Your advice makes sense, but I'm holding out until he gets to $200! By the way, the shop is located in Madagascar next to the McDonalds!
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I would jump on that rifle in a heart beat at that price as long as the receiver was not messed with (Missing the rear sight ears). Barrels are easy to replace if it is shot out.
If things go well on Sunday, I will add one of or a combination of the following - AC44 P-38, No 5 Mk 1 carbine and American Eagle 1906 Luger. And if I strike out completely (which has been known to happen....regularly), then I may have to swallow my milsurp "I ain't gonna overpay" pride and buy that wreck of a P-17 so it can be saved......
If you are into expensive redo projects where you get 1/2 out of what you invest into it, kind of like old car restoration. A labor of love.:sos::bow:
It is best to buy a great condition M 1917- 30-06 for safe queen if you want a WW I rifle. What do you want it for? I'd buy a nice Remington 700 for a shooter or deer rifle. Instead of say $600-700 you will have $900- 1000 into something better, but be better off on either decision. A nice scope will run at least $1000.
It`s very rewarding restoring a treasure. I found a Winchester leaning up in the corner of a pawn shop stuck in a chopped stock with a nearly perfect bore. And after about $650-$750 in parts and accessories I have my favorite shooter. Hope you can bring back another veteran.
I love my Winchester. I had a friend who had a ???? stock minus the hand guard he wanted $100 for and said I might want to look at... I threw the money at him when i saw it. I don`t care that it is a Remington stock it is a great piece of wood. The rest of the parts came over a period of 6 months finding just the right handguards and barrel bands. She is truly my favorite 30-06.
My Winchester came with a stock stamped R on the tip of the forend. Metal and bore great. stock fits perfect. shoots lights out!...but the stock had been roughly handled and lots of scratches and dings showing bright wood under the patina. Light and careful wiping with lacquer thinner or acetone lifts the oil dirt and grime out of the wood, and "moves" the color around so the dings now look original. Feels and looks like a dough-boy in the armorer's trench slapped a used stock on a rifle whose stock became unserviceable, and sent it back into action. Parts queen or no, it's a real pleasure doing the work, feeling the results in your hand, and seeing them on the target. I'm at the stage now where I need to "pick my top 2 restored shooters" of each model and sell the others in order to keep buying project rifles. Sure, I may take some losses here and there...but compared to other normal hobbies like golf, or taking the Mrs. purse shopping, or league/rink fees for playing hockey, I'd say my restoration/refurbishing hobby is pretty cheap!
It's still sitting in the shop at $300. I'm stopping by there today to pick up some AR parts but I will remind the owner of my $200 offer. He also has a NPM M1 carbine that is pending placement on the shelf and that is my #1 priority. That 1917 is still calling to me though......