I Feel Like I'm Going Through Some Sort of Withdrawel

[WarPig1976]

Didn't pick anything up at SARCO today. Nothing jumped out at me but lots to look at but kinda wore out. Still on the hunt,,,but aren't we always.

[Aragorn243]

Sorry SARCO didn't pan out for the K-31 at least.

I have a fellow offering me an 1871/84 Mauser right now for $700. It looks great, almost too great. Haven't seen it in person yet. Not high on my priority list but he figured I might be interested based on my other wants. I have to decide if I can spend that much. I know the instant I do the GEW 98 that I want will become available and they aren't cheap either. It looks complete and matching but the stock bothers me a bit, looks too clean, plus it's smaller than the butt plate indicating sanding. It has what look like strong cartouches. I saw another similar to this one about 4 months ago so it's possible this is the way they came out of being refit. I am tempted. Any opinions?

Seems to be my curse. I created a list, vowed to stick to the list, can't stick to the list and never see anything on the list but keep finding non-list items I'm drawn too. Vowed also to not get into black powder obsolete stuff and then came the French Gras, then the Swiss 1881, then the Dutch Beaumont, now possibly this.

[Frederick303]

As you Chaps seem to be local PA fellows, I would suggest going to one of the small firehall shows in northeast PA and well as the Forks of the Delaware show in Allentown. Reason is that at the smaller shows and Allentown you will see older collectors sellng off their collections and that is when you can get a decent deal. I find shows up north of Allentown to the the water Gap to be very productive.

Same is true when I have sold stuff of at teh Forks, I generally price it to sell, as I do not want to carry it around with me but sell it at one show. of course I do not set up at shows but once every few years to clear out what I am done with, but I generally sell every arm that day. There are a number of collectors of the ame mind set, so while not every show is great, about every other show I will find a deal at the forks in an area I am interested in. Now you are nto going to get a matching K98K for 500 or any of the areas of high collectablity, but in the items of less interest, like Enfields, spanish arms, etc, you can often get a deal, as the guy selling bought 10 years ago and just wants to move it, cover their table costs without getting raped.

Placed like the Oaks are good to see a lot of stuff, and get bit or surplus deals on magazines or items in common trade, but when it comes to older military surplus rifles , well you are dealling with mostly stocking dealers and they have to cover their overhead and profit. The price of the tables is sufficently high that it excludes most individuals selling one or two arms.

[Aragorn243]

I've had zero luck at Allentown. Been to three or four shows the past couple of years and prices are always at least 25% higher than what I'm used to seeing in the south central part of the state. They do have milsurps but they want an arm and a leg for them. I kind of compare the Allentown show as going to a museum. Lots of nice things to look at but the only thing I come home with are books.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

My dad used to call it "champaign taste on a beer budget". Thats me ,do not need or want anything enough to pay list price.But it is still fun to look and stumble on a ok deal now and again.

[Frederick303]

Well here are the deals I found at Allentown area in the past 18 to 24 months:

1) K98K, Romanian rework. Nice blue, decent bore, pretty much a miss match but overall nice. Action body was scrubbed but you could tell it had been a CZ24 pre 1935 action, so it might have been one of the German reworks from 1942. Had the typical added Romanian sling swivels and marked as such. 250 out the door. Found late on Saturday. Cheaper than an RC with a lot more history.

2) Gew98 nice bore, all matching except the bolt which was Polish. Rifle had been re-blued at some point post WWI, as the action body was blued, bolt bright. Again 250 dollars at a small firehouse show up north of Allentown.

3) Parker hale musketron, 24 inch barrel, excellent bore, set up for competition. Really nice gun, 300 dollars

4) 1937 P marked CZ24 in 54,000 serial range. Very good condition, all matching. Good example of Jap series gun. 250 at small firehouse. I might have gotten that 2 + years ago though I think it was the fall of 2012.

Now to get these I knew the value and when I picked them up I did not put them down again. In all cases I was not early to the show, all were mid-morning to early afternoon deals, except for the K98K which was late afternoon.

[Frederick303]

Mea culpa.


Went to one of the small shows this weekend, just to see what might be cheap. I was rudely shocked. This was a show I did very well at as recently as a about 18 months ago. Everything from Enfield to mauser were priced high and there was not a deal to be had.

I retract my previous comment, I had no idea things had changed so much so quickly. Glad I am not in the market for anything.

[WarPig1976]

I had no idea things had changed so much so quickly.

Kinda felt like a visit to the proctologist didn't it?....

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Kinda felt like a visit to the proctologist didn't it?....

Only if a purchase was made.

[MilSurp in Oz]

I feel your pain, but on the other hand I juzt picked up 4 place-fillers at this weekend's Reno show :
-99 Arisaka, all match including dust cover, 99+% blue, still with grease in the barrel channel, excellent wood. Would rate mint except some minor attempt to deface the mum.
-1941 Carcano, matching, dent-free, no rust, excellent bore
-SMLE, 1918 dated, all matching including magazine (electropenciled), with bayonet and scabbard. VG overall, worn but clean. Relatively rare out here, in fact first one I've seen with WW1 date and English made.
-Another Carcano, short rifle, well worn but good bore, no dents, no rust and matching. Uncommon in 6.5, needed it to complement my Finn.
the last two shows were nada, so sometimes the gods are smiling!

Electro penciled magazine on a 1918 SMLE is not "all matching" - it's a bubba job.
6.5mm Carcano's are the most common variety around,..... 7.35mm on the other IS uncommon
Sorry to spoil your party mate.