Just Got It NOW!

[somd_mustangs]

My first BM arrived today
It has been refinished, but they did an excellent job.

They sure did. Very nice looking!
Plus the semi-discrete import mark on the frame along the grip panel vice the BIG HUGE ONE ON THE SLIDE

 

[Abulg1972]

I just noticed that my new Sky M39 has the Sako gear wheel on the front sight. Is this typical? I haven't seen this before.

And maybe it will be an antique next year ...

 

[somd_mustangs]

Why would it become an antique?
the year cut-off doesn't change for that... 1898, not 100 years...

 

[Machodoc]

Why would it become an antique?
the year cut-off doesn't change for that... 1898, not 100 years...

^^^ This. It doesn't make sense, but it doesn't have to with the gummint. Their fixed date essentially cuts off nearly all smokeless powder firearms (not quite all), and semi-autos. That's not an accident.

 

[Abulg1972]

Why would it become an antique?

the year cut-off doesn't change for that... 1898, not 100 years...

I was joking ... And there was some talk about moving the cutoff, which will never happen. But curious - what's with the 100 years in your comment? The tang is dated 1900.

 

[yellowsled]

I was joking ... And there was some talk about moving the cutoff, which will never happen. But curious - what's with the 100 years in your comment? The tang is dated 1900.

without a smiley,, its hard to understand what is a joke sometimes.

 

[Abulg1972]

without a smiley,, its hard to understand what is a joke sometimes.

Sorry - I used an ellipsis to indicate my sarcasm. On a serious note, my guess is that no one will do anything to make it easier for people to acquire firearms so it was just wishful thinking.

 

[toolness1]

More pics in the AIM thread, but here is my K 1911. Feline included for size reference.

 

[Machodoc]

I shouldn't have tried taking photos tonight. I'm tired, the light sux, and my hands aren't steady ... but I did it anyway, so I'll post some of them.

This is the K-31 that I got from Gander Mountain. I really like this one because it's in rather good condition, it had a troop tag, and the pattern on the stock is ... rather unusual. It looks like an entirely different rifle, depending on which side is showing, but someone took care to even match the grain in the fore stock to the lower parts.

Also, I noticed that this one is from PW Arms, and the one I got from AIM (photos in the next posting) came from Century. This one doesn't have an "extra" serial number. The one from AIM did--the only thing I don't like about it.

What do you think?

The fourth photo is looking down on the top of the but stock. You can see the transition there from the heavy-grained dark walnut of the left side, to the much lighter color on the right side of the stock.

The next photo after that shows the right side of the gun. At the very top of the butt of the stock you can just see that transition of the grain from dark to light. It's sort of a Night and Day effect.

The last shot is the troop tag that came with this one. I mentioned in another thread that I was able to contact the son of that Swiss soldier. I'm hoping to be able to learn more about him. I presume that he's no longer living, since he was born in 1918.

 

[Machodoc]

This is the one that I got from AIM. It's really in very nice condition, but that extra serial number on the receiver just grates on me. I'll get used to it eventually. I originally thought that both came out of PW Arms, but this one came from Century. The import mark on it isn't that bad, but that engraved serial number .....

Sorry the photos are so crappy.

 

[toolness1]

I like the marble-like pattern of that first one from GM

The import mark deal just sucks.... It seems like we better get used to this crap, because most of the recent imports all have obnoxious markings.

The only thing I've gotten lately that has a real small, well placed import mark is stuff I've gotten from SAMCO.

 

[JamesH]

My 1895 Nagant from AIM has a beautifully subtle RGUNS import mark.

 

[toolness1]

My 1895 Nagant from AIM has a beautifully subtle RGUNS import mark.

I need to dig out my Vz 24 I got from them recently, I may have to eat my words. I can't remember where the import mark is.

 

[JamesH]

From what I've heard, RGUNS importers used to have a big, nasty billboard. Apparently enough folks complained, and they changed it to be one of the most subtle. Perhaps a letter-writing campaign to some of the other importers?

 

[Melnic]

It already has a fully numeric serial #, why would they add another?
I thought they did not have to do that unless the serial # had an unusable serial # like crylic letters?

 

[Abulg1972]

Is the original S/N on the barrel or the receiver? I believe that it makes a difference.

 

[Machodoc]

It already has a fully numeric serial #, why would they add another?
I thought they did not have to do that unless the serial # had an unusable serial # like crylic letters?

If memory serves me correctly, they are supposed to add a different serial number if they have any other record of an import by them with that original serial number (could be any other kind of gun). This isn't that big of a stretch to have happen, especially when we realize that a paperwork foul up in WWII resulted in many thousands of 1911A1 pistols being given numbers that were placed on guns made in another Colt contractor.

Is the original S/N on the barrel or the receiver? I believe that it makes a difference.

Both are on the receiver, so even the logic of the barrel being a replaceable component doesn't apply in this case.

 

[nobis1]

I just got my M1911 from Aim. Pictures are below. When I first unpacked I was a little disappointed given that I paid for hand select. There is a rather large old gouge in the hand guard and a small crack in the stock by the receiver. It is one easily repaired and should not affect the guns function.

It has grown on me as I looked it over though. Rifle was made in 1916, and it has the P stamp. The bluing is really good and the buttstock is not beaver chewed. The stock has the normal dings of a 99 year old rifle. The bore was loaded with Swiss green grease. Ran a patch through, and I think the lands and grooves will be strong. No pitting. Throat looks good and the muzzle is tight. My 96/11 gauged at 7.55, and when I did the bullet test with a GP11 round, it swallowed slightly less than my 96/11. That is a great reading for one of these.

Basically, I got a nice rifle, not a special rifle. The crack is annoying because I have to remove the action and repair it. That means having to reaccurize it, which sucks. No drilled and tapped holes though, so I got that going for me.

 

[nobis1]

For some reason, I could only do a single picture. Here is another.

 

[Abulg1972]

If memory serves me correctly, they are supposed to add a different serial number if they have any other record of an import by them with that original serial number (could be any other kind of gun). This isn't that big of a stretch to have happen, especially when we realize that a paperwork foul up in WWII resulted in many thousands of 1911A1 pistols being given numbers that were placed on guns made in another Colt contractor.



Both are on the receiver, so even the logic of the barrel being a replaceable component doesn't apply in this case.

And notice that CAI issued a NEW serial number for that rifle. I don't understand this - why must they make life hard? Why give a new S/N to a rifle that already has one? Then, when they get in a rifle that actually has an original S/N that matches one they artificially created, they have to create a new one. I'm sure you know this, but you have to use that made-up S/N when you log it into your book.