I have a few Mosin Nagant rifles and pictures to share

World War II Russian Military
#21

garm1and,

It sounds like we collect along the same lines.

My Enfield is a 1943 Savage Stevens No 4, while it shows signs of hard use it still has a very good bore and it holds its accuracy well. The bolt is so smooth on those Enfield’s, it really puts the others to shame. The sights and rifle both have a very good feel to them, hopefully I can come across another one for a decent price. While the Nagants are functional and reliable the Enfield’s are superb in my opinion.

Too bad about the Maltby, but its still a keeper.

My Garand has an advantage off the bat as it has a replacement barrel from the 1960’s that is still in great shape. I have one 03a3 has a replacement 1944 Remington barrel that is basically brand new that I haven’t fired, no real reason just need to get it out with the M1.

#22

Yes Wittman,
It sounds like we have similar interests. I would like to get my hands on a decent Arisaka type 99, but with the mum not ground off. In that condition they are a little pricey. I might have to settle for one with the mum ground off.

#23

I also have a couple of bayonets for the Lee Enfields, the useless spike ones. You’ve probably seen photos of the Tommies using them to probe for mines! :shock: I also got an original sling for the old Maltby with a 1944 date on it. I don’t shoot it too often, but I will give it a good home. LOL

#24

Strange coincidence as I am missing two standard issue WW2 infantry rifles from the major powers, the first being the Japanese Arisaka and the second being the Italian Carcano.

I would really like to add a couple more Enfield’s of British in production just to have a variety. I bought the same spike for my Enfield; it’s amazing what risks those soldiers endured on all sides.

Quick note on the subject of Nagants, I was watching a DVD called "Battefield Russia The Eastern Front " by Timless Media Group that contains an interview with Vasily Zaytsev during which he claimed about being caught in a 3-day duel with a German Sniper who had taken 6 Soviet snipers before being shot by Vasily. Vasily said he was surprised to find that his opponent’s credentials put him as the Director of the Sniper School in Berlin. It could give some credence to the Movie “Enemy at the Gates” or just be a NKVD tale forced upon Vasily for the Western people. By all accounts Vasily Zaytsev was probably the greatest sniper ever seen, with or without the 3-day duel story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Zaytsev

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NKVD

The movie “Enemy at the Gates”, is a loosely fictional story based upon a controversial 3-day duel between Vasily Zaytsez and a purported high ranking German sniper during the Battle of Stalingrad, whose sole purpose during the film was to eliminate Vasily. The film received very poor reviews from the Russian veterans of WW2, as they felt it portrayed the Russian soldiers as cowards and being forced to fight thru the threat of execution. The German audience disliked the film as well, as they felt it simplified war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_at_the_gates

#25

" The film received very poor reviews from the Russian veterans of WW2, as they felt it portrayed the Russian soldiers as cowards and being forced to fight thru the threat of execution. The German audience disliked the film as well, as they felt it simplified war." That’s very interesting, I did not know that. I’m not too fond of the Carcano, maybe from the connection with JFK. If someone wants to give me one I’ll take it, but at this point I don’t plan on buying one.

#26

l felt the same way about the K98’s as you do the Carcano a few years ago.

I can remember a couple years ago when my Great Uncle Dale, http://www.huntington.edu/News-Releases/All-News/Bronze-Star-Sacrifice/, a WW2 Veteran wanted to look at my WW2 related firearms, so I put a few out the table. He smiled at the M1 Garand, Carbine, 1911 .45 and Thompson M1 ( Kahr Arms reproduction), recalling memories of each until he then made it to the two K98K’s laying at the end of the table and it was stone cold silence afterwards. He picked one of the K98’s and worked the bolt and inspected the rifle, something he didn’t do with any of the American Rifles, and then he dropped the bolt and looked at the bore on that K98k. All the time I was thinking I should have left the German rifles in the safe, he suddenly reinstalled the bolt and slammed it home and then placed the rifle back on the table. He then recalled all the various methods that guys went to send one of the k98’s home as a souvenir and that they should respected as a piece of history like the M1.

As far as Enemy at the Gates movie, the Russians to this day have distrust in any Western produced movie. It is well documented that retreating or even Liberated soldiers or civilians were dealt with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_No._270 , Order # 270 is more to cover the Man of Steel and his decision to purge the Red Army, than a reflection of Red Army soldiers of that time period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_war_crimes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NKVD

http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v14/Teplyakov.html

Stalin lost his son in a German POW camp and Hitler lost a Nephew. Each had a chance to save to their relation and both refused. Russia refused to sign the Geneva convention under Stalin’s direction, Hitler even put out a fig leaf towards Stalin in regards to captive soldiers treatment circa 1942 and Stalin refused stating that all captured soldiers were cowards and traitors.

Germany and Japan still struggle with the past, more in regards with teaching it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nazi_concentration_camps

The one thing that my Uncle Dale told me after leaving all the firearms on table, was that “They are all inanimate objects and it still takes one man to kill another, its not so simple to say the rifle alone was responsible, if it was I would have slept better since the end of the war.”

#27

Wittman
Thanks for sharing that story about you Uncle Dale, I enjoyed reading his story. I give him full credit for everything he had to endure. I wish to thank him for his service.

#28

garm1and,

Thanks, I will let him know.

After the war he went into teaching, the profession that he would retire from many years later.

#29

Wittmann,

Just to let you know, I though that was a nice and interesting little story you shared with us. Thank you, and if you don’t mind me asking, if you can thank your Uncle for me. ( well you don’t have to but if you can that would be nice).

#30

I will Kilroy,

For him its really more for remembrance and respect for the ones that didn’t make it home, as they paid the ultimate sacrifice.

#31

Tankgeezer,

I was wondering what you thought of the FN 49?

I have FN FAL and was curious about the FN 49, I don’t have any experience with one.