Cosmoline
Member
Actually building your own firearm is a far better way to learn the basics.
There is still something to be said for killing a deer with a 70 year old Mosin Nagant that you sporterized. Plus the skills you will learn along the way supersede the collector value of a mis-matched Nagant. IE: checkering, stock refinishing and shaping, metal work, tap and die, staining and finishing etc.... Especially teaching a young shooter these things. Most people under 35 cannot even change a tire. Lets leave the new guns to Japan China. or the lowest bidder. Its cheaper that way.
Actually building your own firearm is a far better way to learn the basics.
One day I think the quality sporterized rifles of our Fathers will be appreciated like folk art from a time that was. Created and modified by one of the greatest generations ever. Only time will tell. Personally I would rather have the handcrafted quality sporterized handed down version myself. The hard work and craftsmanship of some of these great rifles in my opinion is way undervalued. You would be hard pressed to buy the quality wood on some of them for the price of the guns.
Saturno makes an excellent point. In 1967 a local store had several crates of .303 Enfields packed in cosmoline that they were selling for $15 each.
I bought 5 basket case 98K's a good number of years ago. The actions were good, barrel of no value, stocks cracked at the wrist and forward part of the stocks look like alligators had gnawed them for a year or so. 40 bucks each. I bought some Mauser take off barrels from a gun dealership called Paragon in Joilet, Il. Nice bright barrels with sights at 20 bucks each or l6 for 100. The forward part of the stock was sacrificed to the radial saw and rounded off by thel sander. Wrist was repaired with a bit of epoxy, some screws and wood dowels. The the stock was sanded, stained and oiled. Put the new barrels on the receivers, lined up the sights and headspaced. Probably ended up with 75 dollars in each. Kept 1 and the other 4 went out the door at 175 each. They were not worth nearly as much as a decent shape original 98K but they were good for their purpose. Harvesting a deer from a tree stand or out to 150 yards or so and not worried about getting it scratched up or out in the rain.
The problem with even a well-done Mosin-Nagant spoter, is that after all the time, effort, and money expended...you still have a Mosin-Nagant!
So??!! The gorgeaous sporterized one that I had n my hands was EXTREMELY accurate and beautifully balanced, the bolt was as butter smooth as a Mauser 98...so what is the problem??
No real useful safety.
Quite the contrary...you need to get used to it (and have a somewhat strong wrist) but the Mosin safety has some more positive aspects compared to others...