mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Another step closer to having a complete US training rifle set! 15 years ago I started in the path of US issue .22 trainers with the search for a Springfield 1922. An auction back home in SW Penna featured an amazing .22 rifle collection that brought out everyone from far and wide. The late consignor was well known and many wanted to take home something of his. I wanted one of two stupid nice 1922s. Unfortunately for me they were some of the last lots in the catalog so I got to watch lots of other items sell first. What I hated missing out on were a half dozen Mossberg 44US rifles from the CMP, still wrapped in their plastic storage bags. As I knew the 1922s would sell high I had to hang onto my cash and watch all six sell for between $220-250 ea. In the end two deep pocket collectors, one of whom spent over $15K by my tally, out bid me and I went home empty-handed. But the yearn for a sealed bag Mossberg stayed with me.
-Didn't see any come to sale for quite a while until this fall where three were listed in a midwest auction, all still in the sealed bag. I watched the first two sell light, $300 and $250. So I jumped in for the last one. Had to spend $350 for it so it wasn't a killer bargain but it's what my heart wanted and I feel like I didn't go crazy over market for it. Can't stress to the young collectors out there to not lose hope when something slips from your grasp. You just need to be diligent and it'll come back around eventually!
-She's all correct with the Mossberg Micro-click sight and the funky red & green safety indicator "buttons" that are so often missing. A few storage bumps and bruises to the furniture and a "1" stamped into the left side of the butt stock. Best guess is a rack number. Added a vintage Garand sling while I look for a period correct Mossberg sling.
-The only downside to it all was the plastic Thermo-set trigger guard had shrunk. Very typical with this material, you see so many Mossbergs with the gap between the guard the stock inletting and even a twist that has it rub one side of the trigger. So out came the new Master Appliance heat gun, a soft jaw clamp and feeler gages. Applied light heat and slowly pulled in the trigger guard with the clamp while keeping a 25 thou gap with the trigger using a feeler gage. She pulled back perfectly and now no drag on the trigger!
-Didn't see any come to sale for quite a while until this fall where three were listed in a midwest auction, all still in the sealed bag. I watched the first two sell light, $300 and $250. So I jumped in for the last one. Had to spend $350 for it so it wasn't a killer bargain but it's what my heart wanted and I feel like I didn't go crazy over market for it. Can't stress to the young collectors out there to not lose hope when something slips from your grasp. You just need to be diligent and it'll come back around eventually!
-She's all correct with the Mossberg Micro-click sight and the funky red & green safety indicator "buttons" that are so often missing. A few storage bumps and bruises to the furniture and a "1" stamped into the left side of the butt stock. Best guess is a rack number. Added a vintage Garand sling while I look for a period correct Mossberg sling.
-The only downside to it all was the plastic Thermo-set trigger guard had shrunk. Very typical with this material, you see so many Mossbergs with the gap between the guard the stock inletting and even a twist that has it rub one side of the trigger. So out came the new Master Appliance heat gun, a soft jaw clamp and feeler gages. Applied light heat and slowly pulled in the trigger guard with the clamp while keeping a 25 thou gap with the trigger using a feeler gage. She pulled back perfectly and now no drag on the trigger!