Original WW1 service rifles....show and tell

[PeterN]

Portuguese Model 1904 still in 6.5x58mm. It has been to South Africa which is probably why it was not converted to 7.92x57mm.

Regards
Peter.

[Justwatching]

Neutral countries count, right? Well, they do in my collection...

1889 Schmidt-Rubin.

[PeterN]

SMLE Pattern 14 No.2 .22 training rifle converted by AG Parker. A bit unusual as the magazine well has been plated over to form an empty case container in the action.

Regards
Peter.

[kennyc]

Neutral countries count, right? Well, they do in my collection...

1889 Schmidt-Rubin.

have a good look at your cocking ring, the 1889s were prone to cracking in the 9 o'clock position when viewed from the right hand side, normal repair seems to be a bit of weld to join and support it.

[Justwatching]

No.1 MKIII SMLE. Enfield manufactured in 1918. Navy issued.

[PeterN]

Arisaka 6.5mm Type 44 cavalry carbine with folding bayonet first introduced 1911 though this example is probably 1920s production. This is the early type of bayonet mount. There were subsequently two other variations with wider spaced screws.

Regards
Peter.

[PeterN]

Not a WW1 rifle but it was made for one. It is a cavalry saddle rifle bucket that I presume dates from around WW1 made for the SMLE. There are no makers marks that I can see and one strap is broken. It came up in a local sale room and I was the only bidder in the room. I have never seen one for sale but then I have never looked for one. I have no idea what they are worth but I was OK with the hammer price of £38.

Regards
Peter.

[Justwatching]

That Ariska Type 44 is a very rare bit of kit Peter. Well done getting hold of it!

Do you shoot it?

[jjvc]

You have some very nice kit Peter, seeing your M95 Steyr a few years ago was what inspired me to get one.
Hope you are well.
Joe

[PeterN]

Justwatching, yes I do shoot it. It has a nice shiny bore. I got it about 20 years ago from Malcolm Long of Trident Arms in Nottingham. At the time they had quite a few Arisaka rifles of various types. I ended up buying four from them at the time. I got two Type 99 long rifles and a standard Type 99 as well as the Type 44. If I knew then what I know now I would have bought more. It was later when I got the book Military Rifles of Japan that I realised what I had missed out on but they had gone by then.
Joe, yes I am well, still shooting. I will be at the Trafalgar Meeting at Bisley in a couple of weeks as usual. I first went to that in 1988 when it was held by the SLRC and haven't missed one since.
Regards
Peter.