The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

dave_303 wrote:Dougan and ukrifleman, both of your rifles look fantastic

ukrifleman how does the Berthier and Arisaka shoot? I take it you handload for both

Yes I reload (14 calibres).
The Arisaka shoots very well with both FMJ and cast. It is in very good overall condition with the anti-aircraft sights, bolt cover and mono-pod in place and has a good chromed bore with strong rifling. The mum is also intact.

The Berthier is also surprisngly accurate for such a short barrel, It will knock down fig 11's out to 300 yards plus with no problem if I do my part.
I was fortunate to find this carbine, as it had been in a collection in the U.S for many years and as far as I know, it was virtually unfired since an arsenal re-furb in 1934.
The condition of the bore bears this out.

Out of interest, the 1918 vintage M91 Carcano is also a good shooting rifle; although not in original condition as it has been re-blued.
ukrifleman.

dave_303 wrote:We may as well collect the amazing photos that have so far been shown of everyone's rifles into one thread, so show us your surps!

My 1946 dated Russian M44




1940 dated RC Mauser




1872 dated Martini Henry Mk.II (upgraded from Mk.1)




Remington-Rand M1911A1 (de-act)




Post War MAS36 (judging by the Serial No. it was one of the first post war batches)




1942 Lithgow Bren (de-activated)




1955 (UF Batch) No.4 Mk.2 Faz




Top: LSA 1917 Still has cut-off and windage adjustable sights, bottom is a 1929 BSA with cut-off, sadly de-actived (got it before I had an FAC)

You sir have a great collection!

These are my surps, enjoy.

The Lever action is an 1894 Martini Metford in .303. The rifling is still very good considering that they used to wear out with modern cartridges. I am currently looking for a nice load that will preserve it for even longer, the last owner used to use PPU but I want to protect it as best as I can.

The Mauser is a Russian capture, it's got an electro pencilled bolt but strangely it still has all of the Nazi markings.

The SLR is one of the Anglo ones, it's sort of a surp although the barrel is obviously new.

I also have a No4 which should be in the next post.

No 4, it's a 1949 vintage and looks to have been restored as it's parkerised rather than the original dark black finish.

One of a couple MAS 36s, refurbed by the French in the 70s

MH MK IV from the Nepal stash

Yugo M48 in 7.62mm

1943 K31 with added 3-9x Nikon scope

#5 carbine

MAS 45 .22rf

K11 converted from a 1900 short rifle

BSA 1943 #1mk3*

Some more...


Ishapore #1mk3* 1950

Lithgow #2mk4 .22rf

Eddystone P14

#4mk1* Long Branch with an el-cheapo 6x scope

Ishapore 2A1 7.62mm

BSA Cadet .310 from Australia

1888/05/35 via Turkey 8x57

I'm home recuperating from a medical indignity so I have time on my hands...

S&W 1917/1937 for Brazil

Savage #4mk1*

M1 rifle 7.62mm

Martini Enfield .303 from the Citadel- Egypt

1919a4 7.62mm Israeli Browning converted to semi auto only

K31 1952 with a left bolt handle adapter

A pair of Scotland Yard Webley MkIVs and a Webley MkIV

S&W Victory .38S&W marked for the Austrian police post WW2

Just about done...

#4mk1 7.62mm

West German surplus SIG-Saur P6 9mm

Springfield '03 refurbished for WW2

Remington '03A3

MAS 49/56 with a modified barrel group

#4mk2 with a 100 yd target

M1 carbine, post WW2 refurb

M1 rifles - the top one is gone, sold to a friend and the next one down is the 7.62 M1 shown earlier

dave_303 wrote:We may as well collect the amazing photos that have so far been shown of everyone's rifles into one thread, so show us your surps!

My 1946 dated Russian M44




1940 dated RC Mauser




1872 dated Martini Henry Mk.II (upgraded from Mk.1)




Remington-Rand M1911A1 (de-act)




Post War MAS36 (judging by the Serial No. it was one of the first post war batches)




1942 Lithgow Bren (de-activated)




1955 (UF Batch) No.4 Mk.2 Faz




Top: LSA 1917 Still has cut-off and windage adjustable sights, bottom is a 1929 BSA with cut-off, sadly de-actived (got it before I had an FAC)

Beautiful firearms! I remember seeing a deactivated Bren at a gunshop in Toronto Canada in the mid 70s. I asked if I could see (and fondle) it and the owned said no, flatly. He followed with, 'It's too heavy to pick up!'.

Here are some I had, took pictures of, and then sadly sold them to someone who appreciated them even more than me:

MAS 49 Syrian contract

Rock Island '03 - a Marine Corps rifle that I had and didn't know what it was until after I sold it! Someone did know what it was an offered me more than I paid for it so I sold it. Probably the most accurate '03 I've owned.

West German P1

Lithgow #1mk3 range rifle

Model 1911 Swiss rifle

M1 carbine

Yugoslav M59 carbine

FN49 Egyptian contract

K31 range rifle