What about the VG VZ24's at Century?

[Tracy]

I see that, in the latest catalog, Century has the very good VZ24's for $89.87. The dented bayonet and scabbard is an extra $5.87. I know they have a tendency to be well-used, but what do you guys think about the very good ones? I already have a Turk and M48A, so I thought this might be a nice one to add to my collection. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE VG'S FROM CENTURY? If I buy this, it will be at least a couple of months before I can afford another, so I want to spend my money wisely. Thanks in advance.... :)

[Schuetzenman]

Well if they live up to grade they'll be . . . . Very Good! :D A VZ24 is essentially a K98 or M48 with a straight bolt handle. They are going to be used of course and the come in go each year in batches. The 48 Yugo's seem to almost always be around for about 4 years now. If you don't have a VZ (I don't but probably will one day) you may want to put it in the Mauser Collection.

[zouavexx]

I have a V24/47, it is a good rifle.

http://album.gunsnet.net/data/zouave/49_p941.jpg

[Tracy]

:cool: Purty....

I've been wanting one for a while now but I don't guess there's any big hurry. Maybe I'll wait another 20 minutes before placing my order.

http://www.emo.spacespider.net/whacky28.gif

[zouavexx]

Thats the spirit!

[neilwest]

1. Should have waited to hit the sale but How was I to know. These things are used but in excellent condition IMO. I would grade them as very good. Mine has a very nice bore, not pitted or dark, and the wood while dinged up is matching and goodlooking. I will post pics later this evening.

http://album.gunsnet.net/data/tammywest/90_p1234.jpg

[Tracy]

As I understand it, the ones on sale this month are the good condition ones with the authentic markings on the receiver. The ones I'm looking at are the VG ones that do not say anything about the "authentic markings" on the receiver. What happened to the authentic markings?

So, which one did you get, Neil? It's a good looking gun but with no blueing. I've heard that the blueing is like that on all of them. I see that it still has the tag on it. Is that a picture right out of the box? Surely it didn't look that good upon arrival.

Also, I noticed that the bayonets and scabbards come separately and are in either good condition with dents or fair condition. If the fair condition is undented, I would think that it would be nicer than a good one with dents. I've noticed a lot of Turk scabbards are dented. It makes them look very unappealing to me. Any opinions?
:confused:

[neilwest]

1. this is right out of the box, Unfortunately the proofmarks have been ground off. I would suggest you request for the Sales Rep that you desire one with the stamps intact. Other then that this was a very nice rifel.

[Tracy]

Definitely not bad for coming out of the box. That one should clean up nicely. I just went back to check the other web sites before ordering one and found the Wholesale Guns website with the 24/47 with accessories for $110.00. I had forgotten about it. It is also a VG. Now I'm torn.

This VG rifle with a fair bayo and scabbard from Century for a little under $100.00, including shipping:
http://album.gunsnet.net/data/tammywest/90_p1234.jpg
Or this VG rifle with nice bayo & scabbard and some accessories from Wholesale Guns for $120.00, including shipping:
http://album.gunsnet.net/data/zouave/49_p941.jpg


This might require an eenie, meenie, minee, moe....

[Schuetzenman]

Neil,
Looks like an Oxpho blue is called for. Oh wait, don't you have a Brownell's hot dip blueing setup now?

[neilwest]

1. I am getting the cheapo system and still need to figure out how to heat the tank. Ah what I wont scrimp on to get an extra gun. I will also have to have a stand built for the tank.

[Tracy]

My VZ24 came in. Here are some pictures.



http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IndianaTLH/VZ1.jpg
I cleaned it with some Purple Power before taking these. They are all fairly close-up since my camera has poor resolution. You can see that it has a few hundred dents in the stock.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IndianaTLH/VZ2.jpg
It also has a stock repair in the corner of the buttstock, as you can see.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IndianaTLH/VZ3.jpg
The markings are ground off of all of the very good ones. Does anyone know the history on that?
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IndianaTLH/VZ4.jpg
And another picture of the stock.

The bore is very nice. The blueing is also pretty good. However, it did not come with a cleaning rod :(

All in all, the rifle is in pretty decent shape except for the stock, which is worse than my Turk. I ordered a fair bayonet as opposed to the good bayonet with dents. I got a fair bayonet--with a lot of dents...go figure. Since this is a model 1924, I'm guessing that production was started then. Does anyone have any ideas when production stopped? Since the date was ground off the receiver I have no way of knowing.

[Schuetzenman]

Originally posted by neilwest
1. I am getting the cheapo system and still need to figure out how to heat the tank. Ah what I wont scrimp on to get an extra gun. I will also have to have a stand built for the tank.

Did you say that you were getting a tank from Brownell's. Well either way they sell a stand and a pipe burner for their bluing tangs. Heat is by natural or propane gas. I once had a friend that owned a bluing and refinishing business and they used gas to heat everything. It makes for a hot and Moist work environment to be sure.

[Sturmgeschütz]

Well, make sure you look over the gun fairly well...I got mine for $90, and the bore is rather pitted, stock is beat up, bluing is shot. But, it's a good shooter and that's all I wanted it for anyway.

[Tracy]

Originally posted by Sturmgeschütz
Well, make sure you look over the gun fairly well...I got mine for $90, and the bore is rather pitted, stock is beat up, bluing is shot. But, it's a good shooter and that's all I wanted it for anyway.

I have noticed on another thread that these guns seem to be of differing grades. Some, like yours, are pretty beat up and not as nice as hoped, while others are extremely nice. Using that as a rule, I believe that I got one of the poorer quality ones. I have since reblued the thin spots and refinished the stock. It still looks like hell, but, since it's been through a war, I can't say that I complain. I do have to say that the bore is nice, though it appears to have some light frosting in the grooves.