number_6
12-08-2001, 01:09 PM
I went, with Led and an un-named other, to buy ammo. I say to myself: "I am saving for to buy a Galil parts kit next week. I cannot spend a lot of dough. Therefore, I will only buy ammo. Maybe some SS109!"
Led buys an M48A, another M-44 (he's got three) and Turk 38. He also gets two bandoliers of 8mm and a can of Albanian 54R.
Un-named other buys M-44. Note to REDSTAR: M-44 was "new" in wrap, but WITHOUT A CLEANING ROD.
I thought the laminate Patriotic War M-44s looked rather nice. They would take a cleaning and be real beauties. I may get one later, but then and there I was not tempted.
Everything was going according to plan. Until Led says to me: "Don't you want to see one of the K-31s?"
I vacillate. I try to control my heartrate. Something snaps and I find myself saying, "OK."
The nice man in the green sweatshirt brings me a K-31 in shooter grade (the $109 ones). It looks like it has been used as a baseball bat, but the metal is nice and it operates flawlessly, as only the K-31 can. I mutter and stare and fondle. It comes with a muzzle cap. I decide that it is just too ugly for me.
Then the voice of evil speaks again. Led says to me, "Get the nice man to get you another one."
I get a little lightheaded and ask the nice man in the green sweatshirt to bring me one a bit nicer. He comes back carrying one that has a sling. Once again, something in my misfiring synapses goes terribly wrong and my vocal aparatus engages, announcing: "The sling is enough of an amenity for me -- I will take it!"
$131 later I am the proud owner of a K-31. We clean at the un-named other's garage, removing cosmoline and cavorting with our rifles. Mine has some grease on it, but nothing like the Turk or the Russians. It is truly beautiful, with matching numbers and 90% blue. Very admirable. I take it home.
I pull it mostly apart and there isn't any cosmo packed around the floating barrel. I CLP the crap out of the metal and put some Tetra down the bore. I do some checking and find out that the rifle is from 1946 and the stock is dated April 1949. It is a Canton Glarus rifle. No unit tag, but this thing is a beauty.
No ammo. AIM says shootable quantities by the first of the year. I have to buy Norma. I'm going to get a box today. Pity me.
Sidenote:
The bandoliered 8mm Mauser that AIM has is headstamped 1937. Nickel-plated bullets. Neat.
If you live close enough and you haven't ever gone to AIM, you should. Yes, there's standing room only. This is greatly offset by the helpful and friendly employees. They're always willing to go in the warehouse and look for something that is out of stock. Led's Turk was a best of four pick. How many did they have left? Four. So, hats off to AIM and its employees.
Be seeing you.
Led buys an M48A, another M-44 (he's got three) and Turk 38. He also gets two bandoliers of 8mm and a can of Albanian 54R.
Un-named other buys M-44. Note to REDSTAR: M-44 was "new" in wrap, but WITHOUT A CLEANING ROD.
I thought the laminate Patriotic War M-44s looked rather nice. They would take a cleaning and be real beauties. I may get one later, but then and there I was not tempted.
Everything was going according to plan. Until Led says to me: "Don't you want to see one of the K-31s?"
I vacillate. I try to control my heartrate. Something snaps and I find myself saying, "OK."
The nice man in the green sweatshirt brings me a K-31 in shooter grade (the $109 ones). It looks like it has been used as a baseball bat, but the metal is nice and it operates flawlessly, as only the K-31 can. I mutter and stare and fondle. It comes with a muzzle cap. I decide that it is just too ugly for me.
Then the voice of evil speaks again. Led says to me, "Get the nice man to get you another one."
I get a little lightheaded and ask the nice man in the green sweatshirt to bring me one a bit nicer. He comes back carrying one that has a sling. Once again, something in my misfiring synapses goes terribly wrong and my vocal aparatus engages, announcing: "The sling is enough of an amenity for me -- I will take it!"
$131 later I am the proud owner of a K-31. We clean at the un-named other's garage, removing cosmoline and cavorting with our rifles. Mine has some grease on it, but nothing like the Turk or the Russians. It is truly beautiful, with matching numbers and 90% blue. Very admirable. I take it home.
I pull it mostly apart and there isn't any cosmo packed around the floating barrel. I CLP the crap out of the metal and put some Tetra down the bore. I do some checking and find out that the rifle is from 1946 and the stock is dated April 1949. It is a Canton Glarus rifle. No unit tag, but this thing is a beauty.
No ammo. AIM says shootable quantities by the first of the year. I have to buy Norma. I'm going to get a box today. Pity me.
Sidenote:
The bandoliered 8mm Mauser that AIM has is headstamped 1937. Nickel-plated bullets. Neat.
If you live close enough and you haven't ever gone to AIM, you should. Yes, there's standing room only. This is greatly offset by the helpful and friendly employees. They're always willing to go in the warehouse and look for something that is out of stock. Led's Turk was a best of four pick. How many did they have left? Four. So, hats off to AIM and its employees.
Be seeing you.