| lancaster |
| (.470 member) |
| 07/02/13 07:30 AM |
Re: Gewehr 43 sporter
|
Quote:
I live in Minnesota's Metro area, in the 60's era I knew Ozzie Klavstead, owner of the "StageCoach Inn" where the third largest gun collection in the USA was on display.
We were having coffee and talking guns, the subject of engraving and sporterizing military rifles came up, he went to his gun shop and returned with a British Jungle carbine, restocked with beautiful wood and engraved and reblued, he asked me "What's it worth?" I said several hundred dollars.
He laughed an said, "It's no more valuable than the ones in the drum at the hardware store in town, after all this work and wasted money it's just a Jungle carbine." ( In 1960 a jungle carbine cost $17.00, no extra charge for the cosmoline.)
His opinion was if a military gun was designed to kill at hundreds of yards,and survive battle and field conditions, what more do you need to kill a deer in Minnesota?, he thought a K98 action was worth reworking because it's a handsome action and looks like a sporting rifle.
My opinion is to use military rifles as they are, G43's shoot very well, the scopes and mounts are available from Sarco. a 195 grain bullet from a 8mm will kill most everything in North America.
what is worth today and and than will be different. sell it on gunbroker and I dare to say it will be a little bit more than 17 $. in my opinion a sporter isnt a military rifle anymore. of course you can hunt deer with an old battle rifle but this is not my snobby taste and I am proud about this.
when I was starting my Mosin hunting rifle project people have shacking their heads about it. how I could waste my time and money for such a thing. it stands now side by side with an old english mannlicher - a gentlemans rifle - in my safe and I value both equal. when giving the mosin in an auction here I will be happy to get 300-350 euro for it. not nearly the money I have invest into the rifle before but believe me the fun was worth every cent.
I am now in the planning phase for a stutzen with a carcano action. you know, the wortless italien rifles!
its impossible to get the money back this will need when I am forced to sell it one bad day.
but unhappy to think it will be my last project because I have enough bolt actions rifles than, have two other in work just know!