Something that came into the lab....

Gents,

thought I'd throw these pics up of a No1 MkIII which was brought into the lab last year for exploitation. Being the avid milsurp'er that I am, the old girl was snaffled, stripped and cleaned to see if it could be resurrected to fire.

Below are some pics of the old warrior postted for you viewing pleasure and database addition.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0379-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0378-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0388-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0390-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0389-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0394-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0393-1.jpg

Khyber Special?

Most likely. Am not an expert in the field on these yet! But there were a lot of aspects that just didn't match up.

Yeah, the 'markings' just kind of reach out and scream that word, along with everything else! But you know what? I like it, a lot! I would love to find one around here just to fill a hole in my collection. I've said it a million times, it amazes me what they can do over there with a hammer and some railway steel! Very neat example. Will be eager to hear more about it!

Is it my imagination or does the right hand lug on the bolt appear to have been pounded out of shape (by firing?).

Ridolpho

I saw some great examples of a 'prehistoric' workshop, as compared to a modern fitting & turning workshop, fixes and replacements. One P14 I recovered was duly dismantled for inspection and evaluation. When I tried to remove the rear of the bolt, believing it to be of the standard mauser style interrupter thread, I was initially perplexed and then amazed to find it to be a conventional thread. The firing pin at some stage was replaced with a home-made example. Whilst it looked very crudein construction, the bolt worked as advertised.

As far as I'm aware, the example in the above pics will be headed for a museum. This is but one of many firearms I saw, handled during my time OS. Everything from Kyber Pass copies of flintlock pistols, to an 1873 Jaeger rifle, Martini Henry's, SMLE's, Nagants, P14's and more AK variant than you could poke a stick at!

It's probably a good thing I'm not still not in the service and over there....I'd be trying to find a way to get everything home!

You ain't whistling Dixie brother!!! Some of the rifles I would have given my left nut to get home. Had a beautiful 1918 Danzig 8mm Mauser come in, it was in great nick, very good bore and a slick action. There was also a No4 which was smothered in packing grease and had a short picatinny rail fitted. I'll have to dig out the pics and post here. The bore on that rifle was as new. It's now a deac and in a mess somewhere!!!! C'est le vie!!!

Off the top of my head I saw:
No1 MkIII & *
No4
MH 450/577 (the homemade steel cases for this were an eye opener and I would not have been game to fire one!!!)
ME 303
91/30 Nagants
Mod44 Nagants
8mm Mausers - 1918 Danzig & a GEW 88
P14's - Remington & Winchester
M17 - ERA
Astra 25ACP Firecat
TT30 Tokarov
9mm Makarov
38S&W Webley MkIV
AK47 variants - Russian, Chinese, Bulgarian, Egyptian, East German, Czech
DP28
G3
M3 45ACP "Grease Gun"
Model 1 BRNO 22RF
12ga single bbl shotties - Russian, Chinese


There might have been a few others but I can't remember just now. It was a hoot and a tour I will never forget in more ways than one.

The SMLE's & P14 were a joy to not only see, but also work to resurrect.

A classic example of the Genre. :D