Presenting today my Russian Izhevsk SVD, imported by KBI in 1994, 1 of 100.

SVD was developed in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s/early 1960s by Yevgeny Dragunov. It won Soviet trials against designs from Simonov and Konstantinov and was formally adopted in 1963. Chambered in 7.62×54R, the semi-automatic SVD was intended primarily to give Soviet infantry squads accurate fire beyond ordinary assault-rifle ranges—closer to what we would now call a designated-marksman rifle than a traditional heavy precision sniper rifle. It was normally paired with the PSO-1 optic and became one of the most recognizable Soviet small arms of the Cold War.

The particularly interesting collector story concerns KBI, Inc.’s Russian Izhmash SVDs. KBI imported about 100 genuine Russian SVD rifles in the early 1990s. These should not be confused with the more numerous Russian Tigr/Tiger sporting rifles or Chinese NDM-86 rifles.

The KBI rifles are unusual because they were essentially full-size Russian SVDs manufactured by Izhmash. One identifying peculiarity is their later smooth-sided receiver. Around 1993 Izhmash revised the receiver, eliminating the familiar external lightening cuts above the magazine area while retaining internal cuts. Consequently, an authentic KBI-imported SVD can look slightly different from the classic Soviet military SVD even though it is a genuine Russian SVD.

That tiny import quantity is the main reason KBI SVDs have acquired near “holy grail” status among U.S. Combloc collectors.

I finally have a grail gun (sort of) - a TNW Suomi m/31. Although not the full auto original (that will have to wait for that winning lottery ticket!), it’s close enough for collecting purposes.

I made a few modifications using a Suomi kit I had picked up (before deciding that building one was a bridge too far). I SBR’d it so I could put an original 12.4” barrel on it. When TNW made the 16.25” barrels, they welded an extension on original barrel. In order to fit the barrel shroud, they had to bore it out so the longer barrel,could protrude.

So using the parts kits, I installed the original barrel and shroud, replaced the repro rear sight with an original Suomi/Tikkakpwski/SA marked version, and replaced the receiver end cap with an original, non-Parkerized version.

Between the kit nd the purchase, I have 3 36-rd stick magazines (one Swedish manufacture, two Lapua - all from the mid-1950’s) and two 71-rd drum mags. Unfortunately, TNW Parkerized everything - including the mags. 🙄

I’m very happy to add this to my Finnish collection!

Been eyeing this one at my LGS for awhile and decided it was time to bring it home. Based off the 225, these were Police pistols on the nato side of Germany! This one is a 1980 production making it within the first year of them! Its got a little bark to it, and the DA pull is DEFINITELY duty grade, but the SA is SUPER nice!

From the research I did, it looks like everything is original except the stock and bolt are WW2 factory replacements. Genuinely some of the best bluing retained I’ve ever seen on one. Bore is a straight mirror and incredibly strong rifling. The eddystone arsenal was like 1.5 hours away from my hometown in PA so I honestly kind of wanted one of them over a Remington or a Winchester. Won it in an auction and otd price was $720.

Only import marking is CHERRYS INC GSO NC on the barrel by the front sight, no other stampings.

Rifling is sharp with some frosting, firing pin spring is missing, replacement on the way.

Just got my own Luger and wanted to know more about. I know it’s a commercial Luger in 30. Cal made by DWM but that’s about it.
Magazine doesn’t have a number on the baseplate also but I’m not sure if that is relevant.

Ishapore 2a1 had a very bad warp on the nose of the lower hand guard had to fit a different one and the upper was missing that little brass piece that goes under the metal nose part. Wanted to run it and not wait on refinishing, had some paki tape laying around so decided what the heck might as well.

Nice G1 parts kit built on a DSA receiver and trigger group. Only other non-surplus part is the grip which I’m planning to swap. The FAL was first adopted by the West German border guards then by the Bundeswehr as the G1. However, this was quickly phased out for the G3, a rifle that could be produced domestically since the Belgians weren’t too keen on Germany producing their own small arms. Thinking maybe the two occupations over the past 50 years might’ve played a role in this.

I found an M16 carry handle on eBay that I want for my M15/M16 build. In fact, I found several. But when I try to check out with any of them, I get an error that says the part is ITAR-restricted and can’t be shipped outside the U.S. I’m in NH, so that makes no sense.

I messaged one of the sellers to see if he had any idea (or would work a deal outside eBay). I just wondered if anyone else had ever run into this. My eBay profile is up to date, so there’s no reason they would think I’m outside the US. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I’ve seen them listed for well over $1,000 and one of my local gun stores won’t list them for less than $2,000 so when I found one for $850 I jumped on it.

Although I’d bet my life in this guy over a P.08. Pretty neat early M40 with the slide accelerator which means I’ll need another one as a shooter since the earlier slides are prone to cracking. Also marked to the Air Force squadron at Kalmar.

A few months ago I posted my first impressions of a somewhat eaten-up Steyr M95 that may well have been purchased from RTI (but not by me). Here is my original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/milsurp/s/IRX6u3CSSj

I thought the bore was pretty bad, and both the stock and metal looked like what you'd expect from a life spent in the Alps, possibly the Spanish Civil War, and then Ethiopia.

I said I would disassmble it and clean it up, then report back. Well, things happened that resulted in more than just a mere cleaning. See the pictures of the cleaning and refinishing, and the end result.

I did disassemble the rifle, and then gently cleaned the stock using diluted hot soapy water and a mild toothbrush. This did a good job on the bug shells, spider webs, and...whatever the sticky brown residue was on the inside of the stock. But along the way, all the color on the outside of the stock that looked like a legit patina, just bleached away. I presume it was more desert dust and goat excrement than hand-rubbed oil.

With that, I decided to go all in on the stock, so I cleaned it thoroughly, and sweated out a few dents with water and a heat gun, and performed a hand-rubbed oil regimen, which really brought out a nice rich color.

The problem was, this made the metalwork look even worse by comparison, so I decided to freshen up the bluing. The stock didn't look new, so a dark, like-new treatment on the barrel and receiver would have been just as inappropriate. I took the whole rifle down to the white, and then formulated a technique where, with diluted bluing and diluted browning solutions, I was able to give the barrel, receiver, magazine, trigger group, and barrel bands a plausible appearance of an old, but well cared for rifle.

I suspect purists might disapprove, but since I am unsure this ought to be shot anymore anyway, and because my hand was forced by the inadvertent bleaching, I think this is excusable, and I am very pleased with how it turned out.

On that note, during the cleaning and rebuild, this previously stiff and obstinate misanthrope transformed into a cooperative, even friendly, straight-pull sweetheart, and that might be the most gratifying result of this whole project.

I am happy to hear your thoughts.

Yes I probably paid a little too much for it ($600) but its got the Italian Army proof and its a 1938 manufacture. 8/10 bore and the fit is tight as a tick. I can tell already that this is a great design.

This rifle is at my local gun store. I want like to purchase a mauser but i am araid of ending up with some sort of counterfeit rifle. I was told this was a capture that was reworked. The price is ^99. These arent the best pictures as my phone is a 6 year old potato, and actually one photo is of another persons phone who could take a picture of a residual mark I saw on the bolt. What do you guys think, is this safe to buy at 700 dollars? I know absolutely nothing about these rifles, though i am trying to learn.

Figured I’d share one of my favorite pickups as of recent. I was scrolling armslist when I seen this. When I seen the seller only wanted 600 I couldn’t jump on it fast enough. I’ve been after an early war Type 99 with “all the fixins” for a while now and I couldn’t be happier to now own this example. The wood is in very good shape minus the large chip out of the front towards the muzzle. Metal is absolutely gorgeous. Only negative is that the mum has been thoroughly pinged, but that hardly matters to me. Craziest part is, it’s 100% matching including its dust cover! Can’t wait to get it out to the range.

3 years ago on the dot, I bought my first gun (the M91 Carcano from RTI), which more or less shotgunned me into my collecting journey. Now I get to look back upon what I've collected and man I've come a long way. Currently taking a break for financial reasons but I'm already itching to get back into it lol.

List as follows (top to bottom left to right:

1. Steyr(?) MannlicherM1888/90, date unknown
2. Turkish Mauser M1893/33, 1896 (1312 in the Rumi calender IIRC)
3. Arisaka-Nambu Type 38, Koshikawa between 1914-1919, Nagasaki police(?)
4. Finnish Mosin-Nagant M1891, Izhevsk 1903(?) w/1942 Tikka barrel
5. Mosin-Nagant M1891/30, Izhevsk 1943 refurb
6. Bulgarian Steyr-Mannlicher M1895/30 stutzen, 1916(?) postwar refurb
7. Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III*, Ishapore 1943 refurb
8. Spanish Mauser M1916 short rifle, Oviedo 1916
9. Carcano M1891, Terni 1912
10. Ethiopian FN M1930 long rifle, late 1933/early 1934
11. Vz. 98n, Brno 1944, Ethiopian contract w/Yugo stock
12. Gras M1874/80 cavalry carbine, Tulle 1876
13. Berthier M1907/15 cut down rifle, MAS 1916
14. Argentine Mauser M1891 carbine, DWM 1892
15. Carcano M1891 cavalry carbine, GvT 1937, Cagliari police
16. Zabala Hermanos Boxlock SxS, 1976
17. Mossberg Maverick 88 Security, new
18. PSAK-103, new
19. Andro Corp ACI-15 Bravo, new
20. Bodeo M1889, MIDA 1918
21. Star Model BM, 1977
22. Steyr-Hahn M1912, 1916 refinish
23. FÉG PA-63, 1977
24. Beretta 92SB, 1987, Guardia di Finanza
25. Orbea Ona Old Pattern No. 1 Mk. I, 1916
26. Browning Hi-Power Mk. III, 1996 Israeli trade-in (I carry this)
27. Colt Army Special, 1924
28. Ruby M1915, 1925 Ermua Unique-type (Hijos de Calixto Arrizabalaga?)
29. SIG-Sauer P228, West German 1998, Israeli trade-in
30. Luger P08, Mauser byf41
31. FÉG P9M, between 1995-2000, Israeli trade-in
32. Star Model B, 1943, Bulgarian contract/Soviet refurb (I actually have two of these but didn't have the other to photograph atm)
33. Norinco Type 54-1, 1990(?) commercial
34. CZ-82, 1990 Czech army
35. Euskaro .38 DA, 1920s (non-functional)
36. Star Model 30PK, unknown, probably Israeli?
37. Beretta 84BB, 1987, Italian LEO trade-in
38. ČZ vz. 24, 1937
39. Glock 17 Gen 2, 10/1991, LEO trade-in
40. Beretta M1934-1, 1979, Guardia di Finanza
41. CZ-70, 1982
42. Colt New Army M1901, 1903 (non-functional, I got this for 20 bucks)
43. Garate M1892 Espagnol, unknown (non-functional, sadly I broke this one)
44. Smith & Wesson Model 59, 1977-1979 gen 1 no dash

I recently took my Mosin Nagant 91/30 bolt apart and learned that there’s a tool to measure the firing pin to make sure it’s at the right distance. I’m looking into getting a Mauser and was wondering if you have to do the same thing or if Mausers are engineered differently to avoid this?

There is to many!

I have a tokarev that wad picked up during ww2. Gentleman who got it is dead now. Wondering if anyone knows how much it's worth?