*** March 2008 Purchases ***

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Show us all what great deals you made this month !!! :dancingbanana:

Regards,
Badger

First of a few nice pieces this month... :)

Australian Experimental SMLE NO 1 MK III Intermediate Length "Shortened & Lightened Rifle" Serial # XP53

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

They only made 100 of these rifles with a special bayonet having a 10" blade with the standard Pattern 1907 hilt and grips. This bayonet was later adopted for the Owen Machine Carbine. The rifle has the rear sight installed on the back half of the stripper clip guide and has the front end of the rifle shortened to 20”, as well as lightening cuts in the stock.

Reference "The Lee Enfield" by Skennerton (Page 347)

Regards,
Badger

Dude.....I'm in awe.:bow: Trade you my little hockey fan for it. Hell, trade you both my kids.

The Shortened and Lightened and the HT are my two dream LE's.

My dream Enfield is a proper Pattern 1913... ;)

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Originally Posted by Stevo

Dude.....I'm in awe.:bow: Trade you my little hockey fan for it. Hell, trade you both my kids.

The Shortened and Lightened and the HT are my two dream LE's.

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Careful now, we really liked that little guy ... maybe take you up on that offer .... :lol:

HT eh? :cheers:

Keep an eye on the monthly purchases forum ... ;)

Regards,
Badger

By the way Badger, I am sure you already know, but on the rarer Australian made guns with coachwood stocks, there comes a point where purchase price is so high that shooting them and risking splitting the fragile stocks becomes too grievous a proposition.

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Originally Posted by Claven2

By the way Badger, I am sure you already know, but on the rarer Australian made guns with coachwood stocks, there comes a point where purchase price is so high that shooting them and risking splitting the fragile stocks becomes too grievous a proposition.

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Good advice ... :thup:

I doubt ~Angel~ would let me shoot this anyway ... :lol:

Regards,
Badger

Thats a really interesting rifle Badger. I've often fanatasized about having a shortened SMLE, I never realized that they'd toyed with the same idea.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badger

Careful now, we really liked that little guy ... maybe take you up on that offer .... :lol:

HT eh? :cheers:

Keep an eye on the monthly purchases forum ... ;)

Regards,
Badger

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One of them too?:yikes: I'm sure gonna miss that kid.;)

:dancingbanana:Arrived last week:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P3080020-1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DANCESWITHEMPTIES

:dancingbanana:Arrived last week:

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That's a pretty looking girl ... :super:

Congratulations ... :)

Regards,
Badger

Here's another beauty I won at the James Julia Auction......... :D

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

K98k/ZF41 Code AR42 marksman rifle in excellent condition with all matching components c/w leather sling with a D&C code on it. ZF41 scope is CXN coded with clear optics and both sunshades intact.

Regards,
Badger

Badger, that rifle looks stone mint, nice grab!

An interesting tidbit I recently read about the ZF41:
A fellow in the states was showing his off to a German vet who said "Sniper rifle? That's the rifle you give to the worst shot in the squad so he can actually help you in a firefight."

I'd love to get my grubby mitts on that rifle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badger

Here's another beauty I won at the James Julia Auction......... :D

K98k/ZF41 Code AR42 marksman rifle in excellent condition with all matching components c/w leather sling with a D&C code on it. PROVENANCE: Stern Collection. ZF41 scope is CXN coded with clear optics and both sunshades intact.

Regards,
Badger

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I am forever jelous. Beutiful, no, stunning, blah, its beuty dazzel's me :p

It looks as nice as the last time I saw it :super:

Nice snag ;)

When are you showing the other goodies?

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Originally Posted by Claven2

It looks as nice as the last time I saw it :super:

Nice snag ;)

When are you showing the other goodies?

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Well, I wouldn't have snagged it if you hadn't have gone over it front to back and told me what a nice piece it was .... :lol:

Thanks... appreciated the free consulting ... :thup:

Regards,
Badger

With thanks to claven2's sharp eye, here's another one from the Poulins Auction......... :thup:

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

WW1 Danzig KAR 98 "all matching" c/w bayonet and sling. Great condition with 98% of the original finish and the barrel bands, trigger guard and floorplate showing approximately 85%.

Regards,
Badger

I think I'm being given too much credit here - it wasn't my wallet and auction savvy that backed these soon-to-be great new additions to the MKL ;)

Here's another one for ~Angel~'s collection from the James Julia Auction ......... :super:

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

AUSTRALIAN Lithgow "HT" No.1 MKIII SMLE (Dated 1917) sniper rifle. Mounted with a matching numbered Australian scope with leather lens covers and rubberized canvas sling. Accompanied by an orig Lithgow bayonet with brown leather scabbard. CONDITION: Extremely fine, near new. Rifle retains virtually all of its orig arsenal finish.

This particular rifle is listed in Skennerton's book "The Lee Enfield", Page 565. It is only 1 of 481 converted using a low mount set-up and it was sent to stores on September 19th, 1945. A total of 1,612 rifles of the order for 2,500 sniper rifles were completed by the time production ceased on Feb 15th, 1946. The exact breakdown was 1,131 high mounts (officially termed "medium brackets") and 481 with low mounts (described as "short brackets") ....

Regards,
Badger

Here's another one for ~Angel~'s collection won at the Poulins Auction ......... :thup:

British Pattern 13 Experimental "Trials Rifle" Rifle (Caliber .276)

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

This rifle was the forerunner to the P14 Enfield, manufactured by Winchester, Eddystone and Remington in .303 caliber in the U.S., except that it was manufactured by Enfield in .276 caliber.

According to Skennerton ... In 1912, the manufacture commenced of a nominal 1,000 .276-in. rifles for extended troop trials at home and abroad. These rifles are referred to as the Pattern 1913, as they were completed in late 1912 or early 1913. ....... A total of 508 were completed by the end of 1912 and 743 in early 1913, which pouts the total production at Enfield at 1,251. This rifle is all matching with serial number 1153. ..... Problems were encountered with extraction, excessive muzzle blast, heat and high pressure, mostly due to the high-velocity cartridge. Other considered failings were the smaller capacity magazine, weak front handguard and loose safety catch.

This example is all matching and equipped with a bayonet, scabbard and sling. The metal retains approx. 95% of the blue overall with some scattered spots of light corrosion present. The bolt is bright showing patina on top. And the bayonet shows near new with the scabbard showing very good. The hand guards are good with light scuffing. The buttstock is good and has 4 lightning cuts on each side that run diagonal from the front receiver ring, halfway to the volley sight. Other than that, buttstock has only light scuffing and the web sling shows good overall.

Regards,
Badger

Ahh, you finally posted it - been waiting to see ppl's online envy when the P13 came up!

Here's another one for ~Angel~'s collection won at the James Julia Auction ......... :)

No3 MkI* (T) Rifle - (Pattern 1914 Mk1* W (T) Sniper Rifle)
(Manufactured by Winchester)
"All Matching" including BSA Model 1918 (3x) Scope

2,001 Winchester P14 rifles were converted and set up by Periscopic Prism Co., where they mounted their own Model 1918 (3x) Scope. Click HERE to view the current example in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here).

According to Skennerton, in addition and more rare to find, 79 Winchester P14 rifles were converted by BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) to mount their Model 1918 (3x) Scope, of which the example below was one of them.

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

CONDITION: It is excellent overall with scope, scope caps, and sling included. This example has all matching components and is in fine overall shape.Receiver retains 95% of its orig blue with a few light scratches on the left side of rear sight base. Bolt body is polished bright while cocking handle extractor and rear assembly remain blued (90%). Bbl and bbl bands retain better than 95% of their orig blue with a "W" on bayonet lug and on front sight assembly. Trigger guard and floorplate retain 98% of their orig finish with Winchester buttplate retaining approx 85%. Stock and hand guards are in excellent condition retaining nearly all of their finish with just a few slight bruises. Volley sight is pressed into wood but ranging arm is not present. B.S.A. telescope and scope mounts retain better than 98% of their orig blue and optics are crystal clear. Mechanics are crisp, bore is bright and shiny.

Regards,
Badger

Here's the final March purchase, again, this one for ~Angel~'s collection won at the James Julia Auction .........

No3 MkI* (T)A Rifle - (Pattern 1914 Mk1* W (T)A Sniper Rifle)

"All Matching" with Alexander Martin (Glasgow) Mounts c/w Aldis Bros. 1916 Scope. Only 421 Winchester P14 rifles were converted and set up by Alexander Martin, Rifle Maker, Glasgow, where he mounted an Aldis Bros. 1916 Scope.

PROVENANCE: Stern Collection

This example has all matching components and is in fine overall shape. Equipped with a US mfg. WWI leather sling. Rifle is equipped with correct bayonet. Ears of rear sight have been removed to accommodate the scope on this rifle. Telescope is marked Aldis Bros. 1916. The scope and base appear to be soldered together and base is a Alexander Martin, which is matching serial numbered to the rifle.

CONDITION: Receiver retains better than 90% of its orig blue with the exception of the high edges on the rear where the sight ears were milled off. Bolt body is bright while handle and extractor retain some 85% of their orig blue. Bbl retains better than 90 % of orig blue with front sight and front bands retaining approximately 75%. Middle band shows better than 98% with the head of the screw being slightly buggered. Triggerguard and floorplate assembly show 85% with the majority of the wear being on the bottom of the triggerguard from the sling. Buttplate shows approximately 60% with the balance turning to patina. There is a rope pull-through present in the buttstock. Front handguard shows very good with a couple of minor dings. Rear handguard show a little less with a couple of moderate dings. Winchester buttstock shows excellent with just the slightest of scuff marks on it. The base present for the volley sight. Sling appears to be orig WWI, dated 1918 with the inspector marks JMN, in very good condition with very little cracking. Scope shows approximately 50% orig finish with the balance exposing brass. Very clear optics with just a little debris. Action is crisp and clean and bore is bright and shiny, showing very little wear.

Regards,
Badger

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...rbine004-1.jpg

so i get this email from Military Surplus Collectors Forums saying i haven't been here for awhile. it's just that california is a bit a ways from canada :)
at any rate, here one i got recently

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Originally Posted by touhy

so i get this email from Military Surplus Collectors Forums saying i haven't been here for awhile. it's just that california is a bit a ways from canada :)
at any rate, here one i got recently

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Welcome back touhy .... :thup:

You could always invite all of us Canadians down to California for a party.... :dancingbanana:

BTW, that's a beautiful looking late war K98k... :super:

Regards,
Badger

Agreed! Nice BNZ45!

thanks guys. what's odd about this rifle is the lack of firing proofs on the barrel and receiver but has the presence of the stock proof. however more of these rifles seem to be surfacing so it may be a legit variant. this rifle is also odd in that it has a single rune on the underside of the barrel. why it is there?
there is going to be a new book on late war k98 that looks to be good.

The Stern collection was amazing and immense, but I humbly ask who was this Mr Stern? His collection is one of the most prolific I have ever seen.

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Originally Posted by JHC II

The Stern collection was amazing and immense, but I humbly ask who was this Mr Stern? His collection is one of the most prolific I have ever seen.

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I believe he died last July 2007, but I couldn't find an on-line obituary, but I did locate an "old" bio of him that summarizes his life using the present tense.

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Mr. Bruce E. Stern

Bruce E. Stern, President of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, is seeking reelection to another three-year term as a director of the National Rifle Association of America. He has been a Board member since 1996 and is again a candidate nominated by the NRA Nominating Committee. He is a Benefactor life member of the NRA. He now serves on the NRA Board's Finance, Membership and Gun Collectors Committee. He is Vice-Chairman of the Gun Collectors Committee.

Stern, who co-founded the coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen in 1988, is married with 2 children. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance of the University of Pennsylvania, NYU Law School and the University of Bridgeport with an MBA degree.

He is a Vietnam veteran who served with the U.S. Army with the rank of captain. He practices law in Trumbull and was its elected Town Treasurer for 14 years. He is currently a member of the American Legion Post 141 in Trumbull and serves as its Post Judge Advocate. He is a life member of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) .

Stern has been an active volunteer lobbyist in Connecticut for many years He served on the 1989 Connecticut Legislature's Public safety Committee's Firearms aw Study Committee and presently serves (since 1995) as a member of an ad hoc citizens advisory committee that works with the Connecticut State Police on Legislative matters and on matters relating to the implementation and enforcement of laws relating to firearms in this state. He has also drafted pro-firearms legislation and has appeared many times before legislative committees in support of the rights of firearms owners.

He is and has been a dedicated, uncompromising advocate for the Second Amendment and the rights of firearms owners in Connecticut and has appeared many times on local and state-wide radio and television and as guest speaker and on panel discussions before local chapters of national organizations in support of the right to keep and bear arms. He is a contributing editorial writer for Hook ‘n Bullet magazine. He is on the panel of local attorneys to which the NRA and the Coalition refer firearms-related matters.

Stern is an avid recreational shooter and a nationally recognized firearm collector. He is a member of many collectors' organizations, including the Ye Connecticut Gun Guild (president, 1978-79 and director many times) and the Stratford Gun Collectors Association. He is one of the few true collectors on the NRA Board.

The National Rifle Association is the only barrier between the anti-gun forces in this country and worldwide and American firearm owners. The success of the organization is due in part to the skill, dedication and hard work of members of its Board of Directors, such as Bruce Stern, who serve on the Board without compensation, The Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen wholeheartedly endorses Bruce Stern for reelection to the NRA Board of Directors. In terms of the Coalition's rating system, Stern receives an "A+" with and endorsement. Connecticut is and will continue to be represented on the Board by a person, Bruce Stern, who believes in and works tirelessly for US against those individuals and organizations that would like nothing better than to scrap the Second Amendment and permanently disarm American citizens.
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The Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen urges every NRA voting member to Vote for Bruce Stern.
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We are fortunate to have these two such individuals, in addition to Bruce Stern, on the NRA ballot this year. The Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen urges all NRA voting members to support the re-election of Patricia A. Clark and John L. Cushman, as well as that of its President, Bruce Stern, to the NRA Board of Directors.

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Regards,
Badger

Law must have been good for him, I could not eat enough kraft dinner to aqquire a fraction of what he had. And though it is a wonderful collection and am very glad you were able to get a piece of living history it is sad a family would liquidate it, those cheq snipers were or so tempting and the N04 divine. As always many thanks.