How do I know I married well? Here's how...
I told my wife that, after buying a M1 Garand, I'd be done for a while. We agreed that I just had to wait until the new year and could buy one. I went to the gun show in September and found one for $750. The stock was rough and it had an import stamp because it was one that we gave to South Korea and it eventually came back. Still, knowing our agreement, I left.
When I told my wife that I walked away from a $750 Garand because I respected our agreement, she literally said "Are you nuts? Go back and get it!" so I did.
It's a Springfield receiver built in April, 1942. The stock is in rough shape and the barrel is nearing the end of its life. I replaced all of the springs and had a new Criterion barrel installed (which also got rid of the import stamp since it was on the barrel). All told, there is less than $1.1k in it. It's not a collectible but it is a sorted out shooter. I have no desire to change out the stock because it's South Korean touches just add to the story. Even the old sling has Korean script on it.
I picked up a Utica Cutlery bayonet (with scabbard) that is so clean that I had to research that it wasn't a replica. I think it really is just something that never got issued.
But wait... there's more!
I wanted a scoped, milsurp rifle but didn't want to buy a proper sniper but also couldn't bring myself to drill holes in anything. I decided to keep an eye out for a sporterized rifle because I wouldn't stress over somebody else drilling holes (not my fault!) and also because sporters reduce the value and I could reverse it if they didn't hack anything down.
In early December, we were up in Gettysburg when I found a sporterized K98 Mauser, complete with scope rings, all of the German stamps, but no import stamp and the barrel wasn't cut down. They wanted $300 for it but I declined because I was sticking with my "no more guns" deal.
My wife faked a doctor's appointment and drove up to buy it for me as a Christmas present.
All of the numbers match (including the firing pin... who knew the Germans would stamp that?). I don't know if it's the original bolt because the number would be on the handle that got reworked (for scope clearance) but, given how the rest of the metal parts match, it's probably the original bolt. It was built in 1943. It also has an upgraded trigger.
I went ahead and de-sporterized it. I picked up a Yugoslav-captured K98 stock for it to replace the sporter stock that I sold to a friend. All told, including the Nikon scope and the sling and front sight hood (the latter two not in this picture), there is a total of $480 in this rifle.
The picture doesn't do justice to the beauty of the wood stock. The red tint in the wood really pops in better light.
So, yeah, I'm really done for a while.
Unless I trip over a good Lee Enfield No1. Mk3. Which is why I'm staying away from gun shows because I'll probably find one.
BB.