How many of you own firearms?

[Galland]

Last year I bought my first firearm and I haven't been able to stop buying and shooting. It's a really great hobby, but wickedly expensive.



This is the jewel of my collection. A PolyTech AKS underfolder with folding spike bayonet. It's a pre-ban semi-automatic rifle. The pre-bans have a lot of collector value thanks to Clinton's 1994 assault weapons law. Heck, he's the one who made this rifle a pre-ban in the first place.



This is a Mosin-Nagant M91/30 sniper rifle equipped with a PU 3.5x scope. When I bought it, it was an "ex-sniper" with the mounting holes filled in. I had to buy a new scope, a new bolt,and have the mounting restored. I haven't shot it yet. Mosin rifles are very cheap and very common now. I recommend them to the beginning collector/shooter.


There are plenty of good internet-based milsurp firearm distributors on the net for those who are interested. Of course, you must purchase all firearms through a local FFL of your choosing.

Galland

[Specter]

Hello.

I guess if I ever bought any firearm it would be the one that I ued in Drill Team back when I was in Jr.ROTC.

It was oan old Bolt Action Weapon with no bayonet. I think it was a Springfield M1, or something. I was over 15 Years ago.

I had seen a very nice one at an action once but it had all brass parts replaced with chrome and a bayonet. The bidding started at $300 and I was broke

[Keith Heitmann]

I only have one real firearm in my possession, and it is sort of a heirloom. It's a five shot snubnose .32 cal. revolver called a "Secret Service Special" that my father supposedly got from my Aunt after her first husband was killed in WW2 and she didn't want the gun. I don't think it has been fired since that time. It's in good condition despite never having any maintenance done on it or having been cleaned.

I had a friend, a former army Colonel, look at it and said that it was in good shape and wouldn't take much get it ready to use.

It was kept in a dresser drawer of my father until he died and now I have it. It's just in an old vinyl plastic bag with a plain old rivet snap to hold the cover closed.

I don't know who made it, as no manufacturer name appears on the weapon.

[Galland]

Specter said:

Hello.

I guess if I ever bought any firr arm it would be the one that I ued in Drill Team back when I was in Jr.ROTC.

It was oan old Bolt Action Weapon with no bayonet. I think it was a Springfield M1, or something. I was over 15 Years ago.

I had seen a very nice one at an action once but it had all brass parts replaced with chrome and a bayonet. The bidding started at $300 and I was broke

The weapon you used was probably a deactivated Springfield 1903 or 03A3 rifle. Those go for a high premium now. The CMP is selling off a limited batch they just found for $400 or so a piece. But a nice minty example will set one back $500 to $600 depending on make and model.

I'd love to buy one from the CMP, but I don't qualify for one. They're the only source of Garands still around. They still haven't run out!

Civilian Markshmanship Program used to be part of the government. Now they're a private entity or something in between. There are actually thousands of M1 carbines and Garands out there. But the M1 carbines aren't importable thanks to the 1994 ban. Neither are many of the Garands. The CMP can only import rifles that were lent (as opposed to sold) to foreign governments.

Well... that's probably more than you wanted to know.


Galland

[Galland]

Keith said:

I only have one real firearm in my possession, and it is sort of a heirloom. It's a five shot snubnose .32 cal. revolver called a "Secret Service Special" that my father supposedly got from my Aunt after her first husband was killed in WW2 and she didn't want the gun. I don't think it has been fired since that time. It's in good condition despite never having any maintenance done on it or having been cleaned.

I had a friend, a former army Colonel, look at it and said that it was in good shape and wouldn't take much get it ready to use.

It was kept in a dresser drawer of my father until he died and now I have it. It's just in an old vinyl plastic bag with a plain old rivet snap to hold the cover closed.

I don't know who made it, as no manufacturer name appears on the weapon.

Sounds neat. Everybody has to start somewhere. I started out with muzzleloading rifles. Flintlocks are just as fun as assault rifles in some aspects. If you ever decide to shoot that gun, send me a picture of it and I can probably find out exactly what it is by consulting my fellow collectors. Or you can go to one of the below link and find out for yourself.

I've never seen a revolver chambered for .32acp so it might take a more obscure cartridge like .32 H&R or .32 H&R magnum but handguns aren't my area of expertise.

www.gunboards.com/forums/


Galland

[Keith Heitmann]

I've never seen a revolver chambered for .32acp so it might take a more obscure cartridge like .32 H&R or .32 H&R magnum but handguns aren't my area of expertise.

Engraved on the barrel: "for 32 Smith & Wesson CTGS". The entire weapons is approximately palm-sized. It has a break-action loading sysetem to give you access to the cylinder. When you open the gun for loading and the barrel swings down infront of the tigger guard, a mechanism lifts the casings out of their invidividual holes in the cylinder all at the same time.

[Galland]

Keith said:

Engraved on the barrel: "for 32 Smith & Wesson CTGS". The entire weapons is approximately palm-sized. It has a break-action loading sysetem to give you access to the cylinder.

Here is a short history of the .32 S&W cartridge:

www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p32sw.html

Galland

[PUFF88]

thats a nice rifle, i have one similiar, although its a norinco. looks almost identical though, same type of stock. although im looking to replace all the wood with the yugoslavian black molded pieces i see at shows. i got mine used and the wood is a little beat up. i agree with you about it being a expensive habit. since i started i cant stop. i regret selling the two of my collection. a calico 9mm carbine and a ruger kp94 dao 9mm. but still have got everything else. the next 2 rifles i plan on getting are a 8mm mauser , and  either a M-14 or a FN-fal or cetme type of .308   .  unfortunately all my pics are on my other pc which is down for parts. now if i just could get to the range more often.

[Old_Soldier]

Keith said:

I only have one real firearm in my possession, and it is sort of a heirloom. It's a five shot snubnose .32 cal. revolver called a "Secret Service Special" that my father supposedly got from my Aunt after her first husband was killed in WW2 and she didn't want the gun. I don't think it has been fired since that time. It's in good condition despite never having any maintenance done on it or having been cleaned.

I had a friend, a former army Colonel, look at it and said that it was in good shape and wouldn't take much get it ready to use.

It was kept in a dresser drawer of my father until he died and now I have it. It's just in an old vinyl plastic bag with a plain old rivet snap to hold the cover closed.

I don't know who made it, as no manufacturer name appears on the weapon.

Keith, you think you could put a picture of the pistol up on the board, mite be able to tell you who made it.

[[Nataliia]]

um...it's not a firearm, but I participate in historical reinactments and have a Mongolian Horseman's bow and a mean pair of throwing axes. ;D Having recently returned to the States from Germany, we don't have weapons (and with a small child in the house, the idea makes me uneasy) but are looking into Airsoft as an alternative.

[Galland]

[quote author=[Nataliia] link=board=general&thread=1019315573&start=9#0 date=1036992017] Having recently returned to the States from Germany, we don't have weapons (and with a small child in the house, the idea makes me uneasy) but are looking into Airsoft as an alternative.[/quote]

That sounds interesting. I know the Mongolians had fairly advanced bows. Is yours made of natural horn and other materials like that?


Airsoft might be a good idea for casual entertainment. If you ever decide to get a real gun, I would suggest a gun safe and a designated ammunition locker. Lots of folks with kids lock up their guns but leave ammo laying all over the house. Needless to say, that's a bad thing. Empty guns are generally harmless but all it takes is one shotgun shell for an eight year old to wreak havoc upon the dry wall- or worse.