Most aesthetically pleasing milsurp you own

I had my rifles laid out today for inventory and what not and it occurred to me that while function is certainly more important than appearance, some stuff is just plain ugly. A couple aren't bad if you squint one eye just right, but one or two really are beautiful. Not the finish of the wood and metal so much as the total design. The way the lines flow and the proportions are symmetrical in an eye pleasing way. Yet projects menace for lack of a better word.
Of what I have at least, my Karabiner 98 is my favorite. What's yours?

Has to be the Garand. Simple, smooth lines. Elegant and proportional. Streamlined from the muzzle to the buttplate. Just a beautiful rifle.

Nothing to beat a LE No1MkIII*. Possibly a no 4 or 5.

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Originally Posted by Daan Kemp

Nothing to beat a LE No1MkIII*. Possibly a no 4 or 5.

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I have to agree Daan, mine is my all original Enfield 1917, ex NZ issue No1MkIII*

Well, Firstly my wife lol................ but after her, my L42A1 and hopefully my L1A1 when its completed.:lol:

I have a Mannlicher–Schönauer in 6.5x54MS with the original brass scope, leather case, scope bag, and cleaning kits.
It is the full stocked civilian version and I am told it was a very early model, (it had 1901 on the ticket)
It has the double set trigger unit and shoots superbly.

It's a first place tie between my Winchester Model 70 and Winchester M1 carbine, my M1 Garands second and my Cetme C in third

I personally like the looks of my Swiss 1897 Cadet, or my Gras 74/80/14

I've had most of the weapons used during WW1 and WW2 and lots of the interim too... Of all I had I'd say the 1928 Thompson Sub Machine gun was the one I sat and looked at the most. I could sit and stare at it like some watch television...twin grips and the drum...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I've had most of the weapons used during WW1 and WW2 and lots of the interim too... Of all I had I'd say the 1928 Thompson Sub Machine gun was the one I sat and looked at the most. I could sit and stare at it like some watch television...twin grips and the drum...

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We have a winner.....close the thread :rofl:

Sadly, as being in the UK, my 2 x 1928's are deactivated, but I agree with you, and its why when I sold all my large de-act collection 4 years to part fund the No.4(T) purchase, I just couldn't part with the 2 x M1928's I had, and for the same reasons. If only they made that lovely loud clattering noise as well I'd be as happy as a pig in whotzit.

That's a nice early Savage as well.......made on the last day of January 1941 production, looking at that serial number :)

Early Savage was very close in manufacture to the Colt 1921 (except bolt & recoil spring) note the checkered fire control levers
just like the Colt ! The Savage always was a better example over the AO 1928A1

Anything with wood furniture! I love Tommys but, alas, don't have one. I'll say my 30 Carbine(s) are pretty handsome, especially with the standard 15 round box. Light as a feather too. However, if I had a BAR, I'd have to vote it up simply because of it's over-engineering.

Russ

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Originally Posted by RASelkirk

However, if I had a BAR,

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Got to second that and was close to saying it was mine too. I had three, a Marlin Rockwell 1918 from WW1 with a walnut butt, a Royal Typewriter from WW2 marked 1918A2 and a NESA from Korean conflict...also marked 1918A2. I miss those guys too.

Definitely either my MLM Mk I* or my LMC Mk I. Can’t beat their sleek lines!

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Probably my 1901 .303 brass Maxim, although all items in my collection (muzzle loaders to machine guns) have their own attractions. These days, with all the PC anti-gun crap that is going on, just being able to view and handle your own firearms is satisfying!

For me, it would have to be the Lee-Enfield Mk. 1 R.I.C. carbine. Other than that, the Lee Enfield No. 5 Mk. 1.

It's like asking which kid is most lovable!

But the Krieghoff Luger is pretty easy on the eyes.

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For rifle got go with my Garand , handgun just love the look of my 1911 .45 .

I would second the LEC carbine I love the look of it
Carl

I think it has to be my Carcano long rifle (very elegant) or my Brazilian Mauser 1908. Also the Persian...
And the Argie... And the...:lol::lol::lol::lol:

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Originally Posted by Ovidio

I think it has to be my Carcano long rifle (very elegant) or my Brazilian Mauser 1908. Also the Persian...
And the Argie... And the...

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I admire a man who lives life with gusto!

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Originally Posted by NORTHOF60

I admire a man who lives life with gusto!

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And a whole bunch of Mausers.....

Here's a link to an 85 picture photo montage of my 1905 Ross Mk II** Civilian Target Rifle in my collection ...

1905 Ross Mk II** Civilian Target Rifle Serial # 4901 (click here)

http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PIC to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PIC to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG

Regards,
Doug

Thats a beautiful Ross Doug!

Yes! And beautiful pictures too!

First place for beauty in my small collection; probably my 1929 No1MkIII* with blonde woodwork.
Closely followed by the 1918 SMLE 22 that still wears it's original, well oiled and beaten up wood work. The No8 Enfield trainers are also sweet.

I love the American stuff...but I’d have to say the French 1935A is one seriously sexy handgun.

Sleek, beautiful, with my family name on it...
She's my choice.

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Ovidio, that is one sweet piece of heirloom. Something to be admired everyday and twice on Sunday.

Thank you Daan.
My Grandpa won it in 1932 at a shooting competition and it has been in our possession since then.
4 generations of Gentiloni have shot it until now. Looking forward to have it being shot for many more generations.

I have a single shot Zi Di in .22 Hornet [not its original calibre I think, but it was similar I believe] that is now on its third generation of ownership. Doesn't shoot much but has such sentimental memories.

That's it. I was really excited just days before the lockdown, when I took my son to the range and had him shoot the old '91. My Grandpa and my dad even hunted with it immediately after the war (dad actually also broke the church bell shooting at it one foolish day, as a war kid. No one ever caught him...). I started loving milsurps after Granpa died and left me the rifle. Since I was poor at the time, I needed to reload if I wanted to shoot that thing. I had no place at home for a press, so I found the little reloading tool I described in a thread here, and started reloading with the 6.5 Carcano. It has been a good school.
The first time I shot it I was really upset, because I could not get onto paper at 100 metres, then an old shooter came to me giggling and explained how to aim with it.
He knew I was a good shot with modern stuff, and was more than glad to catch me metaphorically with the pants down with my super milsurp.
Memories...

For me, it's a tie between my M1 Garand and "U.S. Model 1911A1" Remington-Rand "The Yankee Fist", both made in 1943. - Bob

Ovidio,
Its great to see your beautiful country getting back to normal. Although we had the lowest death count tonight after the weekend of 55 and falling hopefully!!! we still can't get near our ranges properly.
Hope to soon.;)

When people talk about "aesthetics" or "beauty," they often refer to "classical beauty." Those are 2 "classics" you chose!!

Never really thought about it before but I think the two that I personally own that would get the most attention should I take them to the range is a KAR98az that has a well used but beautiful tiger stripe stock. The second is a No4 MK2 that is in mint condition with a beautiful light stock with black hardware.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I've had most of the weapons used during WW1 and WW2 and lots of the interim too... Of all I had I'd say the 1928 Thompson Sub Machine gun was the one I sat and looked at the most. I could sit and stare at it like some watch television...twin grips and the drum...

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I would have to agree. An early Savage built M1928A1 is a thing of beauty. (Rae takes care of accounts receivable)

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Originally Posted by old tanker

An early Savage built M1928A1

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I liked the ones that were blue and had all the features best. I had a chance to see ALL the variants including Turkish manufactured brass receiver guns in Nicosia Cyprus in 1975. The Turks were the Parachute regt and had them almost exclusively for city fighting. They would lean them against a wall about two streets over from the green line and hang their pistol belt with three or five cell pouches on the muzzles and work at clean up, fortifying or whitewashing the walls. We could see in detail which model, M1(A1), early '28 or late...features were visible. Could have loaded a pickup truck... No drums were ever seen, a mix or 20/30 rd mags were issued.

A couple of years ago, I handled a superb lend lease 1928A1, absolutely mint and factory fresh.

It was an ex Home Guard example that never got handed in and was 'kept' as a keepsake following WW2.

It ended up with a Sec5 dealer having been handed in to the Police by the family of the original 'owner'.

My Springfield model of 1903 with her birthdate 1907. The sleek long lines and the way she shoulders a truly beautiful lady but for fit and function her ugly niece the 03-13 typewriter rifle is third with my M1 a solid second.