Dang Rookie Mistake, Dutch Beaumont/Vitali

I spotted this at a flea market today, price seemed reasonable. I investigated what it was and pulled the trigger and brought it home.

Yes I knew it was sporterized, but no, I didn't realize the barrel was cut.

I don't know what the heck I had planned for it in the first place other than it seemed really lonely on that table and it needed a home. I understood going in getting a new stock would not be economically feasible.

So my question is, do I polish it all up pretty as a long term project which I love to do or just leave it pretty much as is but a little cleaner.

The positives are the bore is mirror bright after getting some fossilized goo out of it. (I thought it was badly pitted which makes my decision to purchase seem all the worse). It is also fully functional as far as I can tell. The numbers of the stock and magazine all match. The numbers of the bolt, action and barrel all match. The two groups do not match themselves. I read none of these are the serial number which is distinct from both.

It does look pretty cool in my opinion and I think it would look great all fixed up. I know it isn't worth much in either case and I don't have much in it.

Love to hear your opinions.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...293593b1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a8fe6f0c-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6e1243b8-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6ee2f1b2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9b999725-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b50598e6-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...aa32dc3d-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...82768fee-1.jpg

Would be a good stem to stern refinish job, maybe try a technic you've been wanting to try if any.

Why is bolt handle in two pieces on these???

I have taken it apart and started cleaning/polishing. It's going to take me a bit longer with this one. Not that it's in bad shape but I want to get rid of all the pitting that is feasible to get rid of.

The bolt handle contains a leaf spring for the firing pin. I have not taken this apart, just checked the screw to ensure it wasn't frozen up. It has numerous oddities in its construction. There is a screw on the bottom that appears to keep the barrel from unscrewing. The right side of the receiver bridge is a separate part that looks to be held in place by very large pins. The rear sight does not have a locking mechanism and I thought it was broke until I tightened the screw. Now it works and holds its position by friction. It does however have a screw and a plate in it that I can see no purpose for. It has a neat magazine cutoff that is very simple but looks effective.

I don't have any cartridges for it so it's likely to be another wall hanger for a while. I did put an order in with Buffalo Arms for my Dutch Mannlicher and my French Gras but I don't think I can swing another $80 for ammo right now. I heard the Buffalo Arms ammo for this is not very good, weak brass or something to that effect. It's the cartridge they start with to make it.

I think it would be awesome to take it into the woods but it doesn't have a safety so that isn't real likely.

You did not mention the price. But if were right and I were you I would go to town polish,duracoat & spiff up the wood. Enjoy honing your gunsmithing skills on somthing where mistakes will not cost much in $ or lost sleep due to guilt.
Cool looking rifle BTW.

The guy was asking $150 which got my attention. I checked Peterson's out to verify what it was and poor condition lists at $100. So I went back and told him I didn't want to insult him but I'd offer $75 figuring he probably didn't have much in it. We dickered a bit and what it came down to was he had $110 in it. So before I walked away, he offered it to me for that. In one of my moments of impulse buying I said yes. I knew it worked. Everything looks good, it just has a finish issue and it does look cool. I thought the bore was pitted badly at the receiver end but hoped it would clean up. Basically, I wanted a project gun and I can't really hurt this because the barrels already been cut so why not. I didn't want to let it on that table with all the rusty junk it was with, didn't seem right.

When I ran a brush down the bore, all this flaky crap came out an all over me. No idea what it was other than fossilized grease but it came out easily and the bore is mirror bright with strong rifling. I thought it might have a problem when I put it back together and the bolt wouldn't charge. Looked at it closely and when I tightened the screw, it pulled the trigger down to where it touched the guard and this wasn't allowing it to go forward. That was an easy fix of shortening the trigger just a bit.

It will keep me occupied for a few days at least, maybe a few weeks, but once I start these things I get a bit carried away and spend hours at a time on them. This is nothing compared to the Swedish Mauser.

If I remember correctly the Swede was a resurection from the dead and turned out fantastic. Was it an M38? I cannot wait to see how this one turns out. Looks like a nice piece of lumber on it. If you count your labor as love you might even turn a small profit if you decide to sell or trade.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aragorn243

It does however have a screw and a plate in it that I can see no purpose for.

---

As the screw goes through a long hole, the plate was possibly intended to be adjusted to set the "battle sight" or minimum range to somewhere around 100-300 meters.

The cocking piece looks as if it once had a peepsight fitted. Examples of such bolt-mounted sights can be found in "Old Gunsights" by Nick Stroebel. If you could find and fit one, now that really would make a conversation piece

There is a screw at the back of the sight to adjust for battle sight. This second screw with the plate has the finger grips on the side and only moves about an 8th inch. Can't figure out what purpose it might have. It does have a small extension that looks like it would fit in the groove of the sight but it isn't long enough.

The holes in the cocking piece appear in all the bolt photos I've seen. I think it's some type of screw that is removed by inserting a tool into the two holes.

The Swede is an M38 and selling will have to be after I'm gone.

"The Swede is an M38 and selling will have to be after I'm gone."


Picked up a nice one (my first Swede) they are almost as imperssive as the Swiss rifles. Just need a bayo and a muzzle cap (to replace the aftermarket flash hider).
And as to selling. I sell nothing unless the time comes when I need food in which case I will try my luck in the woods first. I learned long ago if I sell somthing I take a bath. When I buy somthing it is because it appeals to me so I keep it. Keep us posted on the progress.

I rarely say this about 'sporterized' milsurps.....I like it. I looks 'right'. Can't explain why!

At the rate I'm going, I may have this back together before the holiday weekend is over. The barrel is nearly finished. The stock is finished, it cleaned up a light red, not sure if I like it or not yet. I still have to clean up the receiver and bolt and other small parts. Once it's pretty well cleaned up I'll post some pics and then decide whether to blue parts of it or leave them all in the white. Depends what it looks like.

It's not finished but I decided to take a break and put it back together to get an idea of what it will look like. I don't plan to polish it to a mirror finish but to get a uniform dull shine. All the large pitting is off the barrel. There is still some fine pitting that needs work. The receiver and action could use some work too. Stock is pretty much finished other than adding coats of BLO.

I included some additional photos of the rear sight showing the mystery screw. It might be missing a part somewhere.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...34fc6c1b-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5ba602fc-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...51d8875a-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4c9d70b5-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b09b78c5-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...29326a76-1.jpg

I wasn't sure I would like it in the white but I think it looks good. I am concerned about rust however. High humidity area here.

Lots of elbow grease invested. Looks great. I am going looking for a beater.

The mystery of the screw continues although I now have an idea.

It appears that the screw and sliding plate were a means of establishing battle zero. The plate when slid in will stop the sight from going lower. When slid out, it would originally have allowed the sight to go lower. But, a second screw was added at some point which prevents this. The small, long screw is probably now the battle zero setting. I spotted some sights that did not have this second long screw.

Other innovative features I've noticed. The screw heads are oval, not round. This means that when they are seated correctly, they are shaped in line with whatever it is they are holding in place. The rear sling swivel for example line up perfectly. The butt plate screws do not. I may have them switched and might see if that changes but the screws also seem to be fit for the hole they are in. A third screw that appears to be the same size as the sling swivel screws is not. It will not go in, it is stamped with two marks where the sling screws are stamped with one.

A lot of care went into these old rifles when they were built and it's giving me a new respect for these old war horses.