Another Travesty!

some guys are making like those rifles were cut in half and ductaped back together. comeon they were just tapped for a scope and it looks like it was done very nice. I had a bunch of military mausers hakims FN 49's for over 30 years and they hardly went up. then you hear oh you ruined the value of the gun. yea for who?? most gun shops or guys want to give you nothing for the guns. where are all these collectors who will pay huge sums of money?? I never found them in over 30 years. some guys hold on to an unaltered gun like they will live forever. it don't workout that way

"It's a rifle, not a priceless historical artifact. They were sold by the thousands and for cheap. Many of them are still cheap. While collectors may see a valuable rifle to be kept indefinitely in its original form, lots of other folks see them as the basis for a hunting rifle or a full custom. The bottom line is they are the property of their owners to do with as they see fit"

Boy, do I agree!

My much-"molested" Mosin has done all kinds of wonderful things for me.
It was made in the middle of WWII, probably NOT with that stock, or even that bolt (handwritten numbers) and certainly not with the accoutrements I received with it.

I learned how to shorten a barrel, and recrown a barrel -- accuracy went way up.
I learned how to mount a scope -- my ability went way up
I learned how to stiffen the barrel with a galvanized water pipe -- groups REALLY shrank!
Redid the stock to allow a "foot" for a Rock BR front rest (haven't stained that yet)
Now this $120 relic can reliably hit orange clays at 300 yards, time after time! When I first started, we aimed at a 8.5x11 sheet of paper at 100 yards and hit it ONCE out of about 10 tries.

It is a cheap rifle, made in the millions upon millions, parts scattered all over, and now I'm taking the skills I learned from it and helping as many as a dozen people who are entering our sport. Thank goodness we have liberty to learn from our property!

You know, Craig, you should really try to come down off your high horse.

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Pot, meet kettle.

I am here to say go for it, that just makes the other unmolested rifles more valuable.

P5 Guy said:

I am here to say go for it, that just makes the other unmolested rifles more valuable.

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valuable to who?? are you talking moneywise? I had 28 mausers hakims FN 49's semi auto MAS for over 30 years and no one would give more then peanuts for any of them and includes the cheapest of all: the collectors. their only value is sentimental

I am not opposed to modifying a classic firearm. But do it in accordance with the technology at the time ie not putting a Leupod scope on a Mosin Nagant.

Old surplus military firearms are like old classic cars. Any old fool can restore one , but it takes a real man to chop one up!

And IMHO there is nothing better than an old car with a modern EFI V8, air conditioning, four wheel discs and independent suspension. Same deal here, a proper sporter stock, bolt knob modifications, trigger work and receiver sight or scope makes these rifles much more usable.

To me it's just Zbrojovka Brno military contract Mauser. Some people collect stuff like this. At Gunboards Forums there are specific sections dedicated to such.

Now if this was done to vintage Mauser-actioned stacking rifle by James Purdey, London I would bellow like little child.

I would bellow like little child.

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Why? Bellowing about a rifle that one will never own,never handle,never even see other than maybe in a picture or never even know about it's existence if not told about it,seems like an exercise in futility.

Old surplus military firearms are like old classic cars. Any old fool can restore one , but it takes a real man to chop one up!

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True,since we all know Detroit ALWAYS does it right and doesn't leave any room for improvement! (sarcasm off now)

I like that Mustang and a "Pro-touring" setup is what I was thinking about.