Retro Guns...Let's See Them...

[m1a_scoutguy]

Wow, legit bring back with no duffel bag cut. Might I suggest getting all the pertinent details written down, signed and notarized, especially if your FIL brother is still with us. That kind of provenance, as well as an official, bring back papers can literally double the value of the rifle. Those who you pass it on to will be more likely to appreciate and take care of it, if it comes with documentation as a valuable family heirloom that a heroic relative brought back from the war.

Sad to say anyone involved with the rifle is long gone. When my Father-In-Law 1st gave it to me (30+yrs ago) I was happy to receive it but didn't think much about it, it was waaaay before I had any M1s or any Military rifles. The thing went from the closet, under my bed and finally into my gun safe! I only started playing with it about 4-5 years ago when I brought it to a Gunsmith and he checked it over and said it was GTG ! I need to look everything up "again" but I had the year of the manufacture and a host of other info about this rifle and most Mod 98s in general and alot of what the GIs did and how they got them back. Yes I agree I'm lucky it didn't get the duffle bag cut,LOL The rifle itself is pretty clean and many parts and items on the gun are stamped with the same serial number ! Sad to say the "bolt" is not one of the matching parts. I read that when a GI brought his rifle into the Armory he had to take the bolt out and throw it in a box/barrel with all the rest of them & when it was time to ship out you grabbed your rifle and a bolt out of the box and headed home ! I guess the extra smart GIs kept tabs on "there" bolt that went with there rifle ! Anyways all things considered its a great rifle and I'm glad to have it. MY Son is not as big of a gun guy as me but he is very aware of family stuff/history/etc so I'm confident it will stay in good hands long after I'm gone ! Once this dang Winter gets over I'll get some good range trips with it along with my other Oldie's and post up some pic's ! Thanks for the thoughts & interest.

[SteyrAUG]

Sad to say anyone involved with the rifle is long gone. When my Father-In-Law 1st gave it to me (30+yrs ago) I was happy to receive it but didn't think much about it, it was waaaay before I had any M1s or any Military rifles. The thing went from the closet, under my bed and finally into my gun safe! I only started playing with it about 4-5 years ago when I brought it to a Gunsmith and he checked it over and said it was GTG ! I need to look everything up "again" but I had the year of the manufacture and a host of other info about this rifle and most Mod 98s in general and alot of what the GIs did and how they got them back. Yes I agree I'm lucky it didn't get the duffle bag cut,LOL The rifle itself is pretty clean and many parts and items on the gun are stamped with the same serial number ! Sad to say the "bolt" is not one of the matching parts. I read that when a GI brought his rifle into the Armory he had to take the bolt out and throw it in a box/barrel with all the rest of them & when it was time to ship out you grabbed your rifle and a bolt out of the box and headed home ! I guess the extra smart GIs kept tabs on "there" bolt that went with there rifle ! Anyways all things considered its a great rifle and I'm glad to have it. MY Son is not as big of a gun guy as me but he is very aware of family stuff/history/etc so I'm confident it will stay in good hands long after I'm gone ! Once this dang Winter gets over I'll get some good range trips with it along with my other Oldie's and post up some pic's ! Thanks for the thoughts & interest.

Doesn't matter if it's your FIL or even you, document what you know because the next generation won't even know that stuff. So basic description of the events you believe to be correct regarding how it was brought back and and any related comments then a notarized signature. Attach any bring back documentation you may have, even the DD214 of the family member who brought it back with one day function as provenance.

True GI bring backs get rarer with every generation as each generation either neglects them or pawns them for a couple hundred bucks. I know a guy who's father was at Bastogne and brought back a "captured in theater" (complete with all documentation) German P-38 including a photo of him with the pistol days after the Battle of the Bulge.

The P-38 sat neglected in a Florida attic from the 1970s when his father passed away until 2004 when I told him I'd inspect and clean it for FREE if he's just get it out of the attic. The original holster was completely destroyed and looked like a boot that had sat in the desert for 100 years and the handgun itself was a rusty, fused shut POS complete with a full magazine of corroding ammo (thankfully a round wasn't chambered).

Took a rubber mallet to open the slide, grips cracked into pieces and rust held the slide open before the slide lock engaged. I was eventually able to pull the magazine and I soaked the entire remnants in 3:1 penetrating oil for a couple days.

When I wire brushed off the rust, everything was pitted and seriously rust damaged. I declared it unsafe to shoot and told the guy it was probably a complete loss. Of course all the documentation was in his desk in his office and in great condition but his wife didn't like guns so she made him put it in the attic.

Unmonkeyed with rifles, even with a mismatch bolt, are even rarer.

[m1a_scoutguy]

Doesn't matter if it's your FIL or even you, document what you know because the next generation won't even know that stuff. So basic description of the events you believe to be correct regarding how it was brought back and and any related comments then a notarized signature. Attach any bring back documentation you may have, even the DD214 of the family member who brought it back with one day function as provenance.

True GI brings backs to get rarer with every generation as each generation either neglect them or pawns them for a couple hundred bucks. I know a guy who's the father was at Bastogne and brought back a "captured in theater" (complete with all documentation) German P-38 including a photo of him with the pistol days after the Battle of the Bulge.

The P-38 sat neglected in a Florida attic from the 1970s when his father passed away until 2004 when I told him I'd inspect and clean it for FREE if he's just got it out of the attic. The original holster was completely destroyed and looked like a boot that had sat in the desert for 100 years and the handgun itself was a rusty, fused shut POS complete with a full magazine of corroding ammo (thankfully a round wasn't chambered).

Took a rubber mallet to open the slide, grips cracked into pieces and rust held the slide open before the slide lock engaged. I was eventually able to pull the magazine and I soaked the entire remnants in 3:1 penetrating oil for a couple days.

When I wire brushed off the rust, everything was pitted and seriously rust damaged. I declared it unsafe to shoot and told the guy it was probably a complete loss. Of course, all the documentation was in his desk in his office and in great condition but his wife didn't like guns so she made him put it in the attic.

Unmonkeyed with rifles, even with a mismatched bolt, are even rarer.

WOW, shame about the P-38! The value would be secondary for me its the History of the piece, dam that's something! I will get to work on it for sure, like you say anything would be beneficial that's for sure! I'll get some better pic's and post them in the future,rifle has some nice stamps and markings on it ! Thanks again for the help and insperation !

[SteyrAUG]

WOW, shame about the P-38! The value would be secondary for me its the History of the piece, dam that's something! I will get to work on it for sure, like you say anything would be beneficial that's for sure! I'll get some better pic's and post them in the future,rifle has some nice stamps and markings on it ! Thanks again for the help and insperation !

No problem. Just seen too many "grandpa brought this back from the war" but I don't know anything else kind of guns. Something as important as a legit bring back deserves any documentation you can put with it.

And yeah, the P-38 thing actually pissed me off a little bit. For starters pretty disrespectful to his own father who took the time to bring it back and pass it on to him.

[m1a_scoutguy]

No problem. Just seen too many "grandpa brought this back from the war" but I don't know anything else kind of guns. Something as important as a legit bring back deserves any documentation you can put with it.

And yeah, the P-38 thing actually pissed me off a little bit. For starters pretty disrespectful to his own father who took the time to bring it back and pass it on to him.

Yes, it would be interesting to know how many are still out there just sitting, untouched! That's the beauty of guys being an FFL, I know my local ones always get stuff brought in from people that just don't want M1s laying around or don't want anything to do with it or worse don't know anything about it and just want it out of the house ! Although with that said its how I got my 1st M1,it was finally good timing on my part and I got a sweet mostly correct/origanal International Harvester M1 for a steal ! Thats another subject but yea the Wife doesn't like gun's pretty much comes under the tough shit department in my eyes,but we won't go any further into that area,LOL Bottom line is your looking at & holding History that can't be replaced & it NEEDS to be addressed/respected 1st hand ! Again thanks and I'll keep ya posted on my progress !

[AndyLate]

Not sure if 1973 is old enough to be retro. The little one is much newer and a guy by the name of David Clements cut an inch off the barrel for some reason.

Andy

[Firefly]

Its not any kind of retro but I had a ban era Bushmaster M4A3 and had it a few months before I realized the carry handle was detachable. It wasn’t the best gun and was eclipsed by my non nerfed Colt 6920 I had to get on letterhead. I eventually got an uncucked stock and barrel and oddly enjoyed it more than my Colt.

This was back when you could get 223 stupid cheap at Wal Mart.

All the cool stuff now can’t compare to being young and everything was still new. I was oddly enough ahead of my time because I jumped on ARs and my Glock off the bat. I wasn’t really into guns (still don’t know if I am now) and if it worked then I messed with it.

I recall SO MUCH GRIEF from these old farts in the day whenever I dragged my Bushmaster along. “THEM THINGS JAM. THEY GOT BOYS KILLT IN NAM!”

Were you in Vietnam?

“NAW BUT THEM THINGS JAM AND THE BULLETS DONT KILL NOTHING. THATS WHY WE LOST THE WAR”

Me: blinks a few times and resumes shooting.

I also miss my STG 58 but would rather have a Para FAL because it is what AOC has.

[ramairthree]

Hell,
I was just at the range today with a pinned to 16 14.5 barrel AR I built with my youngest daughter for her, aimpoint pro, larue FTS magnifier, BUIS, and she is crushing steel non stop mag after mag at 100 yards.

I am sighting in a never shot shot ban era Colt HBAR match I just threw a Burris AR333 or whatever it is carry handle scope on. We each go through a box of those cheap 150 Amercian eagle packs. She is making 6 inch steel ring over and over as a fairly inexperienced teenage shooter. I am dumping 5 round groups in 3 inch circles on those five Bullseye per sheet nra 50 yd targets but at 100.

No jams, etc.

70 ish guy with a cigar, USMC patrol cap, field jacket-
Nice guy and all,
Year or two in the USMC and part of a tour in Nam medicaled out with bad malaria.
Force recon, damn M16s, inaccurate, unreliable, jam, etc. he was the PLatoon commander so he kept the snipers back up M14, etc.

It’s like being at test and tune day with the old guys there just to watch complaining about the cars not being as good as they were in there day, as bone stock 5.7 Challengers, Coyote mustangs, and SS Camaros are running high 12s low 13s on street tires with the AC on.

[Arik]

Ruger Security Six 357. Crappy pic but here's one in 3in barrel

[ABNAK]

I submit for your consideration my M1 Garand which was manufactured by the Springfield Armory in October of 1942 and re-barreled by the Aniston Arsenal in 1965. The gentleman holding my rifle is Mr. Harmon. He is 96 years old, served with the Big Red One in WWII, and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.

Awesome! Looks like he could still put a 30.06 into COM!

My FIL is 93 and was in the 65th ID in Europe in the last few months of WWII. He still has the P-38 and holster w/mag he took off of an SS Fallschirmjäger officer right after the Battle of the Bulge. He has taken care of it over the years so it is damn good condition.