Restoring Sporterized Military Rifles for Fun and...Probably not Profit

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I get a fair number of questions about restoring sporterized rifles, so I figured I should address them in a stand-alone video...
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@hakonandreasolaussen1949]

Can't believe he went to the effort of bringing all his books with him to Seattle

[@schottiey]

Needs to keep everyone confused on where he his.

[@uiomancannot7931]

All his books are hollow like the earth, so they're really not as heavy as you'd think.

[@MrMoustaffa]

It's the perfect cover

[@patrickmoffatt4371]

It's a green screen.

[@Ekklo]

WA is surprisingly gun friendly. You would be surprised.

[@redheadmetalhead247]

I've restored sporterized rifles multiple times. My collection is Soviet/Combloc centric, so nothing absurdly rare, which completely kills any resale, however, I didn't restore them to make money or resell. It's more like rescuing an abandoned puppy or kitten. I plan on keeping them basically forever, and it was a great learning experience.

[@gobsauce8891]

I bought an sks last November as a birthday gift to myself and sporterized it. But I've kept all the original parts, the stock and all that, haven't damaged it beyond shooting wear and tear. It's always bothered me that people buy a surplus firearm and just throw all the original bits away

[@TheDeafJeep]

I’ve actually just brought a Mosin nagant for that purpose, it’s a m38 that’s had the stock cut down, the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope mount, and the bolt has been cutoff and replaced with the ATI one. Other than that, no damage to the actual rifle itself. I’ve been searching for a m38 stock, but I can’t find any. The bolt is easy, there’s hundreds of them online, just having a difficult time getting a M38 stock.

[@colemanmoore9871]

@@TheDeafJeep The M44 stock can be used and would still be considered "correct" many M38 ride in a M44 stock. Either from a factory refurb or a late parts M38 being assembled after the beginning of M44 manufacturing. Once they decided on the folding bayonet, all short stocks were getting cut with the channel for it.

[@scooterdogg7580]

got a husqvarna m38 Monte Carlo stock 4x40 optic , it shoots like a dream , no interest in ruining it by "restoration" if I want on I'll go buy a m38 or 96 for 6or700.00 , lots of lees and k98s , don't even look at mosin if its over 200.00 don't let the hoarders raise the price of low quality high production firearms ie moisen nagants

[@kevins1114]

I recently picked up a 91/30 for $25. How so cheap? The owner had "Fudded" the hell out of it, then forgot to clean it after firing corrosive ammo in it. But it's getting a second chance. I'm currently waiting to get my barrel back from having it threaded, as I'm going to build it in .45/70.

[@27000ants]

Imagine the odds of having to replace a serialized part and end up getting the original part back

[@lairdcummings9092]

If you manage that, best go buy a lottery ticket.

[@user-njyzcip]

Most small parts only have the last 2/3 digits, even if you find the original part there's no way to make sure they are actually the exact match or from another rifle with the same last few digits. It will be really cool though.

[@theduke7539]

I bought a Turkish Mauser 4 years ago in relatively decent condition. Then 2 weeks ago, I'm working in a gunshop 800 miles from where I bought that Turkish Mauser, and this guy walks in with a bayonet and he doesn't know anything about it. I recognize it immediately as a Turkish bayonet because of the markings, I tell him what it's worth and that I'd be happy to buy it from him. I take it home and put it on my rifle that's been on my wall for years now, and then I noticed, the Bayonet was Serialized 9744, now that doesn't match the serial number on my gun, but it does match the serial number on the bolt. At some point in my rifle's history, the bolt was replaced with the bolt of another gun. And that bolt came from the same gun as the bayonet now on my rifle. I honestly thought that was interesting.

[@jero1998]

@@theduke7539 i dont think there is a link between the bayonets and the rifles. as bayonets are made by different companies then the guns. so they are serialised in the system of that company and not of the company where the guns themself are being made. That asside, i think it is quiet funny (thinking about the odds) that you managed to find (by coincidence) a bayonet with a corresponding serial number to a part of your rifle :)

[@GunFunZS]

I think a lot of that will get simpler as the information age comes across. I could a totally see forums getting basically big spreadsheets for serialized parts exchange. I have a Mauser with bolt number x you have a Mauser with bolt number y let's trade bolts. I think most collectors would be willing to trade bolts with somebody to help them get their numbers matching. At least if they could see pictures of what they're getting in exchange.

[@eVVigilance]

My first gun was a Berthier carbine, missing the front band. Not even sporterized, just missing the 1 part. Took 2 years to find one, from a seller in France. Only found it/connected with him thanks to a forum. Other collectors time and again have been the best resource for me, but I do not enter into projects lightly now.

[@TheLegoboy44]

I just bought 1 for 100 bucks and I can find a difinitive price for it any idea what they are worth today?

[@henryrodgers7386]

Hughes Enterprises I found a very long bolt-action with Chinese markings on the receiver and NAM 68 carved into the stock at a pawn shop. Sadly, I didn't have $225. I suspect Grandpa Jones brought it back from the war, and one of his grandkids sold it for meth money. No clue what the hell it was, it looked a bit like an old Mannlicher. I will forever wonder about that damn gun...

[@eVVigilance]

@@henryrodgers7386 Probably a Hanyang 88? (Chinese Gew 88 copy).

[@squidwardo7074]

I mean it still shoots and works fine so do you really need that one part?

[@startedtech]

@@TheLegoboy44 When I was looking a couple of years ago, a decent one was going for $350-$450. You got a good deal.

[@ES90344]

Ian: This is beyond any hope of recovery. Mark Novak: Challenge accepted.

[@lucyferthehellish7794]

Pretty sure even Chuck Testa would choke on that one

[@x39aesthetics]

Mark is a bubba

[@MrDgwphotos]

What in the heck was that rifle, anyway?

@@TheRealColBosch it would be the only $500k whatever the hell it is in the world. cost, not value.

[@jasonwolf6899]

Alternate title: "How to De-Bubba a Rifle"

[@christiancardenas2543]

😂👍

[@stevesalsman5184]

Well I hate to burst your bubble.there would be very few military weapons that are original, unless they went from the factory right to a museum. As they go through life in the service parts are always being changed out normal wear and tear . Or upgrading per the ordance Corp .so bubba as you claim has been working on the rifles since they left the factory.

[@jasonwolf6899]

@@stevesalsman5184 there's a big difference between a replacement with a genuine part for wear, vs going full retard by chopping barrels/stock, spray painting and adding 20$ optics to look "cool".

[@archdornan1722]

@@stevesalsman5184 Hate to burst your bubble but, there’s a difference between sporterizing a rifle and replacing a part.

[@mcqueenfanman]

"I'm going to sporterize my 63 split window corvette" said someone in the 60s. Yeap people did cut the split out.

[@davids7550]

My father had a sporterized Mas 36, which he loved. It had a firing pin which was broken, repaired, and rebroken for many years. Somehow, he managed to get it into an armory somewhere and they machined a new firing pin for it. I do not believe it has been fired since then, and that has been many, many years now. I still have it in my collection just for the memories. That is the real value of this piece. I wish I could have it in an old (50's - 60's type) gun cabinet to display - but not in today's world! Alas, it is encased in steel and concrete, hidden away from everyone but me.

[@brockmcgonig4469]

“Proud” owner of a sporterized m1917. The poor thing is absolutely mutilated, they went so far as to mill the rabbit ear sights off and drill and tap it, twice because one set of holes was crooked. 🤦‍♂️

[@andrewrash1931]

Brock McGonig yikes, I got lucky with mine all the Metal was intact asides from the missing nose cap and front sling swivels. Stock was cut down and had sport sling mounts added. Even though the Bubba left the rear sling swivel intact he added another one in front of it for no reason 😩 but she’s better now other then the wood I was able to find for the replacement stock doesn’t match at all. All three pieces are different shades.

[@FrontSideBus]

Sporterising old obsolete military rifles is really the same thing as when they used to use old Spitfires and Hurricanes as target practise for the new Vampire and Hunter jet fighters. At the time, who cares? It's only later when people regret those choices.

[@bigretardhalo]

Yep... or even like modifying your current AK or AR

[@hailexiao2770]

@@bigretardhalo AKs and ARs are currently in production, so you're not exactly taking away from anything significant. Plus you can mod AKs and ARs all day without permanent changes to any given part.

[@scooterdogg7580]

tell the guy with the sporter its worthless , buy it cheap and enjoy the fact you can shoot it without worrying about collector value

[@FakeSchrodingersCat]

Really depends on the quality of the sproterise job. I have seen some that are works of art.

[@shoelessbandit1581]

@wargent99 just buy an already sporterized rifle instead of defiling an original. If you're set on tinkering (I know that feeling) buy one that's either in really rough condition or modify a sporter

[@USSEnterpriseA1701]

Worked on a couple such projects myself with my dad. We knew at the time that it was unlikely to put any value back in the rifles, but most of them were just to get an 'intact' shooting example of a rifle for our own enjoyment, like the Swedish Mauser short rifle or US M1917 rifle we fixed up. I have to say though, the most fun of these projects was actually taking a sporting rifle and configuring it into a "military" pattern. Back in the days when we could still get Saiga rifles from Russia, the first one dad picked up was a Saiga .308 with a 16" barrel. We kept it as it was for a number of years (though I absolutely hated the 'SVD' style stock it came with), but eventually made up our minds to make it more useful and comfortable. The end product looks almost exactly like an ordinary AK-74 derivative (aside from the lack of a muzzle brake and the heavy barrel) complete with Russian Red birch laminate furniture (thanks to Ironwood Designs), right up until you put one of the massive 20 round mags in it. It tends to get noticed on the range once we load it up and let it go. The blast and fireball it throws make it almost like a semi-auto M44. I tend to joke that we finally made that old Vietnam myth about the AK being able to use 7.62 NATO actually true.

[@danieldalessandro96]

I've restored 2 no 1 smle's, a no 4 and a pattern 14. Expensive, fun and rewarding knowing you've done some good in this awesome passion of ours.

[@Jonk_Jonk]

I’ve got a NO 4 I’m interested in restoring. Any tips for a new comer to this sort of thing?

[@georgewhitworth9742]

@@Jonk_Jonk Paitence, and money. Tons of both.

[@johnpatrickmcp]

So way back when I started getting into collecting I found this really interesting sporterized No. 5 Enfield at gun show. I knew enough to check the parts to make sure it was a true No. 5 and not a hacked down No. 4 and everything was right and matching serial numbers. The only thing that had been done to it was it didn't have an original magazine and a very skilled woodworker had contoured the stock thinning it down to make it more comfortable in the hand. So I bought it. I think I paid $450 thinking it wouldn't be that hard to find a No. 5 stock. I think I spent two years searching local gun shows and checking online. Occasionally I would find them online but the price for originals was more than I had paid for the gun and reproductions were almost always out of stock. Eventually I gave up and traded it away. Literally, the very next gun show I went to I found a guy who had a reproduction stock set for $50. I'm still sad I gave up just a little too soon and could have had that nice No. 5 in my collection.

[@cwferguson1664]

I have some #5s , you looking

[@scooterdogg7580]

why not just use it , sounds like it was well tuned

[@tenchraven]

Thats why you never sell your guns. :P

[@navywolf1753]

Dude, I have a No.1 Mk1 that's missing all the Mk1 specific stuff besides the sights. I feel the pain.

[@DRNewcomb]

I de-bubbaed an '03A3 and a 1917 but that was 40 years ago when parts were readily available. Not sure I'd try it today.

[@jeepman19]

Donald Newcomb I found a sporterized 1903 at a pawn shop for $350. Luckily nobody drilled the receiver for a scope and it had the original sights. The only downside was somebody chromed the bolt and polished and blued the receiver/barrel. I found an original stock with all the small parts that somebody was selling with a cut receiver. It was a fun project sourcing all the parts

[@tommywilson9836]

If gun Jesus can't find parts, you can't either.

[@collinmclaren6608]

3:25 That literally looks like its been buried under Passchendaele for a century.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

I’m trying to figure out what that was lol. My best guess is a Carcano

[@redram5150]

This video was created so Ian could DL advertise he wants a Ross end cap, and dissuade others from restoring rifles, therefore leaving the lion share of parts for himself to buy. Very clever, gun jeebus... but not very god-like

[@redram5150]

Danial Yousaf yay, for he is a jealous god. Now, brother, open your bible to the Book of Armaments

[@Kuhesgewehr]

I found him the stock and have been looking for the Ross bayo lug for a couple years now. I have a guy who occasionally sets up at one small annual gunshow who maybe has them, but it hasn't been held in a while.

[@ricksunderland1421]

Red Ram Anybody in a position to compete with someone like Ian doesn't need this video to do it. Anybody with the consuming passion to even start to become that knowledgeable isn't going to be discouraged by the video. His vids are very useful in any event; the subscriber count proves that. I gained useful knowledge from this video. If his years of work, devotion, and contribution to the shooting community help him get some silly part, what's wrong with that?

[@redram5150]

Rick Sunderland if I could post memes on here, it’d include the words “the joke” flying over your head

[@buckbundy8642]

Red Ram some people are so smart they’ve gone full circle and have become idiots. Personally I like the gif from the Superman movie where he looks from one side to the other and the word “joke” floats overhead 😂🤣

[@wolfyk95]

Seeing old sporterized rifles is sad, but seeing people in the 21st century still do it is asinine.

[@Icanhasautomaticcheeseburger]

People collectively don't do it anymore like when the guns cost a fraction of what a sporting goods store would whack for a Remington or a Winchester. Why would you sporterize a $1,000+ rifle when you can hop down to Walmart for a $300 Savage? And on the flip side, I'd rather have a well-done, classic sporter from the 1950s or 1960s than a well-done, classic sporter "converted" back to a pseudo-original condition by slapping eBay parts on it. The sporter at least tells a story of its eral. The cobbled-together messes I see people passing off as original are sad at best and fraud at worst.

[@LUR1FAX]

I remember once seeing a listing online for a completely sporterized M1941 Johnson rifle. Some guy had made a bunch of cuts to it and replaced all the wood with polymer.

[@mikecramer3258]

I call this "remiliterizing"

[@CaliPatriot88]

I bought an all matching SMLE made in 1917, I was so excited! However when it arrived I discovered the seller was less than honest about the condition of the bore, only saying it was "a bit dark." Turns out it was completely shot out from corrosive ammo. So I looked around and lucked out to see Sarco had just found a large supply of original, unissued factory barrels for the SMLE. Needless to say I replaced the barrel and the rifle was back to where it should be. Thinking of turning the older shot out barrel into a cane of some sort. Guess I lucked out on finding a rare part!

[@DaremoKamen]

I inherited a 98K receiver from my grandfather by way of my father. A wartime bring back, it was already mismatched before he started to sporterize it, the bolt is straight handled. He never completed the project mostly because the Remington 721 came out and even with his metal working skills he couldn't match that for less money. I didn't want it to rust away to nothing so I had it completed, but I didn't want to make any further changes to the metal. The bolt handle is still straight, and I went with a long eye relief scope mounted to the non-original barrel.

[@Bee-N64]

Ayy great idea for a video! Glad to see it so early, and thanks for keeping uploads so consistent through everything going on Ian EDIT: what was the interesting receiver mark on that rusted-up rifle?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

British-made Chassepot contract.

[@lairdcummings9092]

I wasn't sure you could use "British" and "Chassepot" in the same sentence...

[@eVVigilance]

@CIA BETA Wing Probably Potts & Hunt. Recall that during the Franco Prussian war the French were buying anything that went bang, lots of weird stuff showed up, in low numbers and thus is obscure nowadays.

[@eVVigilance]

Also, if weird British shennanigans with Chassepots are of interest, look up the Kynoch Patent Musket. Because the world totally needs Chassepots converted to 11x60 Mauser, in the 1880s.

[@anomamos9095]

To fill holes without welding. Get a length of suitable threaded brass rod . Clean the threads in the hold with brake cleaner or similar. Screw the rod to the bottom of the hole and mark the length. Remove the rod then file it down around it’s circumference until it is almost cut through. Insert the rod and tighten until the excess snaps off. With a nail punch or similar gently tap the surface of the brass rod until it is smooth and flush with the surface. This will look like a factory pin installed when done. You can use steel rod but it will be harder to finish without sanding.

[@LGTheOneFreeMan]

This popped up as a random recommendation, but I feel I should say that I got lucky with my project. Through the death of a family member I wound up with an M1917 "American Enfield" Rifle. Now before, I hadn't really considered owning a bolt action rifle, but I didn't exactly disparage them either. While we had maybe a couple firearms, the first ones that I had actually bought new for myself were a stainless steel full sized "Mil-Spec" M1911 A1 from Springfield Armory, and an M1A Scout with the shorter barrel because "Muh M14." While I had wound up with an FN49 in 7mm Mauser as well as a couple of shotguns that had been hiding elsewhere, I didn't initially notice much that was special about the rifle. It had had ALL of the original furniture removed and replaced by a single, tacky 1950s hunting stock. You know, end of it is black with a white stripe, blonde wood, plastic buttplate. I think I figured out it was interesting though when I read the stamp on the receiver, and started digging into the history of the rifle. When I discovered what it was, I welcomed it into my life with open arms and made it my immediate goal to restore it. I found out that these rifles had wound up as surplus after two World Wars and a barrel replacement in the midst of the second. I also discovered that, unlike most of them that got sold off as surplus, this one still had the original ears AND the flip-up sight for range too. It was completely un-sporterized in terms of metal parts, and so all I needed were the brackets, stock and shrouds, magazine well (I had the spring and its follower for some reason) and buttplate. I got these, had my dad help me tap some holes for the buttplate screws and after putting it all together, it looks gorgeous. I do have one more ask for it though; if you or anyone else here could drop me a line on an M1917 bayonet I would greatly appreciate it. I already have one for the FN49.

[@herknorth8691]

Sporterizing is the art of spending $500 on a $300 rifle and making it worth $150.

[@PS3Fan487]

I KNO WUT ITS WORTH

[@edi9892]

Well, I do understand when someone ads the mount for a scope, maybe threads the muzzle so that you can mount a suppressor and replaces the butt with a more ergonomic one.

[@OldManMontgomery]

The other pitfall in restoring a sporterized rifle is the rifle is 'restored', it is not original. Some collectors put great importance on this issue. Probably for my purposes (educational display) I would buy one, but not for an 'original' price. If presented for sale as original, such an item is fake. 4:15 the 'wreck'. I agree that rifle cannot be restored (absent Star Trek replicator technology, and then one has to know what is desired) but might be made shootable again. Ian was interested in a receiver mark, I am curious about the split receiver. But I have enough projects. 9:00 I have a Ross (something or other) in .30 British. It fires, but has been fiddled; the rear sight is gone. Not to be found, yet.

[@chexquest87]

It’s always strange to me to see so many sporterized SMLE’s, since I can’t imagine they would shoot well at all without their full stocks and springs that enable its light barrel to shoot straight...

[@mechghost5742]

I learned to shoot a rifle on a sporterized Lee Enfield my Dad used for hunting. It had a Monte Carlo stock (the original had cracked, my grandfather brought it home after WWII) but mechanically it was all original and was as smooth as silk and extremely accurate.

[@cellulanus]

I own two Enfields, one is an all original No.4 in absolute mint condition, the other is an SMLE that was sporterized but I restored to military spec. The formerly sporterized SMLE is the one I actually use because I don't want to wear down my No.4. That's the upshot of remilitarized historic rifles. It's a gun that you can just use without having to worry too much about wreaking since it was already ruined.

[@MarvinCZ]

It's interesting that a hunting rifle in the US means "chop half the stock off" while here in central Europe, a classic hunting rifle has a full stock. It's not a hard rule and especially newer production guns are often closer to the US rifles. I guess it's a consequence of the more traditional style of hunting here. You also usually don't have to carry the rifle too far.

[@brucemccreary38]

With the "rust bucket" one could laser weld all the little pits up and hand file or grind to contour. Reweld the inside of the bolt area and re-machine by jig grinding.

[@jong2359]

You could also invent flying cars and then spend your billions on buying new old stock rifle. Your living in the clouds a bit too much, bud.

[@tangero3462]

Numrich and LTC have saved my butt more times than I can count, though Numrich seems to be light on parts as of late. Half the time I'm not even doing resto work, I'm just fixing the broken shit that I got at auction. My brother and I have restored two M1917 rifles. It's a fairly easy task these days, especially since repro stocks are now available (both in compressed hardwood and semi-inletted unfinished walnut). The metal bits are what are really the hard to find stuff now. We both broke even when they sold. Generally, you can get pretty lucky with M1917s; since it's such a pain in the ass to have had the rear sight ground off, you can find sporters with intact sights fairly readily. For examples that have just been destroyed and potentially had the barrels shortened and whatnot, either buy it to strip for parts for you or others, or just make it into an actually tasteful sporter. Between Anvil's videos and Midway USA's various series on this, you can make a pretty great rifle for yourself. Mind you, you're never going to get more than $300 for the thing if you resell, but it's a worthwhile endeavor to put a little bit of class back into the world.

[@575conbon]

I enjoy my "bubba'd" 1903's, I will not unsporterize them... I inherited a original Springfield built 1903 from 1917 (low serial for correctly heat treated receivers) from my grandpa. He did not do the sporterization, but enjoyed it as such for years. It has a cut down barrel, receiver has been drilled and tapped for optics, and the bolt handle has been cut and welded to clear a scope, all that really makes it not worth restoring. I replaced the old cracked stock with a NOS wood sporter stock and new kick-eez pad, and replaced his cheap 3-9 scope with a leupold scope and I enjoy it as such myself and will pass it on to my kids or grandkids some day. Already over 100 years old and still shoots like new. Then I purchased a Santa Fe Arms "sharp shooter" built on a 1942 Remington built receiver. From what I gather these were built on milsurp receivers so a "perfectly good war-used firearm" was not hurt to build it. It is a factory built rifle that was a high end hunting rifle from it's day. It is a 03A3, but the sporter barrel is setup for their own sporter rear sight. It has a very pretty wood stock with nice end caps and is not drilled for stock, so it will get shot as is with iron sights and enjoyed as a factory built sporter like it was intended. I now have a Springfield with optics, and a Remington without. I would like a full military garb 1903/03A3 someday to shoot along side them, and plan to start adding Mausers to my collection as well.

[@THE-RIGJUICE]

I inherited my grandfather’s old hunting rifle and it turned out to be a Springfield 1903A3 made by Remington. From what I can tell the only thing he changed out was the stock, which cracked when I was sighting it in :( because I put a new scope on it. I am now in the process of debating on putting on an actual 1903 stock and hang it on my wall because it may have been his service rifle (he was a member of the coast guard during the missile crisis) but I need to do more research on that.

[@sgt.lt.mjr.pepperface4627]

I'm in the process of restoring a g33/40 myself. These barrel bands are a pain to find. Took me almost two years to get a stock.

[@JKLstream]

I got myself a spotterized $200 lee enfield no 4 mk 1* from a gun show a couple years ago. I was looking for a new project to work on, this enfield was mostly intact but had a crappy scope and a plastic stock. It took me a couple months to get the wood furniture, barrel bands, but plate, nose caps, mag, sling. It was alot of work, I had to clean out all the dirt and grit, reblue some of the parts, sand the wood down a little for the bands to wrap around (the stocks weren’t original they were remakes), and give the wood a nice stain. In the end it came out pretty nice! And it shoots good too. I don’t plan on selling it, It’s My rifle I can hang on the wall and take it out to the range every once in a while.

[@ironked]

Note: I’m not a purist and appreciate craftsmanship. There was a gun show seller specializing in Springfields and Garands. He always has a table to the side with sporterized rifles. I have been sorely tempted upon seeing some that have been artfully done with gorgeous stocks, horn tipped forends, polished actions,and mods that do not detract. They would make beautiful hunters or competitive rifles that no one in a right mind would want to revert.

[@literallyme26]

I recently picked up an original SMLE No.1 Mk.III built in 1910. It's beaten all to Hell and still operates properly, but, it suffered from water damage and the stock is warped. I've been wanting to restore it for a while, but, everyone keeps telling me "no just get a new one." Which is frustrating, because getting even this SMLE was a process all in itself. I appreciate this video greatly, hopefully I can bring myself to order that new stock at some point.

[@harrybuttery2447]

But have you managed to find any Bertier carbine front sights in Seattle?

[@ben501st]

An added benefit to desporterizing guns is you learn more about the gun and the value of individual parts. I learned a lot about the M1917 Enfield sourcing parts. I also learned that the stocks are worth over half the gun's value. I paid more to fix mine than buying an original but I saved money when I was able to buy several stocks for cheap and sell them for a profit.

[@GuitARPlayr100]

I bought a Steyr M95M a few years ago that I bought a new stock for, and have been trying to get back in working order. The only thing I need is a new extractor. The problem is, as I'm sure you're aware, finding extractors for the M95M is virtually impossible. Even finding a complete bolt is extraordinarily hard now. So I definitely understand your frustration in trying to find that one last part. M95 parts are fairly easy to come by, but since mine is the 8mm converted M95M, they're extremely difficult to find.

[@afella1129]

Funny you madenthis video. I just finished a pretty intensive restoration on a chilean 1895 7mm mauser. It was sporterized with a shortened barrel. However, the barrel was actually very close to a chilean short rifle variant mauser. so i bought a new stock with all the metal, and chopped the front of the stock off. I then copied all of the intricate woodwork on the front of the stock to accept the nose cap and front band/bayonet lug. Turned out ok aside from some poorly drilled holes and some file marks, but from a distance its a pretty slick chilean "short rifle".

[@riu.1180]

Inwas gonna try this with a K31 that was put into a wrong stock.

[@Hansengineering]

There is a new production modern chassis for the K31. It is not at all cheap, but if you HAVE an action...

[@thelizardking3807]

Get an original and boom

[@tomminton5512]

Good luck finding a stock. I have a K-31 that I need a stock for. No luck.

[@PapaSchultz74]

@@tomminton5512 easy to find but the shipping fee will kill you. part are available mostly in Europe. Look at naturabuy.fr for example

[@tomminton5512]

@@PapaSchultz74 Thanks. No luck at that site, do you know of any other European sources? Thanks again.

[@hk91762mm]

I have Many rifles I restored --One Not fully restored is a 1903-A3 that someone cut the barrel ,I found a cut stock and a bit of fore-end and a cracked hand guard and built up a 1903-A3 carbine, it actually one of my more accurate rifles --Fun to play with !

[@lairdcummings9092]

20 minutes old, over 5k 'Likes.' Something right in this world. I've seen some very nice 'sporterized' weapons; they're the exception, though. Generally, they look like hell, no utility added, and often much utility taken away, along with any beauty that had been present.

[@thedude7726]

A friend put a new stock on his mosin and i actually love it

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@thedude7726 it can be done. Saw a numbers-matching, with a nice crisp Mum and dust cover, Arisaka in a lovely gloss stock with ebony end cap on the fore end of the stock. The beauty of it was, other than the drill & tap for the scope, nothing else had been done to the rifle; sights still present, bolt left unmolested, dust cover left in place... Oh, the 'drill and tap' job was a shame, but the overall effect was very easy on the eyes.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

@@thedude7726 It makes a ton of sense to modify a Mosin. They're common as ticks and will never be valuable. Might as well make the own you own as useful as you can.

[@shaunw9092]

I've actually restored a Savage-made Lee Enfield No.4 US Property marked, it was actually fairly easy to find the Savage parts for it.

[@rhubarbpie2027]

Hence the 8mm-06 cartridge. Couldn't afford a barrel, but reaming the chamber and alittle work to the extractor and you have a fine rifle on the cheap.

[@mikeblair2594]

As a blacksmith myself I can say the barrel band and sling ring for a bertiae(sp) can almost be made while the customer waits or even let them help with proper ppe's. For the Ross # three I could still do it but I would have the proper inner and outer dimensions, but your not talking a production line here, just a one off. I really want to make you some stripper clips for your Roth styr. This is not absolutely altruistic, I prefer word of mouth for advertising. But I can make your Ross muzzle cap. I just need the dimensions. I hope you see this Ian

[@themeatpopsicle]

So who else clicked on this expecting a rundown of taking thumbhole stocks off AKs?

[@lairdcummings9092]

That's not so common, locally. Much more often I see Arisakas. I even saw an 03 Springfield that had been put into professional-made Mannlicher-style stock. Honestly, that was one I wouldn't change.

[@KyussTheWalkingWorm]

@@lairdcummings9092 The modern hunting rifle is directly derived from sporterised Mausers and their copies, so in a way those are historical artifacts in their own right.

[@CCW1911]

In 20 years people will be looking for thumbhole stocks to put AKs back to their original as imported condition and bitching about all the "bubbas" who tacticalized them.

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@CCW1911 heh. Good point.

[@TheAngryPasta]

@@CCW1911 ha, I was just doing that with one of those Saiga hunters I just got from a country guy in a trade. Cursing the whole time I was pulling off a heavily glued on (?????) Tapco stock.

[@Horerczy]

I have a sporterized czech k98k. When i bought it i never had any intention of undoing the sporterization as the roll marks were drilled and tapped over. Ive been planning on sporterizing it further into a scout rifle configuration since it cant be restored. I also own a near pristine 91/30 with all matching parts including the bayonet and thats going to stay the way it is.

[@tomdiegoliswritings2856]

I have a different perspective. I look for old milsurps that Bubba has "sporterized" beyond restoration, but are still mechanically sound. Many of these rifles I could never afford in collectable condition. This way I get to build a decent rifle on the old action, get to enjoy it as 1) a shooter, learning the ins and outs of working relatively rare actions, 2) as a reloading project, learning about the real potential of "obsolete" cartridges often more versatile than may "brand new" offerings, 3) as a bullet casting project, finding the correct diameter and weight moulds and working up target and hunting loads for them. As a result I get to shoot and enjoy many aspects that I could never have afforded to buy. I do NOT work on any gun that is intact or restoreable, only the ones Bubba got to first, then I give them a new life. Mausers, Mannlichers, Arisakas, etc. all get to be shot and enjoyed. I call it "Dancing With the Older Ladies."

[@yuibot5998]

My grandpa brought a bunch of guns home after working at the proving grounds and then working as basically a gunsmith for Patton's 3rd during WWII. One was a Czech-made German Mountain troop Mauser (G33/40). He turned it into a deer rifle. He did great work but it still makes me want to cry every time I see it.

[@bryanbreuninger8320]

Yes I tell people all the time restoring a firearm is not an investment it is a fun satisfying project you do for yourself to test your skills and research skills

[@MrSolLeks]

My old man has un sporterized a M1903 rifle. It's got a 42 barrel but the receiver was made in 1911. He put it back into it's ww1 configuration and I own it now. still a few problems like the drill and tap into the receive but otherwise it's in fairly good shape back in it's ww1 configuration and a great shooter.. He did this in the early 2000's and got both the rifle and parts very cheap. That said it's now my "WW1" M1903, all but the barrel is correct.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

The best candidates to restore from "sporterized" conditions are rifles that don't need to be restored from this condition because there are still plentiful surplus examples around in good condition that are still affordable. Such as, the Enfield. But good luck finding all the parts you're gonna need for that bodged up'03 Springfield or Krag.

[@mistertibbs472]

You can say what you will about Mosins, but I can't imagine having such a pathological hatred of a firearm to be okay with what people do to sporterize them.

[@buckbundy8642]

I do all kinds of things to them not because I hate them but because they can be bought for $90.

[@rogainegaming6924]

@@buckbundy8642 maybe back in 2010 when they were still being imported...

[@RJBond121]

@@buckbundy8642 you show me where I can buy a mosin for 90 bucks. Please. Please show me, I want one but I'm not paying real rifle money for one. haha

[@buckbundy8642]

Ryan Bond our local surplus shop sells M44s at $89.99. Well, in March they were. I don’t know about now with all the fu€ktards running around.

[@buckbundy8642]

Victor Sullivan you just have to know where to go.

[@ckl9390]

I recently got a sporter Mosin as part of a package deal. It looks like it was made aftermarket from spare parts. Nothing matches, and some of the parts have multiple iterations of serial numbers, I am yet to find any markings on the receiver. I immediately changed the metal buttplate for a thick rubber one. The barrel is shorter than standard with a different front sight post, which actually sights better than the original front sight post. The stock was originally a military issue based on the plugs in the front where the cleaning rod would have been, but it of course has been cut down and the balance point has shifted to just under the front of the magazine instead of the handle grooves. I'm going to use this one as a platform to try making an extended turndown bolt handle and I'm going to look at mounting a scope if it proves accurate enough. This is relevant because I have a gorgeous inter-war hex mosin in a post-war laminate stock, probably arsenal replaced. It is a thing of beauty. I can use the sporter as a "drag through the muck" gun to use in the field while preserving the good one for the range. It was also cheaper to buy the whole gun than just a spare bolt.

[@surplus3728]

So far I've restored an 1898 Krag, RIA M1903, and M38 Carcano to original configuration. The Krag parts weren't impossible to find but they were all stupid expensive, especially the stock and handguard. The M1903 was overall super easy and the M38 had a few parts that are pretty much nonexistent. I'll never make money on any of them, but that was never the point. Right now I'm working on a sportered Remington M1917 Enfield with a cut down barrel. Gonna restomod it into a trench carbine configuration.

[@andyrihn1]

After WW2 my grandfather bought a surplus M1917 Enfield from the NRA for a dollar on the condition he’d never sell it. He discarded the sights and barrel bands, mounted a surplus scope, and hand made a brand new sporting stock. I remember him feeling like he destroyed it’s value when I told him what he had but that thing is so personal that I would never “desporterize” it

[@justinsledge9429]

I love a nicely done old Sporized military rifle and have started collecting them

[@kentcostello8099]

Thank you . I have resorted 5 military arms in my collection colt 1911 & a Springfield 1903 . Where the ones I had fun doing & a headache too .

[@KSFWG]

A few years ago I bought a 91/30 that had been sporterized for $25.00. The barrel had been cut down and the stock had been cut down. I met a guy that had a complete /un-messed with M44 carbine stock and front sight. We mad a deal for $40.00 and I now have a 91/30-M44 frankenstein with a bent bolt handle. lol It was a fun project that cost me $65.00 total and is a fun shooter. And that is all it is. At the range I tell the story of buying the sporterized 91/30 and the M44 stock and the fun I had "pseudo restoring" this fun shooter. The barrel is 1/4" longer than a true M44 and the muzzle had been re-crowned. A couple of years later I ran into a reproduction sling for $10.00. All total: $75.00 in and many fun days enjoying shooting it. I have kept the sporterized 91/30 stock to show how the project was done. It makes a good conversation piece when having a few beverages with the guys.

[@petershen6924]

A year and half ago I bought a Czech Mauser K98k (rebarrelled by Israeli into 7.62 NATO) for a very cheap price. Only problem was that the stock was a whole mess. It was made of cheap wood (plywood) and got cracks on it. But the receiver, the bolt and the barrel were in very good condition (Krupp steel!!!). I brought it to a gunsmith with all the parts purchased online. Upon restoration, it looked more like the earlier model than wartime rush production.

[@AtlasJotun]

I'm surprised to hear Ian's opinion of drilled/tapped receivers, as repairing those holes would be fairly straightforward. Sure, my PermaBlue isn't gonna quite match the nice old worn hot blue, but it'll look a damned sight better than a Swiss-cheese receiver :D

[@JRockySchmidt]

Woah didn't realize that was a Mosin with an Archangel stock in the thumbnail. I love that stock since I used it to fix the sporterized nature of my second Mosin. Fuck nuts before me mounted a notch rear sight on the serial numbers and made the stock so light it hurt to shoot.

[@jeffdurden398]

I bought the parts before the rifle. Snagged a box full of Mauser handguards and half a dozen Mauser stocks at an auction for 50 bucks. The right bubba rifle will show up for short money someday.

[@TomKeown]

I bought from a friend a "sporterized" IMBEL L1A1 imported by Century Arms and had a great time restoring it to its proper look.

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

Top three things in my secular life that I despise the most, The current political climate in this nation. The fact my school dose not have a Latin course. Finally, Sporterized Military Rifles.

[@GEV646]

I restored a sportered early 1916 SMLE purely for the enjoyment of the process. It is relatively easy to find parts for No. 4s, but SMLEs have been quite hard to source different parts, especially wood in decent shape. A new-made stock these days is about the same price as its original equivalent, but in vastly better condition and without a century of shrinkage, drying or even warping. Because of how an SMLE stocks up, this required a not insubstantial amount of research to complete-- it wasn't impossible, but was definitely much more involved than I had planned. It was definitely worth doing the research into how such rifles worked, because it isn't as simple as buying the parts and bolting them on.

[@squirrelsquirellian2829]

I remilitarised a p14 a few years back and it's such a fun thing to shoot that i don't mind weither or not all the parts are fully original or matching. Managed to rebuilt it for about 200$ cheaper than it wouldve cost to get an original one otherwise which is pretty neat.

[@tacos_tequila]

HE is wearing the same shirt that he had on in Seattle.... LOOK

[@gavinbissell8847]

This is like James Mays un-pimp my ride

[@Cloudstrife112233]

My philosophy on the subject is, if it can be restored easily, then I'm going to try. But if it is irreversibly altered, and it looks like crap, then I'm going to go the other direction and turn it into a beautiful custom rifle.

[@timsmith1589]

Cool vid bro. I know what you mean, I restored a 44 Lithgow no1 mk3 and it cost me way more than the rifle. I did this because I wanted to and not to make money. It was a fun project and I will do another it the opportunity presents itself. Keep up the good work

[@thecanadianlanboy8132]

Longstanding Canadian Gun Nut tradition of fitting a repro stock on your rifle No.1 or No.4 Enfield

[@zirconpolycrase3136]

I've been collecting sporterized carcanos for a few years now. I won't make any money restoring them but I just find it satisfying and I do it for my own enjoyment.

[@zionrios2205]

My great uncle sporterized an arisaka he got from a brother that served in the Pacific and although I understand the disappointment historical gun collectors get from sporterized weapons this arisaka has great historical significance to my family especially since my uncle passed a year ago

[@Ronsonic]

How hard can it be to un-sporterize? Let's turn fish soup back into an aquarium.

[@MultiRokusho]

As someone who has been restoring a fiero that has only had a few dumb mods put on let me tell you it is a pain undoing a lot of the damage. Then you got to find oem parts that still work that aren’t too costly. I figure it’s the same with this but less electronics

[@firestorm165]

I picked up 2 arisakas (A 38 and a 99) with the intention of restoring them. This vid would've been a great help back then

[@xlxyetixlx]

I bought a 1903a3 that was welded up to be a drill rifle and I had to order every part other than the reciver. Barrel was plugged and welded to the reciver, mag cut off was welded down striker pin ground down, bolt face welded shut. Took me a month of work just to get it apart without damaging the reciver any more than it already was because of the welds... Not a project for the faint of heart.

[@KazakhToon]

That's a heck of a roundabout way to ask for anyone with a Ross Mk3 nosecap to get in touch...

[@normanreeduswiththefetus1394]

Thank you for gracing Seattle with your godly presence!

[@craigfurey942]

Just picked up a 1944 BNZ Kar98k. Lucky for me the only sporterizing the guy who brought it back did was some red paint on the front sight post.

[@darthmartinez]

I restored a US model 1917 Enfield. All it needed was a new stock and some trigger components because the previous owner did a garage trigger job and it was a little unsafe.

[@Saltfactorynz]

One point i would like to add is that Arisaka rifles (type 38) from my experence are stamped with their serial number its just usually hard to see. under the barrel in the barrel channel past the forend step it is stamped in.

[@jakeg1148]

Funny, I actually have a sporterized arisaka type 99 and a sporterized Enfield with the front stock cut off just like you described it. Sporterized is the only way I can afford classic firearms. I also love looking at the workmanship behind the people who sporterized it.

[@richardpcrowe]

I had an absolutely beautiful Arisaka that was sporterized and had a lovely carved stock. It was chambered for .300 Savage. Although beautiful, the rifle kicked like an angry mule so I eventually sold it.

[@richardpcrowe]

The Arisaka was a captured weapon, not a surrendered model. It still had the imperial chrysanthemum on the receiver...

[@TheCraftedMine]

I have an M38 Carcano with a cut stock, libertytreecollectors had parts, and now I have a beautiful M38

[@masonhaggerty186]

Have an 1894 Norwegian Krag with a drill and tap to a pretty small size around 1/8". Closest thing I have to a sporterized gun.

[@roycspary8923]

ust a suggestion, to restore a tapped hole superglue a bolt threaded into the hole, use a jewelers saw to cu it near flush then a Dremel to grind it close t exact profile, leaving only a small area to be refinished itwill never exactly match but should be unobtrusive with a little care, hope this helps save some bit of history

[@michaelo5003]

I came across an early serial numbered US PROPERTY SMLE NO4 MK1T (only have had one collector suggest they think its a T)that has been sporterized... luckily no metal was altered on it that i can see

[@RStewart7244]

Recently bought a 1917 Eddystone sporterized. It was in bad shape as is so I replaced the stock with a custom stock and reblued it and put a scope on it. Still kind of a cool piece of history and I like to think It’s one of a kind

[@stutterz45]

I think I got lucky on my project bought a Mosin for 200 bucks and then was on the hunt for a stock and hand guard took a year and just luck to find one at my local gun store complete with barrel bands for 20 bucks, all I need now is a cleaning rod and it will be all set, the Mosin is all mismatch numbers anyway so it doesn’t matter great damn shooter

[@treatb09]

this next up, a resporterized rifle from an unsporterized restored rifled that was sporterized from an old military rifle.

[@michaelmatthews2759]

I got a remington 03a3 at an estate sale for 75 dollars, very sporterized, cut barrel, drilled holes, trashy stock that I believe was actually off a 10/22 originally? it was a mess, but for 75 bucks I couldn't pass it up, ended up making a replica of a marine "bushmaster" springfield using damaged furnature I got for 20 bucks and replacing the sights, poor thing will never be original configuration but I'm happy with it as it is in my collection. I'd never have a real bushmaster so it's not a bad thing for me, but I agree that parts are near impossible to find

[@vinceperry7133]

I bought a 1903 that bubba got ahold of and made a "bushmaster carbine" gets lots of looks at the range.

[@petittoto7433]

In Switzerland, original K31 are usually cheeper than sporterized...

[@craigpeterman27]

I have been looking for the nose cap of a Ross Mark II for five years now. Obtained the rifle in great condition cheap. I was able to crave the front handguard from a walnut blank to make me think the restoration would be easy.

[@alexwells225]

Saw a sporterized Garand at a gun show last year. Poor thing had a crappy custom stock, missing handguards and (this is the best part) the entire gas system had been chopped off, basically turning it into a bolt action. Could've just taken out the gas plug but no, they wanted to shave off more weight... They were asking $600 for it...