CMP. I think I am going to overspend again and get a 1903A3 to round out the collection. Is there anything to look for when selecting or features that are more desirable. I know Smith Corona's are rarer. Seriously though, now I'm looking at getting a Caranco and K98. MAKE IT STOP!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SIG4EVA,

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA:
I think I am going to overspend again and get a 1903A3 to round out the collection. Is there anything to look for when selecting or features that are more desirable.

As with any milsurps, overall condition and bore condition are the two initial things to check.

Pay special attention to bore condition on bolt rifles like M1917s, M1903s, and M1903A3s available through the CMP stores, since nearly all of the bolt rifles they've received in the past many years have been turn-ins from veterans' organizations who used them for blank firing at funerals. And the bores of many ceremonial blank rifles are pretty trashed.

Yes, Smith-Corona 1903A3s are less common than Remington 1903A3s, since they produced about 1/3rd as many rifles. But they still made a quarter of a million rifles, so they're not exactly "rare".

If you're wanting one that's closer to "as-issued configuration", look for one with a straight stock, not one with a partial or full pistol grip wrist swell. There were partial ("scant") and full ("C") pistol grip stocks produced, but those weren't installed on wartime 1903A3s at the factory, instead being used on new production 1903A4s, and later as replacement stocks on rebuilt/refurbished 1903A3s. (However, for actual shooting, the "scant" and "C" stocks are actually a lot more comfortable than the original straight stocks.)



CMP shouldn't have any Greek rifles left at their stores at this point, but if you end up looking at M1903A3s on the secondary market, know that a decent number of them came back from Greece and were sold through the CMP back in the mid/late 2000s. These Greek Return M1903s and M1903A3s will usually be refinished with a black finish, and are slightly less desirable to most collectors due to the non-original Greek finish, but are a decent option for a shooter if you can get it at a good price.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA:
Seriously though, now I'm looking at getting a Caranco and K98.

K98ks are still rapidly rising in price and are getting tough to find these days, thanks to high demand and low supply.

But it's a great time to be buying a Carcano. A large number of Carcanos are currently being imported from places like Italy and Ethiopia and offered for sale by various online retailers, and there are a wide variety of different Carcano models currently available on the market at reasonable prices. They're probably the easiest milsurp rifles to find right now, at least through online retailers, especially considering there's not much of any supply of other milsurps at retailers right now.

Just understand that you won't be able to shoot Carcanos much, because Carcano ammo overall is rare, with 7.35 being even less common than 6.5. PPU does do small runs of 6.5 Carcano ammo every few years, but if you want to shoot a lot you're better off rolling your own, especially if you buy a Carcano chambered in 7.35.

But that may change in the future, due to the recent increase in Carcano availability and associated increased consumer demand for Carcano ammo. Perhaps PPU or someone else will step up and fill that demand.

If nothing else enjoy the visit to their store, have purchased several items there in person while living in AL. That place is fun.

They are a sickness.. the best sickness you could get. I love old military rifles. I just picked up a beautiful 1891 Argentine one of favorites. The old Mausers rock!!!!

He is right about the Carcanos. The time is right to pick one up. I haven’t seen a shipment of them in like this in a long time. The old days of finding a decent Carcano for $100 are over. In fact the super cheap surplus rifle in Shotgun News days are over. 6.5 Carcano brass is not too hard to find. Just have to look. Are they the smoothest actions, most accurate, or best looking old military rifles. No. But, they work and there is good history there.

And, of course, if you're going to buy some Carcanos and a K98k, you'll also want a couple of British Enfields, and some Soviet Mosin-Nagants, plus a Japanese Arisaka or two. Just, y'know, to round out the major WW2 powers.

Then it's off into the French MAS 36, Polish Wz. 29, Finnish M39, Norwegian Krag, Czech Vz. 24, and similar, to start padding out the other WW2 rifles. Oh, and all the WW2 combatants used pistols also. And I mean, at that point, it only makes sense to go ahead and branch out into WW1 guns too. And look at that: some of these South American Mausers are pretty cool. And bolt rifle are nifty, but semiauto rifles are even niftier, so gotta get some of those as well. And now that you mention it, all these rifles are looking a little bare without bayonets or slings...

Rogue, thank you as always for your insight which is spot on.

I currently have the following:

M1 Garand
Inland M1 Carbine
Plainfield M1 Carbine
Thompson new production
K31
Hex Receiver Mosin

The big attraction to the Garand and 1903a3 are sharing ammo.

They can be a sickness or addiction...whatever you want to call it. At one time I had Ww2 Springfield Garand, Mk 5 British carbine, and a M1 carbine from each of the wartime producers.

It's an obsession, but in a good way.

quote:

Originally posted by bnz42:
It's an obsession, but in a good way.

By your screen name I assume you are obsessed.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
And, of course, if you're going to buy some Carcanos and a K98k, you'll also want a couple of British Enfields, and some Soviet Mosin-Nagants, plus a Japanese Arisaka or two. Just, y'know, to round out the major WW2 powers.

Then it's off into the French MAS 36, Polish Wz. 29, Finnish M39, Norwegian Krag, Czech Vz. 24, and similar, to start padding out the other WW2 rifles. Oh, and all the WW2 combatants used pistols also. And I mean, at that point, it only makes sense to go ahead and branch out into WW1 guns too. And look at that: some of these South American Mausers are pretty cool. And bolt rifle are nifty, but semiauto rifles are even niftier, so gotta get some of those as well. And now that you mention it, all these rifles are looking a little bare without bayonets or slings...

Yep. And a Swedish Mauser and the Swede AG42/Ljungman. Rogue is right about the SA Mausers. They are neat and well made. I am not certain about the later home made Argentines but, the German made and imported were beautiful examples.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA
The big attraction to the Garand and 1903a3 are sharing ammo.

They can share *some* ammo. The first thing I did when I got my first Garand, many years ago, was break the op rod by firing some hunting ammo through it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA
The big attraction to the Garand and 1903a3 are sharing ammo.

They can share *some* ammo. The first thing I did when I got my first Garand, many years ago, was break the op rod by firing some hunting ammo through it.

I've got 400rds of Creedmore from CMP for the Garand.

I have to start on the American guns. I have a k98, Yugo 48, Arisaka 99, SMLE No. 1 Mk. III, and Finn Mosin. Got bayonets for the Arisaka and SMLE. Will be buying a Garand within the month.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG4EVA:
Rogue, thank you as always for your insight which is spot on.

I currently have the following:

M1 Garand
Inland M1 Carbine
Plainfield M1 Carbine
Thompson new production
K31
Hex Receiver Mosin

The big attraction to the Garand and 1903a3 are sharing ammo.

That is a nice selection. Since you already have two .30 Calibers you need a BAR.
And yes it is addicting.

Yes, they are a sickness. You know that you have to get a 1917 as well, right? I mean, it shoots the same ammo as well...

quote:

Originally posted by Herkdriver:
You know that you have to get a 1917 as well, right? I mean, it shoots the same ammo as well...

And is a better overall rifle than the M1903/M1903A3 to boot, IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
And, of course, if you're going to buy some Carcanos and a K98k, you'll also want a couple of British Enfields, and some Soviet Mosin-Nagants, plus a Japanese Arisaka or two. Just, y'know, to round out the major WW2 powers.

Then it's off into the French MAS 36, Polish Wz. 29, Finnish M39, Norwegian Krag, Czech Vz. 24, and similar, to start padding out the other WW2 rifles. Oh, and all the WW2 combatants used pistols also. And I mean, at that point, it only makes sense to go ahead and branch out into WW1 guns too. And look at that: some of these South American Mausers are pretty cool. And bolt rifle are nifty, but semiauto rifles are even niftier, so gotta get some of those as well. And now that you mention it, all these rifles are looking a little bare without bayonets or slings...

Sounds like my current collection focus! I am one French rifle away from having at least one rifle and pistol from each of the 8 major WW2 Allied and Axis combatants (US, UK, USSR, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Hungary). I still need a couple of bayonets (Hungarian, expensive, and French depending on what rifle I end up, either a Berthier, Lebel or MAS 36). Then I will be looking to add a German and Japanese sniper to go with my US, UK and USSR snipers, and maybe a couple semi-autos (Tokarev, G/K43). Then there are all the German pocket pistols, and the helmet collection...

Don't forget to get one of each of the 4 makers of Garands, then a M1D, then maybe a M1C, then all of the 12 or so M1 Carbine makers. Then circle back and get a 4 digit, 5 digit and 6 digit M1, and a 6 million, then a .308, then a Tanker, then maybe expand your IHC to include a Gap letter and an arrowhead. Don't forget the Win-13.

quote:

Originally posted by bigwagon:

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
And, of course, if you're going to buy some Carcanos and a K98k, you'll also want a couple of British Enfields, and some Soviet Mosin-Nagants, plus a Japanese Arisaka or two. Just, y'know, to round out the major WW2 powers.

Then it's off into the French MAS 36, Polish Wz. 29, Finnish M39, Norwegian Krag, Czech Vz. 24, and similar, to start padding out the other WW2 rifles. Oh, and all the WW2 combatants used pistols also. And I mean, at that point, it only makes sense to go ahead and branch out into WW1 guns too. And look at that: some of these South American Mausers are pretty cool. And bolt rifle are nifty, but semiauto rifles are even niftier, so gotta get some of those as well. And now that you mention it, all these rifles are looking a little bare without bayonets or slings...

Sounds like my current collection focus! I am one French rifle away from having at least one rifle and pistol from each of the 8 major WW2 Allied and Axis combatants (US, UK, USSR, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Hungary). I still need a couple of bayonets (Hungarian, expensive, and French depending on what rifle I end up, either a Berthier, Lebel or MAS 36). Then I will be looking to add a German and Japanese sniper to go with my US, UK and USSR snipers, and maybe a couple semi-autos (Tokarev, G/K43). Then there are all the German pocket pistols, and the helmet collection...

No worries about a bayonet w/ a MAS36. It is in its own little carrying tube under the barrel. The MAS36 is a pretty good shooter due to some decent sights(rear of the receiver mounted peep sight and a decent protected blade up front).

A Japanese and German sniper? Damn!!!!! That is very cool but, don’t show the better half the checkbook after your purchases.

A sickness implies a passing illness. Milsurps/C&R are a disease, Sir.