Sharp as a Marble - Guess what I bought today?

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Guns. Lots of Guns.

For $80, I couldn't pass her up. She's a bit rough in the wood, but everything else is in damn good shape. Spent an hour cleaning the cosmoline our of her this evening and even had Georgia help me a little.

Won't be able to get to the range until some time next week. My shoulder is happy about that, but I'm not ;)

More later.

posted @ 5/25/2007 10:22:43 PM

Comments

Gregory Morris says:

on 5/25/2007 11:23:24 PM

Sweet. Looks like the stock could use a good sand-down and oil-rub. I love those Mosin Nagants, though, because it just takes about 30 seconds with a flathead screwdriver to disassemble them.

So, what markings does it have? Ishevsk or Tula? Year? Anything historical on the stock that you might want to be careful about sanding?

DavidB says:

on 5/26/2007 7:38:36 AM

Ooooh, congrats on a purchase that can make people filth themselves!

And ... how the heck do you clean off the cosmogunk? No funky residue after a good wipe-down?

Robb Allen says:

on 5/26/2007 8:28:50 AM

The year is 1946. I think it's the arrow in the star, whichever that is. Nothing seems to be written / scratched into the stock, but I will look harder just to check. I honestly think I'm going to pick up a synth. stock on Tuesday anyway. For $50, I can't pass that up. I was planning on spending around $300 on a rifle anyway, so I have plenty of 'reserve' left.

As far as the cosmoline, I just wiped... and wiped... and wiped... Not 100% gone yet, but I'll sit down a few more times (and maybe buy a new toothbrush so I can use my current one).

Stacy says:

on 5/26/2007 9:47:04 AM

The husband wants one. Pls to email.

TD says:

on 5/26/2007 7:50:19 PM

My cosmo-removing recipe: gallon of mineral spirits, metal bucket, paint brushes, and an old Mason jar for pouring the mineral spirits over the gun. You'll want elbow-length nitrile gloves, eye protection, and adequate ventilation. The cosmo just MELTS off and leaves the metal absolutely clean. Be sure to oil right away, as the steel will be bone-dry and can rust VERY fast.

DC says:

on 5/28/2007 9:55:29 AM

the only thing guns are good for, is putting holes in things ( and people )

Robb Allen says:

on 5/28/2007 10:58:48 AM

the only thing guns are good for, is putting holes in things ( and people )

Actually, that's one thing they do.

They're also good for the enjoyment people get out of target practice. They provide a good hobby for some of us reloaders to try to get the best ammunition possible. They provide an equalizing force for people like my 98 pound mother who can take on a 300 pound linebacker. They provide an extra bit of safety against home invaders. And they serve as a reminder to our government who's really in charge.

However, if you're really against guns DC, please let's have a conversation. No snark, no name calling, no exaggerations or hyperbole. Let's get the facts out, shall we?

Shawn says:

on 5/29/2007 2:29:14 PM

DC,

As part of their entry-level combat training, Marines are taught how to use their rifles to assist in climbing as well as how to use them for slashing and smashing as well.

Carl says:

on 5/29/2007 7:32:11 PM

Great gun! I bought mine with an ATI synthetic stock already on it. The balance is great, and it fits me perfectly. I cut the barrel down to 16.5" and put a Mojo sight on it. It is a great and very handy gun. A fun project for very little $$$.

drdoct says:

on 5/29/2007 7:56:54 PM

Be sure to pick up a medium or small slip on pachmyer recoil pad. I've got the Chinese t57 version, but same thing. With the pad on you'll be able to shoot quite a lot, without, you'll be putting it down after 20 or so shots. Dont know if you have any ammo yet, but you can get it at cheaperthandirt.com or aimsurplus.com . Just remember that it's corrosive, but that's only important if you plan on keeping it forever. I look at mine like it's a disposable item and once it doesnt shoot good, then I'll pick up another for under $100 and shoot the crap outta it too.

Nice purchase.

DC says:

on 5/29/2007 10:15:58 PM

Shawn/ Robb Allen,

I am not a marine nor am I in the army or navy, or police, so I have no need for something that might end up killing a family member. ( accidents )
And why would I call you a name?

DC

Thane says:

on 5/29/2007 11:23:02 PM

DC,

"Need" is not relegated to job descriptions, nor to combat pay. The grandmother who defends her ailing wheelchair-bound emphasymic husband from a 23-year-old burglar receives no compensation nor endorsement for her actions; nevertheless, she needs her .38 Special revolver just as much as the Marine in Fallujah needs his rifle. The single mother of four who defends her children from a pedophilic ex was not issued any weapon; yet her need for the means of defense is no less for lack of sanction. The pizza delivery driver who goes into gang-infested ghettos just to earn a meager living is not in the army, navy, or police, yet his 9mm may save his life from a strung-out coke addict.

Neither the grandmother's revolver nor the single mother's weapon nor the delivery driver's semi-auto are capable of killing anyone on their own. And so long as the owners are careful and responsible, accidents will not happen, either.

Yes, accidents are always possible, so long as people are people. Yet despite the (many) guns I own, I am many thousands of times more likely to die on the highway on my routine trip to and from work, than I am to die from any gunshot wound, accidental or otherwise. I have had two good friends killed in automobile accidents, yet none who were shot. Would it not then make sense to refuse to own a car?

I own guns, first and foremost, because the possibility of need is there. No, there has not been any immediate need, but there have been many cases where I -could- have needed one, had the situations "gone bad." I am truly fortunate, in that none of those situations did go bad - the drunk who outweighed me by 2:1 was held back by his friends, the attacking dogs have all been caught/restrained by their owners, and the muggers decided not to go after me. Yet, had the timing of events in any of those cases been off by less than a second, had I not responded "correctly," my life could have been in immediate danger, and the need for a weapon paramount.

I own guns, secondly, because I can. This is a free country, and just like there I have the freedom to speak, to vote, to pray, and to gather with others, I also have the freedom to own the means to my defense. I would not give up any of those freedoms.

And thirdly, I own guns because I want to. I find them to be enormous fun, as a hobby responsibly practiced. The challenge to self of constant improvement in marksmanship, the incredibly loud boom of a rifle, the instantaneous reaction of a milk jug filled with water to a shotgun slug - all these are rest and relaxation to my mind.

Many people in the USA do not own guns, for various reasons. For some, they prefer to defend themselves with their hands. Some choose not to as they simply don't enjoy them. And some never even think about them. Hopefully, none of these people will have need of a firearm; many are fortunate enough not to be thrust into that kind of situation.

If you choose not to own a gun, make that choice because it's what you've decided is best, not because you've written it off as "I'm not police/army/marine/etc., and therefore don't need one." If you choose not to own a gun, make that choice because you've decided you don't want one, not because you're afraid it will just go off. Make that choice, founded in good judgment and knowledge, not out of ignorance.
And if you've already done that, state so. The old "fall-back" reasons you gave are just that; if you simply don't enjoy them, most folks will respect that.

As for "name-calling," I hope you'll pardon Robb Allen's reaction; it's quite understandable, considering that a great many "anti-gunners" fall back on just that, and so make us "pro-gunners" (as one might call us) understandably leery. I believe he was simply trying to "head off at the pass" any such actions.

donld says:

on 5/30/2007 12:25:40 AM

Well said, Thane.

45govt says:

on 5/30/2007 9:24:05 AM

Thane's articulate post should receive the widest possible readership. Well said Thane!!

Sharp as a Marble says:

on 5/30/2007 9:59:24 AM

Because this comment deserves a post of its own

russo says:

on 5/30/2007 10:46:00 AM

I think he make that comment because anti-gunner hatred for shooters is quite normal, and usually rears it's ugly head in internet discussions. Good on you for breaking the stereotype DC

Robb Allen says:

on 5/30/2007 10:57:34 AM

Actually, just to be clear, that was put in there to prevent me from being snarky or calling names. I'm not the most level headed person in the world sometimes, so I put barriers up like that to keep myself more in line than others.

GrumpyUnk says:

on 5/30/2007 4:41:11 PM

Robb, Save the $$ on the composite stock and keep the original wood. You should be able to find a few stampings on the stock for historical reference, so stay away from the sandpaper too.

Besides, you can almost buy another rifle for the price of a new stock that really won't add anything to it's performance. Yes, there's a lot of them available now, but I can remember being able to buy 1903's and M-1's for under $75 bucks too. Your kids or grandkids will appreciate it if you keep it intact for them. It's still gonna be servicable and a lot of fun to shoot.

For ammo, besides the places mentioned, check out www.ammotogo.com Decent prices and very good service on surplus ammo.

Check out http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/ along with the forums and links there for more info than is probably healthy about the Mosins.

Congrats on the new rifle!!!

Robb Allen says:

on 5/30/2007 5:21:17 PM

Grump, AmmunitionToGo.com is actually where I purchased my 800 rounds from.

As for the stock, I've already got the composite on her (check a few posts up). There are no markings on the wood stock outside of what's on the butt plate so I don't think there'd really be any harm in sanding it down. I'm not tossing the wood, however the upper part of the handguard is pretty well chipped off.

Thanks for the kind words!

Jeff M says:

on 5/30/2007 8:36:39 PM

I recently also got one at a local sporting goods retailer (Dunhams, Ypsilanti, MI) for $80.
1943, Ishevsk, matching SNs, all accessories.
Stock was horrid with old flaking varnish, so I refinished it. As to the historic value, I figured they made about 17 million of them, so whats one more or less?
As to the advice about finding a recoil pad, I'm going to go seek one out. The steel butt plate can be a little abusive.

As for DC, and his ilk, they throw in a non sequitur just to get folks riled up. Its what trolls do.

DC ...the troll! says:

on 5/30/2007 9:57:32 PM

well now, what a popular subject this has turned out to be.
Jeff M, do you always assume? Assume that people who talk on the subject of guns are all male? ( his ilk )
Perhaps Jeff is right, Sharp as a Marble? I should just end it here, being that I am nothing more then a non sequitur just trying to lure in trouble. And I so wanted to reply on Thane's fine post just for the fact that Thane spent the time to write it and deserves a reply from me, but with the moon being almost full and all, methinks it is best I just go back under the bridge where I belong.

Sorry to be a bother all.......continue!

Robb Allen says:

on 5/30/2007 10:08:18 PM

DC, as long as you keep it civil you are always welcome here. I do not learn in life by only talking to those who agree with me.

Thane's post is why I feel so strongly about firearms. They provide more than just a tool to 'kill'. See Greg's post for examples.

Have you ever shot at a range before? I guarantee you someone locally to you would be willing to take you, costs paid, to show you exactly how much fun shooting can be. If you're in the Tampa area, I'd be more than willing to do so myself.

I'm trying to determine your level of knowledge with regards to guns. If you've never handled them and only get your information from news, then I take a different tack than had you had experience, good or bad.

Please stay, and to others, let's be civil.

Jeff M says:

on 6/1/2007 10:18:22 AM

My Dear DC
Male or female, I do not assume; let not my hamfisted grammatic stumblings trouble you.
And sorry to offend you with a troll reference.
But. You did enter a conversation about a rifle with
"the only thing guns are good for, is putting holes in things ( and people )"
As opposed to good as... what?
"Fish hooks are only good for ensnaring fishes by their lips." Yeah. So?

In college, a fellow student chose to share with me that he hates guns. When I inquired as to why, he remarked, "They make noise." I'm not sure if that was supposed to be deeply philosophical or not, but I retorted that so do puppies and babies. He rewarded my observation with a well-practiced evil eye.

I figured he wasn't really as interested in discussing the opposing viewpoints to his considered opinion, as rather to fit in with the crowd with which he hung.

Anyway: " the only thing guns are good for, is putting holes in things ( and people )" Yes.
And whether that thing is a target, meal, or threat, the firearm is the most effective tool for the job.

IMHO. Sorry, again, if I came off a bit sharp.

DC says:

on 6/1/2007 9:37:03 PM

whew....this is getting heavy, eh? Ok...you are forgiven Jeff M. And Robb, perhaps I will stay, but don't get to excited now, for you won't be able to per sway me to go to a shooting range.
I will be back with more reply's ( if this post doesn't close ) ...needed to take a break, cos I too can be a bit snarky....

Dedicated Dad says:

on 6/4/2007 12:22:23 PM

DC said: "...you won't be able to per sway me to go to a shooting range ..."

Why not?

Contrary to popular image, they're not places filled with semi-literate rednecks or gang-bangers, you're likely to find everyone from executives through grandmothers to incredibly hot chicks. All are there to enjoy themselves or learn something, and safety is both paramount and usually group-enforced. The most dangerous part of a range trip is the drive to and from.

You seem to be a reasonably intelligent sort. As such, you can surely understand the value in learning something about a subject before making an irrevocable judgement about its value or worth. What these folk are offering you is the opportunity to do just that, at no cost except your time. What better way to spend your time than in learning or experiencing something new?

I'll close by offering you a bit of insight... Those of us who have been around a while have seen hundreds of conversations like this. They always start with a comment similar to yours -- frankly demonstrating ignorance (meaning "lack of knowledge") of the subject at hand.

Some of the less-tolerant (or more burned-out) among us will respond by labeling the poster a Troll, and or telling him to bugger-off. Others will attempt to educate. Inevitably, someone will offer a FREE range trip. Why?

Because it allows us to tell the ignorant poster from the Troll. The former lacks knowledge, the latter humility. The former is capable of acknowledging the possibility his beliefs are incorrect, the latter is not. The former is therefore educable, the latter is (obviously) not.

Quite simply, the poster's reaction to the offer of a range trip is a quick way to tell one from the other. The educable person is generally willing to consider the offer -- as an opportunity to learn something. The troll is so filled with hubris that he's simply unable to consider the possibility that he may learn something, and hence wishes only to "debate" from his position of willfull ignorance -- and as such is rightly dismissed for the troll he is. He usually sinks quickly to name calling as soon as he's faced with information that doesn't fit his views -- hence the reference to your first post.

So, at this point, we're all waiting to see how you respond, so we can tell who you are -- educable person or troll? Someone who is so sure of his position as to be ineducable, or intelligent person who has been given inaccurate information? Time (and your reaction) will tell.

Personally, I'd strongly advise you to accept the offer of a range trip. The "worst" thing that could happen is that you'd discover the same thing the rest of us have -- that the "popular" impression of guns and gun owners is wrong, and probably deliberately deceitful, and that guns are simply tools and shooting is just another enjoyable hobby. While you may not decide to become a gun owner yourself, you'll at least have some valid personal experience on which to base your opinions instead of accepting what you've been spoon-fed by the "popular" media and the rest of the liars in the "education" system. Unlike the rest of the "sheeple" you'll have some idea of what you're talking about.

Or, you can reject the generous offer, hold fast to your ignorance and prejudice, and (rightly) be dismissed as a troll.

Your call...

Respectfully,

DD

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