A Model 38 dilema

[Aragorn243]

That Carcano I looked at the day I bought the K11 is still there taunting me. It's down to $100 and I could probably get it for less but don't want to make an offer yet.

It's a 38 short rifle in 7.35 with the folding bayonet set up but no bayonet. It's missing it's butt stock sling attachment but other than that isn't bad looking which is part of the problem I think. It's been refinished, the numbers don't match and the cartouches are just there enough to know they once were. I looked at the bore today. Strong lands and grooves but rust forming throughout. I doubt it's ruined the bore and will probably clean out nice.

This rifle is not calling out to me, yet I keep checking it out every time I'm out there. I have yet to add a 38 to my collection and as cheap as they tend to be, just not sure if I should pull the trigger on this one. $100 is getting slightly attractive however. It was started at $169.

Any opinions?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Patrick Chadwick]

You have provided all the reasons for not buying it. Well not quite all - you have not said what the missing bayonet would cost - if you could find one. And the sling attachment - if you could find one.
And

Strong lands and grooves but rust forming throughout. I doubt it's ruined the bore and will probably clean out nice.

- and if it doesn't?

So the vibrations I am getting (pretty weak from Pennsylvania to Germany, I confess) are that you know that you shouldn't really, but you have that buying itch. Some of the best bargains are the opportunities you just walk away from. This sounds like one. Fight that collecting urge and wait - there are much better ones to be found.


Patrick

[Aragorn243]

Patrick,

You've summed it up pretty well.

As usual, I'm looking for an ugly duckling I can fix up and since I know how much the bayonet will cost, I'm also looking for one that doesn't take the folding one. I have two of the standard bayonets already.

I've walked away from this one five times now but it gets a bit tougher each time.

Must stay strong................

[Patrick Chadwick]

OK, since you know what the bayonet would cost, and are still hmmming and uuuhhhing, the decisive factor is going to be the bore:

I looked at the bore today. Strong lands and grooves but rust forming throughout. I doubt it's ruined the bore and will probably clean out nice.

So it appears that:
IF YES - you would like to have it
IF NO - forget it.

How to find out without buying it? This is my method:
Decide how much you would pay IF YES.
Knock a bit off because of the work you are going to invest** and the residual risk factor (unless you are in the habit of carrying a bore scope around with you when you go shopping) and go to shop with cash, cleaning materials, dummy round + loupe for rough check on muzzle etc.

Talk with the seller. Say that you will give him the IF YES price on the spot IF you can just sit down in a corner and clean the rifle before purchase.
If he says no, finally forget it.
If he says OK, clean, inspect, decide.

- The seller has nothing to lose. In fact he gains both ways, if you like the result, he has sold the rifle, and if you do not take the rifle, he has had it cleaned up for nothing and now has a rifle that will sell better to somebody else.

Try it. It works for me.


Patrick

**work which the seller should have done before offering the rifle for sale.

[Midmichigun]

Aragorn,
I am a sucker for "lost projects". So I know your dilema!!
I have a number of barreled actions that I am building up to rifles, and it is daunting... and very expensive. If the price is right, I don't mind salting a rifle away, for WHEN I find the right parts..... But I also compare it to the sale price... and the availibility of the replacement parts... sometimes it is cheaper to walk away and find a slightly more expensive rifle that is complete...
But hey... everyone likes a good project!

[Aragorn243]

It's not really a lost project, it's only missing the sling part and I can't imagine that being all that hard to get. It's a fairly nice looking rifle, almost too nice which might be part of the problem I guess. If a stock is going to have work done, I prefer being the one that did it so I know how much was done. The exterior metal finish is good, all the metal looks good, the stock is uniform in color and aside from the numbers not matching and the cartouches being almost oblitherated, it doesn't look bad at all.

The bayonet issue is more like do I want to get the expensive one or not. As a collector, I eventually plan on getting one I suppose so that isn't a major hold back.

Patrick,

I thought about cleaning the bore out before hand, may make that suggestion if I decide to pull the trigger so to speak. In the meantime, I'm hoping a MAS 36 shows up so I can concentrate on that rather than this.

[smellie]

Springfield Sporters has half the Carcano parts in the Western world and their prices are very reasonable.

REALLY nice thing is that they are IN the US of A, so they will ship to you, something which they do with admirable dispatch. I live in a furrin country; my fastest way to get parts from them is to have them shipped to ICELAND, then to here!

Check out their website; it is quite good, very easy to navigate.

BRASS is available from Graf's, as are the correct 128-grain .300" Hornady bullets.

Yeah, I know: I'm pushing.

But EVERY Carcano deserves a home!
.

[Aragorn243]

Looks like my missing parts will run $11.00 plus shipping. Not bad.

I'm still thinking about it, watching bayonets sell for over $200 is not helping matters.

[Bionicback321]

Might I also suggest Numrich at Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
. I recently picked up an M38 that was missing a number of bits and pieces ( lower band, lower band swivel, front band, bayonet lug and the upper hand guard) and only set me back about $35. Shipping to central Florida was $8 and showed up in about three days. Not too bad if you ask me. That’s my two cents anyway.

[Aragorn243]

Thanks to everyone for being a sounding board and for the advice. I inspected the rifle again today and put it down for hopefully the final time. I just sense I would not be happy with this particular rifle. I could look at it in sunlight today rather than the shade of a wooded grove and there are just too many small irritations with it.

The stock has been sanded, I knew that, but there is a good 1/16th of an inch of the magazine well sticking out beyond the wood and there is a distinct line along the metal where the wood should be along the side. The barrel and reciever has excellent bluing but closer examination shows pitting along the wood line and the possibility of being polished and reblued. Reinforcing this is that the magazine has no finish remaining and is patina brown. It is also missing the cleaning rod cap.

I have officially told the wife to remind me loudly that this rifle needs a new stock if I ever seem inclined to pick it up again.