CLASSIC GUNS
A Surplus of Arms
Here�s how to get just what you want from today�s wide selection of ex-military arms.
|
|
One of the great things about collecting surplus firearms is the seemingly limitless supply available, with prices to suit just about every pocketbook. Depending on what you want, you can quickly amass a pretty good collection for a reasonable sum. Conversely, there are some interesting rare ex-military arms out there that can challenge even the most sophisticated collector. Currently there's a great selection on sale--everything from 160-year-old Brunswick rifles to up-to-date semiautos--so if you are interested in getting into the surplus game, there�s no dearth of hardware to choose from.
When I first began collecting, having a very limited income and a more than abiding interest in military history, surplus seemed to me to be the way to go. Back in the 1950s and '60s it was still possible to mail-order a dizzying variety of arms--everything from exotically marked Lugers to Mannlicher-Berthiers. At the time, $34.95 for a standard WWI-vintage Luger or $3.95 for a Berthier seemed pretty steep, but in retrospect we can see that these were giveaway prices--even by the standard of living of the time. Guns that came from these early troves of Webleys, Mausers, 1911 Government Models and Springfields have formed the basis of some pretty sophisticated high-end modern collections. There is no reason this cannot continue, for I�m seeing similar trends in surplus today.
Many beginning surplus firearms buyers ask me, "What should I collect?" There's no simple answer to this question, as it depends greatly upon what direction one plans to take. My first response is always, "Buy what you are interested in?" That being said, there are several subcategories to this simple maxim that can send the buyer in several different directions.
Do you plan to shoot your surplus guns? If so, it�s a good idea to look into rifles and handguns for which there is a ready supply of ammunition. Fortunately, when importers come across a cache of a particular type of firearm, there is often a supply of ammo to go with it, but this is not always the case. Some military calibers--.303, 8mm Mauser, 7mm Mauser, 9mm Parabellum, 7.62x39mm and so forth--are loaded by commercial makers, but that fodder is generally quite a bit more expensive than older military ammunition.
Surplus ammo can vary considerably in loadings and serviceability. It is generally advisable to try to avoid corrosive ammunition if you are lax in cleaning your guns; unless the bore is swabbed out with soap and water or an appropriate commercial cleaner, it takes only a few milliseconds for the mercury and salts in the primers to turn that pristine bore into the tunnel from hell. Also, if you are a reloader, it's wise to avoid Berdan-primed loads because decapping and capping Berdan ammo can be a major pain in the butt.
For the beginning surplus shooter it's a good idea to stick with a fairly basic action and then, when you are comfortable with it, move to something a bit more arcane--should that be your goal. But make sure you know all the intricacies of that 1911 straight-pull Swiss Schmidt-Rubin before going to the range. The firing line is no place for experimentation with unfamiliar mechanisms.
Of course, it's critical that a gun be thoroughly degreased, cleaned and inspected prior to firing it. If there is any question at all, take it to a qualified gunsmith for a going over. Too, make sure the ammo you purchased is appropriate for your particular gun. This is not as fatuous as it sounds; over the years many governments upgraded or rechambered arms to save money, so it's not unusual to find one particular model of rifle that has been adapted to two or three different rounds. Sometimes they're marked, sometimes they're not. If there is any question, make a chamber cast to determine what your gun handles.
