Very nice! You are smart to try to come up with limits, WWII collecting is an endless rabbit-hole. BTW, I'm pretty sure I recognize that Carcano!
Very nice! You are smart to try to come up with limits, WWII collecting is an endless rabbit-hole. BTW, I'm pretty sure I recognize that Carcano!
My WW2 infantry rifle collection is near complete with only a couple additions needed. I am still seeking a true Finnish M27 91/30, and some sort of bolt action with Chinese markings indicating use of the Chinese against Japan in WW2. Here is the collection is so far.
From left to right:
1) French MAS-36: Matching numbered, excellent "dropped on the streets of Paris only once" condition. A hard to improve on example.
2) Model 1891 Mosin Nagant: This is a cool rifle. Originally made here in the USA, the receiver has the date 1915 and is stamped "New England Westinghouse." It has Russian proof marks on the receiver, as well as Finnish marks and the SA Finnish stamp. Once captured by the Finns they put it in a Finnish stock. You can trace this rifles movements from the USA to Russia and finally to the Finns all based on the receiver stamps. All matching except for the Finnish stock.
3) Springfield 1944 M1 Garand: It is a former CMP rifle and a shooter. It is Springfield USGI all throughout. My favorite rifle of all time.
4) No1 Mk3 1917 Lee Enfield: This is a nice restored rifle. It is British, but only a few parts match. At some point it was put in a nice unissued stock. It is a nice shooter, and it stands in for England and all of its colonies for my WW2 collection.
5) German K98 1944: Vet bring back rifle with no duffel cut on the stock. All correct, all matching, all Nazi stamps intact. It even has the rough condition original sling. Hard to improve on example.
6) Japanese Arisaka type 99 (early war): Another Vet bring back. The stock on this one has the duffel cut on the stock under the front barrel band, so this one was smuggled back in some GI's duffel bag. Imperial mum is intact. Original monopod, aircraft sights, and is all matching. Outside of the duffel cut on the stock it is a hard to improve on example.
7) Italian model 1891 Carcano: This rifle is 1917 dated, all matching and correct. Excellent condition with only the handling marks you would expect to see in a WW1 dated rifle. Hard to improve on example.
I am almost finished, but if someone has a Finnish M27 or Chinese bolt action for sale please let me know. Condition is not important on the Chinese bolt action as long as it has clear Chinese markings that would indicate its use in WW2 against Japan. Thank you INGO.
Like mentioned by you and others. No basic WW2 collection is complete without the M91/30 or the SMLE #4 Mk1. The principal infantry rifle of 2 of the major players should go to the top of the acquisition list.
Find yourself a Chiang Kai-Shek rifle https://www.gunbroker.com/item/791553880
^^^^^^^^^^^That is one of the nicest No1 Mk3 Enfields that I have ever seen!
^^^^^^^^^^^That is one of the nicest No1 Mk3 Enfields that I have ever seen!
Ok, that is clearly stamped 1942. I didn't think the SMLE No1 Mk3 rifles were manufactured into the 1940's. They should have been producing the No4 Mk1 then. What is the deal?
Edit: Google is my friend. Lol the Lithgow plant in Australia produced the No1 Mk3 up until 1953. I am a little embarrassed I didn't know that. Never owned a Lithgow rifle.
I've been working on my WWII collection since 2004. I still need that elusive Norwegian Krag–Jørgensen and a Chiang Kai-Shek Mauser(...holding out for one a bit nicer than the one in the link).
Back in the 90's there were a bunch of them imported that were still in the original factory wrappings, brand new.
The Ishapore Arsenal in India also made them during WWII and post-war. They even made a version in .308 known as the 2A1 that was adopted in 1963!
Started into this well back in time. Another life it seems. 1st "X" alleviated me of them. These pieces were much easier to come by.
After that I just lost my desire.
Very nice fellas. Very nice indeed.