rpeck
Reged: 06/12/13
Posts: 435
Loc: Canada
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Yesterday I picked up another 6.5 M-S 1903 rifle (made in 1929, a takedown "British Sporting Pattern") for a very reasonable price. It was in v.g.-exc.condition and came complete with the spare front sight under the grip cap and a 5 piece steel cleaning rod under the buttplate.
Is this an original M-S cleaning rod?
I was also wondering ...what is the material of the black grip?...it looks like ebony but maybe is just a plastic of some sort?
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Rob
Edited by rpeck (28/02/14 11:47 AM)
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Igorrock
.400 member
Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1690
Loc: Finland
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My friend has similar rod parts with those brass ends and he said it´s original. The grip cap could be black buffalo horn too.
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greenshoots
.300 member
Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 204
Loc: uk
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nice find did it still have its rubber insert under the butt plate?
greenshoots
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rpeck
Reged: 06/12/13
Posts: 435
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
nice find did it still have its rubber insert under the butt plate?
greenshoots
Yes, in excellent shape...Its the best rubber insert I have seen in awhile, still very flexible and clean (I always soak them in Armorall anyway) .. The entire rifle is in very good all original condition..including the bore.
Edited by rpeck (28/02/14 08:42 AM)
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rpeck
Reged: 06/12/13
Posts: 435
Loc: Canada
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I guess I didn't need to ask the above questions. But for those interested:
I forgot that I had a copy of Cornell Publications reproduction 1929 Steyr catalogue with an illustrated parts list...and the rifle in question coincidentally was made in 1929.
According to the illustrated parts list the grip cap on the "British Sporting Pattern" rifle is made from "Vulcanite" (German: Hartgummi?).
According to various sources Vulcanite (also known as Ebonite) is a hard black rubber made by the vulcanization of rubber with large amounts of sulphur. It may be cut and polished, and is used for many small articles, as combs and buttons, and for insulating material in electric apparatus. During the Victorian era, the ebony tree of southern Asia yielded very popular, dark-coloured heartwood and was prized for cabinetwork and piano keys. Vulcanite resembled ebony, hence its popularity. Today, the terms Ebonite and Vulcanite are used interchangeably. Vulcanization is a chemical reaction of sulfur with rubber that causes cross-linking of polymer chains; it increases strength and resiliency. Vulcanite was patented by Charles Goodyear in 1846.
The catalogue also shows a picture of my cleaning rod...4 piece for carbine (and in my case, 5 piece for rifle).
In the same catalogue the grip caps on regular M-S carbines and rifles (without the hollow grips)are listed as being made of horn, but this late (1929) and most of mine have steel grip caps.
Edited by rpeck (01/03/14 07:23 AM)
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rpeck
Reged: 06/12/13
Posts: 435
Loc: Canada
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Bottom rifle
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cordite
.333 member
Reged: 29/01/07
Posts: 341
Loc: NW Montana
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I have a half stock carbine with the same cleaning rod.
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rpeck
Reged: 06/12/13
Posts: 435
Loc: Canada
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In the butt trap of a model 1924 M-S rifle I recently found an original 4 piece cleaning rod...and the size of the hole in the rubber insert indicates that this is all it ever contained (the hole for a 5 piece rod is larger)...so apparently whether a rifle contains a 4 or 5 piece rod does not depend solely on barrel length....although a four piece rod is just barely long enough for the M-1924 barrel.
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