Anyone who is not scared of a project or wants a challenge, here she is. Per the ad the barrel is still good and at least it has not been shortened!
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIte...Item=137995261
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Anyone who is not scared of a project or wants a challenge, here she is. Per the ad the barrel is still good and at least it has not been shortened!
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIte...Item=137995261
Ya know, being a '43 dated rifle ALMOST makes it tempting! All that ever shows up in good nick are the '44 and later rifles (Discounting the odd trials rifle w/o scope). Its like someone went and USED the earlier rifles, can't imagine why....
That rifle is too far gone for me.
If I was going to bid on that rifle, I'd keep it as a sporter. :madsmile:
I'd simply cut off the barrel behind the front site, recrown it, drill and tap the receiver for a scope, weld up the other unused holes and grind them smooth, before spray painting the metal in a camouflague pattern :thup:
But, seriously, you don't see many 1943 "T" rifles out there and it could be restored. You'd have to be a very dedicated restoration enthusiast to take it on. Asuming you could redrill the mounting pad holes, everything else, new stock, rear sight, mounting pads etc. could be found. The final step would be to refinish all the metal parts in suncorite.
I think this is a project for Louthepou
Tempting.....I have a perfect set of wood stocks I've been hoarding for just such an occasion...Might even have a SM41 rear sight kicking around as well.....Optics are a problem, though.....HMMMMM
The only thing that scares me is the scrubbed serail number...Unless I'm missing it?
218bee
hmmmm...they used an inner band on a No4. I wonder what that was all about?
Too costly to try to bring it back as a replica T. There are much less expensive options out there. Aside from a couple of stamped markings to make us cringe it's just another $80 truck gun.
It's certainly an interesting gun. Strange how the seller hasn't made more of the 't' status, perhaps they don't realise the significance. Be curious to see what it sells for. If I walked into my local gunshop and saw it for £100 I'd be tempted...But would I buy it?
Well...I bought it......Got it for $155.00 US (My high bid)........I have many correct parts to get it back in order, but I will have to get many more....I am always up for a good restoration..(Just finished a beautiful Type 38 Arisaka, rescued from Bubba, and only needed some minor bits to get right).....I wasn't gonna bid on this No. 4 T, , but I figured I have spent more than $155.00 on stupider things than a restoreable T rifle...LOL...
I'll post my progress here ASAP...
Regards
218bee
Excellent!
It would be great if you could take pictures from beginning to end as encouragement to all those (like me) that baulked at another project
Thanks for the support....
I have no illusions of it ever being like a brand-new, unissued piece....Even right off the bat I will put on the nice wood set I have....That will get me going....I know it won't be an easy one, but I'm up for a challenge...The parts seem to be out there...(optics will be a problem, but I knew that going into it...)...
The journey begins...
218bee