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I actually have 2, but no pictures presently available as they live at my hunting camp. The old camp rifle, an Eddystone M1917 with a pretty classy sporterization likely back in the 40s or 50s and lots of hard mileage since. "Joseph P Noldner" is lovingly electric penciled on the bolt release! I don't think this one was ever re-parked for WWII, rather WWI blued finish that is now mostly a brownish blue patina. Barrel bobbed slightly right through the bomb, and a goofy for lack of a better term stock with a palm swell and a medium cheek riser. Built for a tall aperture sight (the shadow is still there on the receiver and barrel) it also works well with a low mounted optic. The stock is built more like an old time target stock than a hunting stock, so I think it used to be a poor man's Palma or match rifle and later was D/Td for optics and used as a hunting Sporter. It has an early glass bed job of high quality. I paid the princely sum of $150 for it including a beat up but serviceable El Paso K4 some 18 years ago.
The other is a hacksaw M44 Mosin that I found at a garage sale for $50. Somebody had taken a hacksaw to the folding bayonet and started the ATI scrap metal scope mount. Thankfully they didn't purchase the plastic stock also, as the original stock is still on the rifle in serviceable condition. I've had to oil finish it as the original shellac is long gone. I finished the scope mount and put a too large and heavy 1980's 3x9 on it to see what it would do. It shoots FAR better than it should. Handloads it likes will shoot under an inch including the Hor 174RN and 123 Vmax, Czech surplus around 2. It just balances right with that heavy steel tube 3x9 and that helps eat the substantial recoil. This one stays at the cabin for slicking crows off far away trees and casual shooting with the pile of surplus ammo and old silo blocks I am still working on expending.
I LOVE both of these rifles as they are stupid accurate and reliable. They will always fire, they will always shoot where you aim them. They are both the type you don't mind slogging through a swamp with or tossing in the sleigh behind a snowmobile for a wolf hunt (God willing we get to do that again!).
The other is a hacksaw M44 Mosin that I found at a garage sale for $50. Somebody had taken a hacksaw to the folding bayonet and started the ATI scrap metal scope mount. Thankfully they didn't purchase the plastic stock also, as the original stock is still on the rifle in serviceable condition. I've had to oil finish it as the original shellac is long gone. I finished the scope mount and put a too large and heavy 1980's 3x9 on it to see what it would do. It shoots FAR better than it should. Handloads it likes will shoot under an inch including the Hor 174RN and 123 Vmax, Czech surplus around 2. It just balances right with that heavy steel tube 3x9 and that helps eat the substantial recoil. This one stays at the cabin for slicking crows off far away trees and casual shooting with the pile of surplus ammo and old silo blocks I am still working on expending.
I LOVE both of these rifles as they are stupid accurate and reliable. They will always fire, they will always shoot where you aim them. They are both the type you don't mind slogging through a swamp with or tossing in the sleigh behind a snowmobile for a wolf hunt (God willing we get to do that again!).