I prefer WWII battle rifles.......

[Ionredline 06]

but I'm not sure of all the world guns involved. Kinda vague.....not sure how to word it. I have a Beautiful M1 Garand and Mauser M48. I also have a Lee Enfield No. 1 Mk 4 (Savage). But I'm interested in aquiring other WWII era guns used during that time period. What others are there? I heard of the Japanese Type 99 and the Italian Carcano, but I also was told they were practically junk. I know of the Springfield 1903, I just haven't got my hands on one yet. So what's missing?

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by Ionredline 06

So what's missing?

The Russian-built Mosin Nagant rifles are the main category you are missing, Ionredline. There were three models commonly used during WWII: the 91/30, for the design of 1891 as modified in 1930; the Model 38 (1938) which is essentially a carbine version of the 91/30 intended mostly for cavalry troops but used by many others; and the Model 44 (1944) with a built-in bayonet that began production in 1943. All are chambered for the 7.62x54R round and are accurate, highly reliable battle rifles, although a bit crudely made by the standards of the American Springfield and Garand, British Enfield, and German Mauser. The Mosins are also the cheapest to get today, usually priced under $100 if you have a CRFFL. There were many variations of the Mosins, some of which were built outside the Soviet Union, such as the Finnish model of 1939.

[Ursus]

Out of my mind: Mossin Nagant and SVT Tokarev (Russians), GW43, FG42, STG44 (Germans), Lebel and MAS (france), 1941 Johnson (USA). As for Carcanos and Arisakas being junk I don't think so. They had their drawbacks, but I wouldn't laugh if somebody were shooting at me with any of them!!

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by Ursus

Out of my mind: Mossin Nagant and SVT Tokarev (Russians), GW43, FG42, STG44 (Germans), Lebel and MAS (france), 1941 Johnson (USA). As for Carcanos and Arisakas being junk I don't think so. They had their drawbacks, but I wouldn't laugh if somebody were shooting at me with any of them!!

Quite correct; all those are you named are good examples of WWII battle weapons, Bear, though I have to say I think the French Lebel was not even in the same league as the German Mausers and Russian Mosins. The Arisaka was, I think, a better battle rifle than it is often credited with being, though it was still pretty much a WWI design and the later ones were definitely very crudely made. I handled and fired an Italian Carcano carbine once, and frankly, I was not much impressed with its manufactuing quality or its basic operation. To me, it seemed too loosely and sloppily built, yet it is true that a Carcano is what Lee Harvey Oswald used to shoot President Kennedy, assuming one does not hold with the "grassy knoll" theory or some neferious plot by the CIA.

[Ursus]

Agree PS about the Lebel, it was mostly a WWI leftover(Even then it was outdated), but it was used by France in WWII so that's why I mentioned it. About the Carcano it would be, my last choice if I had to choose one of those rifles for a fight today but I won't feel defensless with one.

[southernshooter]

Mosin's Mausers and Enfields would be my favorites. I could be partiall due to their prices

[JohnK3]

Of course, if one is not worried about it actually being *used* during WWII (except to hold captured Axis or Allied pilots prisoner), there is the Swiss K-31.

[Ursus]

... or Sweden Ljungman, semi-auto, box magazine

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by Ursus

... or Sweden Ljungman, semi-auto, box magazine

Hmmm, I had not considered that one, Bear. I suppose that is because one rarely thinks of Sweden in terms of WWII.

[Ursus]

Originally Posted by JohnK3

Of course, if one is not worried about it actually being *used* during WWII (except to hold captured Axis or Allied pilots prisoner), there is the Swiss K-31.

Actually I remembered the Ljungman because in English I'm always confused between swiss (The chocolate guys) and swedens (Ah! Those are the vikings)

[JohnK3]

Originally Posted by Ursus

Actually I remembered the Ljungman because in English I'm always confused between swiss (The chocolate guys) and swedens (Ah! Those are the vikings)

The Swiss == the chocolate guys, the fondue guys, the numbered bank account guys, the William Tell guys

The Swedes == the viking guys, the hot sauna guys, the "ya, you betcha" guys, the lutefisk guys, the Volvo guys, the Vasa guys, the SAAB guys, the Swedish Mauser guys

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by Ursus

Actually I remembered the Ljungman because in English I'm always confused between swiss (The chocolate guys) and swedens (Ah! Those are the vikings)

Not to worry, Bear. Your English is superb, alas, much better than most of my students, who grew up here in the U.S., can speak or write! By the way, just curious, where did you learn such excellent English? I assume your native tongue is Spanish since you hail from San Salvador, but you seem extremely comfortable in English.

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by JohnK3

The Swiss == the chocolate guys, the fondue guys, the numbered bank account guys, the William Tell guys

Not to mention the K-31 guys, John!

Originally Posted by JohnK3

The Swedes == the viking guys, the hot sauna guys, the "ya, you betcha" guys, the lutefisk guys, the Volvo guys, the Vasa guys, the SAAB guys, the Swedish Mauser guys

Don't forget the "good Lord, the whole country is frozen over" guys.

[Ursus]

Thank PS. I took English lessons for 2 years at the Escuela Americana extension department, back in the 80's. That was it, I guess I'm just good with languages When I go the movies, I force myself not to watch the subtitles. And I do a lot of reading in English. Maybe that's a good advice for your students.

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by Ursus

I guess I'm just good with languages . . . And I do a lot of reading in English. Maybe that's a good advice for your students.

You certainly seem to have a fine talent for them Bear, especially English, which is assuredly not the easiest language to learn, by far! And you are definitely right, reading is the key to building a good vocabulary, along with lots of extemporaneous speaking and writing for practice with the informal, vernacular usage of the language. I keep telling my students that, but alas, some of them fail to listen.

[Ursus]

Speaking I can't do a lot around here, but now that I'm a TFF member I'm learning a lot of vernacular English.

[MRMIKE08075]

FRENCH MAS 36
SWEDISH MODEL 96
ROSS MODEL 1905
ARISAKA TYPE 99 SHORT RIFLE
ANY LEBEL
RUSSIAN SVT


best regards, mike.

[JohnK3]

Originally Posted by Pistolenschutze

Not to mention the K-31 guys, John!



Don't forget the "good Lord, the whole country is frozen over" guys.

Ya, you betcha!

Of *course* I didn't forget the K-31 guys! Just didn't want to flog that particular horse. [grin]

BTW: I finally got the cheek rest for my K-31! I need to post pictures. It's got a nice Swiss Cross on the non-cheek side!

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by JohnK3

BTW: I finally got the cheek rest for my K-31! I need to post pictures. It's got a nice Swiss Cross on the non-cheek side!

I just ordered another K-31 earlier this week, John, my second. It is one of the walnut stocked versions that are becoming increasingly rare. I plan to lightly refinish the stock and touch up the bluing as needed, then mount Mojo aperture sights fore and aft, and also add a sling and a slip-on recoil pad. What I hope to end up with is a nice target rifle for range work. The K-31 I currently have is a great shooter, and the more I shoot it the better I like the action on it. These are wonderful rifles for the price--accurate and very rugged. I also like the round it throws, the 7.5x55. It performs very much like the .308 Winchester.

[polishshooter]

Ha Ursus, you got me! I took four years of Espanol in HS and two semesters in college, and I STILL have to "translate to english then back" in my head while speaking or reading....by then the conversation is over!

I can READ and pronounce Spanish like a Native Puertoricano, if I don't have to KNOW what I'm reading, which is why I skated through my college with "A's" Every day in "Reading Comprehension" I heard "Miguel, lee por favor!" while everyone ELSE in the class was in for the "translado!"

But then again Professor Barrera also coached the SBU soccer team before soccer was "cool" (is it yet? )in the USA, so if you showed up at home games and pretended to be interested for at least a half he gave an automatic "B...."

[Ursus]

Originally Posted by polishshooter

!

I can READ and pronounce Spanish like a Native Puertoricano, if I don't have to KNOW what I'm reading, which is why I skated through my college with "A's"

Maybe here lies part of the problem. I don't understand much puertorrican either
An advice: Rent movies in Spanish with English subtitles, and do read them.
Buena Suerte!!

[Pistolenschutze]

My Spanish consists entirely of two years of it in high school back in the '60s. About the only thing I remember from it are words and phrases usually considered "inappropriate" for mixed company, not to mention young ears. I've always wondered why we tend to remember "those" words, and forget all the others! For some reason, my Latin has stayed with me though, and the German I took in college. Vielleicht Ich habe ewas Deutche blut!

[Ursus]

Do you speak Latin? Spanish shouldn't be a problem then.

[polishshooter]

It's all those crazy German multisyllabic absurd Germanic words floating in his mind along with all those insane Germanophile ideas about "superior" German engineering in rifles and tank and plastic handguns, mixed with all those highfalutin' dead language proverbs that makes it TOUGH for him to comprehend another LANGUAGE.

He hears "Cerveza Blanco" and we'll get a sermon on the superiority of German Pilsener in LATIN....


Actually, when in college in the late 70s, I got "ambushed" at my part-time job as a floorwalker in Bradford, PA by a couple who had just moved from Spain, spoke no English, and a vivacious Cuban lady that worked at the store that used to try and help my "Spanish" (I also had to "translate" for the MANAGERS when Nancy would go off in rapid fire Spanish at THEM as ONLY a Cuban can of COURSE I didn't translate "verbatim" for them or she'd get FIRED.... ) when it was dead in the store, that the Chamber of Commerce had arranged to be their "interpreter," (not very many Hispanics in PA back THEN...) had told them I spoke Spanish muy bien, and after a halting attempt at a conversation, me with my poor Latin American "Spanglish" and they with their "high" Castilian, they asked me where I learned my Espanol, and I answered "En la Escuela" (I KNOW, I SHOULD have said "collegio," or "la Universidad,") but they then asked "Donde?" and I answered "En Nueva Yorque" and they nodded knowingly and said "Ah, de los PUERTORICANOS, Ahh.."


I took that as a high COMPLIMENT and said "Muchas Gracias!" and walked away QUICKLY.....

ACTUALLY in 8th Grade we had to take 13 weeks of Spanish, 13 weeks of French, and 13 weeks of Latin, (WHICH I think is something ALL schools should do TODAY)and half-way through French Class the teacher told me "You speak French like a Spanish cow..."and since it was a SMALL country school, and the French Teacher ALSO taught Latin, I took the hint, and next year I started on my four years of High School SPANISH....

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by polishshooter

He hears "Cerveza Blanco" and we'll get a sermon on the superiority of German Pilsener in LATIN....

He who drinketh light beer will cometh to a bad end, Polish. Your fine Polish upbringing should have taught you that much.

And yes, as a matter of fact, I could indeed write a nice testamonial to fine German beer . . . and in classical Latin no less! You must admit, Polish, the Germans really do understand beer! They don't make beer like Americans do, so it is unnecessary to pour it back into the horse it came out of!