Milsurpitis Resurgencey

[BigEd63]

Well I've been struck down with it again, there must be no real cure.

Went over to one of the two shops I deal the most with. This one up the road in Springdale.

Went there looking for another 10/22 or maybe just maybe an Enfeild, as the ilness was already affecting me again.

I ended up with neither, they had 2 nice looking Swede '96s by the register, they were just getting ready to put them out on the racks. I looked at the tags and took a deep swallow, crap they've jumped up in price. And these were the only 2 I've seen in stock in awhile that looked nice.

I took a better look and got to thinking about them really not making any more. So I told myself if either of these has all matching #'s I'll put one on layaway. If not then to heck with it at that price.
Well tinker's dang, one did have have all matching #'s and was made in 1904. So after Christmas you can guess what I'll be briniging home.

[RIKA]

I've been looking for a Swede myself but haven't seen any in a while. How much did you have to give, Ed?

RIKA

[BigEd63]

Well



I'll say



But



It's a bit more than I expected least I lucked out and got one with all matching numbers.



The worst part was the Sprigdale sales tax.



Be sure to be sitting down when you read this.


With tax it was: $327:bounce01:

[RIKA]

Thanks Ed. As hard as really nice ones are to come by I'd say that you got a good deal. Even ratty Mausers go in the $250 range at gun shows. Gun shops are even worse except when somebody makes a mistake.

RIKA

[Gunners762]

Well



I'll say



But



It's a bit more than I expected least I lucked out and got one with all matching numbers.



The worst part was the Sprigdale sales tax.



Be sure to be sitting down when you read this.


With tax it was: $327:bounce01:

I feel your pain Mr. Ed. Great rifle! The 1896 Swedish Mausers never were really cheap. Even when alot of Mil-surps was cheap the swede mausers sold for a little more. I wish i'd bought one back when you had a hundred to pick from at a gun show. The only reason I never bought one was the 6.5x55mm ammo was so damn much. Glad you found one you like Ed..........

[BigEd63]

I'd wish I'd of kept the 3 ones I had before.:unhappy:

The most I'd paid for one was $250, in trade, and that one was arsenal refinished to like new.

[Gunners762]

I'd wish I'd of kept the 3 ones I had before.:unhappy:

The most I'd paid for one was $250, in trade, and that one was arsenal refinished to like new.

Ya man I know that one. No taking it back once there gone and sometimes I wanted to kick myself in the ass and ask myself what was I thinking. I traded a Non-import K-98 and traded for a CETME.. STUPID! I was 29 then and regret ever since... Or the mint M91 Italian Carcano I traded for a repro black powder pistol .

[BigEd63]

I guess we did have a fairly long and good run of imported milsurps and now it is coming to an end.

I will probably end up with some of the ones I enjoyed shooting the most which besides the Swede's are the No.4 Enfeilds and the Nagant carbines.

[neolithic hunter]

thats ok guys when i was younger and just starting with guns. me and or i traded a perfect condition (like new) 7.7 jap arasika that was complete, even had the mum, dust cover, monopod, and aircraft sites, and a brand new stiil in the wrapper covered in grease 91 mauser for a m-1 carbine. when were young, we do dumb things, its what makes us learn, not to do dumb things.:cool:

[Magnum88C]

Hell, that's not too bad. yugo M48s are going for near $300 around me. The only thing still cheap in my neck of the woods is Mosins.

[BigEd63]

Well I'm glad I didn't do too bad then.

Actually up until today I'd seen some 96's running cheaper but they were also pretty rough looking outside. And by cheaper maybe in the $200-$225 range when I did see'em.

I know they probably had pristine bores, I've never seen a Swede '96 without one yet. But they were weather beaten outside.


Magnum- I agree on the Mosins, they still run $90-$125 depending on model and what gooodies come with them. That's why next on my milsurp list will probably be a No.4 Enfeild. Now if I can just find a Fazarkerly(SP?) made one.:dgrin:

[neolithic hunter]

well guys centerfire systems has nagants for 79.00 still, and samco has 1916 .308 spanish mausers for 129.00 and they still have some persian mausers at a pretty fair price. most of the yugos i've seen recently are all mixed number guns some of them have been nice others are beat up and just good for the actions.:cool:

[BigEd63]

neo- I know what you mean about that and in the long run or short run a C&R is probably the way to go cost wise.

But, to be honest most of the milsurps I wanted to buy and/or bought were because I saw a particular example of one in person that struck my interest.

For example on Mosin's, I will have to pay $20 more plus sales tax for a M44but I get to hand pick it myself. Just depends on what we each see as value for our money.

I gather from some other posts you've bought a "bunch" of milsurps while in comparison I've had a scant handful.

All in all it's what "trips our trigger" that's the main thing.:)

[neolithic hunter]

well biged i have seen a couple of old guns in my time. my mauser collection has all but a few been sold. i was smart enough to keep the really good ones. in the back of my little gun box somewhere i have a obendorf k-98 with a 1934 date its real pretty, but i think my favorite one is an obendorf k-98 with a 1939 date on it. there both 98% WWII bring backs. they look almost new with just a few dings and no scratches. i also have a case of lugers 8 of them that were WWII bring backs. the case now has 4 more to fill it out. the oldest one is a 1916 4" army model 7 of the 8 are still in the factory paper wraps. the newest one is a 1993 mitchell arms 4" stainless gun. but i would give my eye teeth for that arasaika gun. oh well we live and hopefully learn. if not were andy i guess.:cool:

[Garand]

I've had a couple of Swedish M96 Mausers in the past and they are fantastic rifles to shoot. I love the 6.5x55mm cartridge.

[Gunners762]

I picked up this M48 Yugo & Russian M44 seven years back . I think I payed $39 for the M44 in the wrap & $79 for the M48. The prices have gone up a bit but still good deals to be found. I just saw un-issued VZ24's for under a hundred bucks with lions crest and bayonet at a local show. You can still buy the M59/66 until the cows come home.