I found another one of these in great shape yesterday, bringing the total number to -- well, never mind, don't know who might read this

Anyone else using these for custom rifles? Workmanship seems really good, although I'd still like to know for sure if they're case hardened or alloy. Occasionally you find a couple small pits below the woodline, but nothing I haven't been able to draw file out. I need to pick up just a couple more of these, or decent VZ-24's (these are getting tough to find around here).

Todd

Edited: OOPS, entirely wrong forum. Though I was in gunsmithing. Forum leader, can you move this?

[ 11-28-2002, 18:51: Message edited by: Todd Getzen ]

where did you buy it Todd? I've been thinking about buying one.

AT LAST! Someone responds to my post...

I bought it at Dunham's, a chain sporting goods store that's everywhere [in MI]. I originally went looking for a 69.99 VZ-24, but the only one they had looked like hell - ever since passing one up, I've been looking for a P-37 (I didn't know their history when I saw it). I hear a lot of people saying the 98/22's they see are junk, but I have yet to see a bad one. In fact, barring one, I now own every one I've looked at.

This last one has a beautiful fiddleback walnut stock, unfortunately it must have had a crack above the grip, because they've dovetailed in a 1x2" piece of some lighter colored wood. I may remove that and a least put in walnut. The only problem with these rifles is that I buy them for the actions, then don't want to tear them down.

Todd

Edited:

AND I would REALLY like to know if this action is case hardened or alloy steel. Some buddy??

[ 12-06-2002, 13:56: Message edited by: Todd Getzen ]

As far as I'm aware all the military Mausers are alloy steel. You can of course have them color case hardened to make them pretty when you build up a custom rifle on them.

My 1943 M98 Obendorf was case hardened (poorly) so it was reheat treated. Don't assume anything when it comes to war time guns. Case hardened receivers are harder on the surface than alloy and you might check it with a file .I did this with mine and it was file hard in some spots but soft on others.

Unbelievable...

Stopped by this store again on the way home from work today (working the night shift this week), and they had more in stock. One had an absolutely stunning (using an artistic eye to see through the grime) fiddleback stock, the entire length. Figured walnut must have been like firewood to these guys. The receiver also had a somewhat unusual front ring marking:

Ceskoslovenska
Zbrojovna
=BRNO=

(all in straight lines).
All the others I have are like this:

C.S.S.T.
Zbrojovka
BRNO

(with CSST in an arc).

It is also absent the lion proof, so the serial reads: E6XXX. Metal is in decent enough shape for an 80 year old gun, meaning it needs to be reblued.

I'll try to post pics when I get the stock cleaned up, I've never seen one like this on a military firearm -- close, once, on some guys's Swede at the range, but not quite like this.

Todd

We don't have any chain stores here in Louisiana that sell's Milsurps. They have Big 5 in Texas, I bought some Turks there, but I much prefer the Czechs. I have bought 4 Vz-24's at gunshows over the last year, paid $55 to $65 for them. Tore 3 down for the actions, kept the best one in military trim.

My 98/22 seems to be from 1923 according to the "Elion" marking. All matching parts except the bolt has no number marking. Everything else matches including the stock and handguard.

Has a nice patina. That's a polite way of saying the blue is thin and turned either black or silver depending on the part and it's use (black bolt knob, white/silver stock bands).

2965 fps with surplus Turk or Equadoran ammo according to the Oehler 35.

Accurate as hell, office chair sized rocks at about 700 yds off a sandbag. We can choose which corner of the rock we want to hit.

One of my favorite rifles, and I have a Rem 700 PSS, AR, Garand, etc. etc. $80.00 *LMAO*

I suppose I could "build" something out of it, but I like it just the way it is. I like milsurp stuff. Have a M-98 Yugo too -- nice, clean, but lacks the patina and character of this Czech.

Oh yeah . . . the bayonets are nice, looks good on the gun out at the range. Leather ammo pouches, oil can, drop through cleaner, brushes, sling, etc.

Can you for a second imagine shooting one of these all day long on the battlefield -- without hearing protection. WHAT ??? WHAT ???

[ 12-10-2002, 15:09: Message edited by: Genghis ]