Milsurp prices

Sweaty Ben's got some unspecified "professionally refurbished" 1903/A3s for $1200.

My reaction when I saw someone who bought one comment, "if it's good enough for Alvin York, it's good enough for me" despite the fact Alvin York didn't use a 1903:

1594067244451.png
 
I stopped in to M&B Sports this AM and there's another Type 99 Arisaka on the rack (yet unpriced). It has a straight bolt handle and unlike the other one ($275) it has the A/C sights, bipod and cleaning rod (no sling nor dust cover). The mum is much clearer on the new offering. Bore is dirty, but I can make out some rifling. I didn't look for import marks, but I don't think it would have any being that the mum is not ground down.
I'm not an Arisaka expert, but as a 6.5mm Rem. Magnum round slipped into the muzzle to the shoulder, I'm pretty certain it's not a 6.5mm version.
Next trip over there, I'll bring some Japanese dummy rounds to chamber check.
 
Sweaty Ben's got some unspecified "professionally refurbished" 1903/A3s for $1200.

My reaction when I saw someone who bought one comment, "if it's good enough for Alvin York, it's good enough for me" despite the fact Alvin York didn't use a 1903:

1594067244451.png

Missed this one earlier. You do realize there's some debate about that?
 
Is there? I've never heard any source claim he used a 1903 but I am hardly an expert.
I have read on a few different accounts, between TV and magazines like Rifleman
Issued a 1903 during basic , issued a 1917 on arrival in Europe then at some point swapped it out for another 1903.
Also a great pisto! Shot and I vaguely remember that he preferred to shoot at moving targets?
 
Follow up on post #92... (I don't see any import markings on this Arisaka). Not priced yet..

On another matter, 1903s, there is a Springfield Armory #914XXX rifle there for $800.

Also a Colt Navy revolver
 

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guessing that'll get priced around $450-$550 with the mum if at a shop. in relatively good shape though and the mom is clear as day. i actually wish mine had the useless monopod for no apparent reason.

and a question for your earlier post...did they ever make 99's in 6.5? I have a type 38 in 6.5, but didn't think they made 99's in 6.5 and instead only in 7.7.
 
guessing that'll get priced around $450-$550 with the mum if at a shop. in relatively good shape though and the mom is clear as day. i actually wish mine had the useless monopod for no apparent reason.

and a question for your earlier post...did they ever make 99's in 6.5? I have a type 38 in 6.5, but didn't think they made 99's in 6.5 and instead only in 7.7.

I am not an Arisaka authority, but I believe the Type 99 is the 7.7mm version and the Type 38s are the 6.5mm versions. I know there were other models chambered in 6.5x50mm, but I'm not aware of Type 99s in this caliber.
Then again, I don't know a lot about Japanese rifles. If I implied that this rifle is chambered in 6.5, I didn't mean to. I simply grabbed the first 6.5mm cartridge that was on hand and stuck the bullet in the rifle's muzzle. It dropped in to the case shoulder, so it's obviously not a 6.5mm rifle (unless the muzzle is totally eroded.
 
Speaking of Japanese rifles and such, several years back Hansen Guns in Southport, CT had a crate of Japanese 7.7mm machine gun ammo. Complete on the strippers in cardboard sleeves. this is the rimmed version of the 7.7mm, of course.
I have no clue if it's still collecting dust on the showroom floor.

More recently (within the past 6 months), I saw a wooden crate full of very clean surplus Argentine 7.65 ammo; SF head stamp, IIRC.
Didn't see a price, but it looked like an authentic wooden crate. Must have contained 800 to 1200 rounds or more, all neatly arranged in vertical rows.
 
I entered the surplus market with my first gun purchase at age 18 in 2010, which was a M91/30 for $119.99 at a local FFL. The surplus market spiked seriously in terms of price as a result of the 2012-2013 frenzy. The surplus market has not since recovered and the guns have also not since depreciated. Add on top of that the embargoes with Russia, the WW1 Centenary, and the growth of C&R collecting matched by the lack of guns coming onto the market, and prices often have doubled. Specifically, Lee Enfields and Mosins.

For example, I bought a 1942 Australian No. 1 MkIII* right around the time of Newtown for like $350. That was a bit on the low end of the Enfield market but was pretty representative of what you could buy pre-Newtown. Russian Capture K98ks were around $300-400. Vz. 24s were like $150-200. M91/30s, around $100-150.

Now, a No. 1 MkIII* is like a $500-800 gun. M91/30 is around $200. Vz. 24 is going to start around $400. American guns don't seem to have went up that much but they've been hovering around $650-1000 since I was 18 in 2009-2010, except for M1 carbines. M1 carbines aren't available from the CMP any more as far as I know.

Low prices occur when there's low demand and high supply. With all the new gun owners, especially younger collectors who got into C&R guns because of Mosins and new gun owners post-Newtown, and with a much smaller supply of newly imported guns, I expect prices in the C&R market to either stay the same or keep going up. Where the deals are going to be is if anything's imported en masse or if a guy has to liquidate because he got laid off.

There's also the added uncertainty of the virus's effect on international trade and thus importation of guns and the upcoming election.
If u know how to use your C&R u can find some good deals. I disagree with the prices going up. I think it’s going to go the other way.
 
I have read on a few different accounts, between TV and magazines like Rifleman
Issued a 1903 during basic , issued a 1917 on arrival in Europe then at some point swapped it out for another 1903.
Also a great pisto! Shot and I vaguely remember that he preferred to shoot at moving targets?

Yeah, York himself said he was using an Enfield. He famously commented on how he disliked the peep sight. Didn't seem to hold him back, though.
 
Stopped by M&B Sports this afternoon. That Type 99 Arisaka now has a bayonet and scabbard to go along with it. It has a very sharp mum, no import marks, A/C sights, mono/bipod (?), cleaning rod, no dust cover or sling. He figured $500 for all, less w/o bayonet. I posted pics earlier, post #99.

How about a somewhat sporterized 1903 for $460?
This is in a left-handed Monte Carlo stock. It has fancy target sights; the vernier peep sight rear with a hooded front sight.
You'd better call for more details, as I'm no '03 authority.
 
If u know how to use your C&R u can find some good deals. I disagree with the prices going up. I think it’s going to go the other way.

$750 for a russian capture K98 today that was $300 less 2-3 years ago. Basic Mosins that were $100-150 are now 350+
Most of the bargains are when a new import crate of something comes in for a few hundred until the supply dwindles and the price creeps up.
I don't see M1911, Luger,and P38 prices going south. The good ole days of cheap milsurp and barrels of longguns are gone. Import supply has dried up except for some sks and 3rd world bolt guns. RTI carbines weren't exactly cheap.
 
Stopped by M&B Sports this afternoon. That Type 99 Arisaka now has a bayonet and scabbard to go along with it. It has a very sharp mum, no import marks, A/C sights, mono/bipod (?), cleaning rod, no dust cover or sling. He figured $500 for all, less w/o bayonet. I posted pics earlier, post #99.

How about a somewhat sporterized 1903 for $460?
This is in a left-handed Monte Carlo stock. It has fancy target sights; the vernier peep sight rear with a hooded front sight.
You'd better call for more details, as I'm no '03 authority.

Better off finding a non-bubba'd one for around 800. Stocks and parts to correct them aren't cheap unless you have your own parts bins.
 
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