Bought some new guns

[Jcordell]

I like the Savage 99.I was twelve when my dad started teaching me how to shoot (1980). He was an Idaho State Trooper and among the firearms issued to him by ISP was the Savage 99C in .308. I fired that and at the time the recoil felt like the Hammer of Thor. Instead of the rotary magazine it had the detachable magazine. Fond memories.

[Nyles]

Although my renos are ongoing (contractors are f***king criminals and don't let anyone tell you different), I saw this for sale and had to give myself an early Christmas present. It's a French Berthier M1890 cavalry carbine in 8mm Lebel, made at Chatellerault in 1891. The M1892 artillery carbine is pretty common, but original cavalry carbines are very rare. Although the French army had a large cavalry force in 1914, they realised pretty early on that La Grande Guerre wasn't going to be a cavalry war and dismounted most of their cavalry.

Although they retained their carbines in the trenches (a 37" Berthier beats the hell out of a 51" Lebel in a trench that's 4' wide), most of the M1890s were rebuilt into M1892s when they passed through the armourers for maintenance - the only real difference is the bayonet and stacking hook, both of which were considered useful when dismounted. In 13 years of collecting I've never seen an original 1890 outside of the French army museum until this one.

However, this one has the extremely rare (and often discarded) sheet metal dust cover on the bolt introduced in WW1, so it's pretty much certain this spent time in the trenches - most likely with a Hussar or Chasseur light cavalry regiment, as the Cuirassier heavies had their own (especially rare) carbine model, and the Dragoons were early adopters of the M1892. It's unfortunately missing it's side-mounted cleaning rod, but I think I can source one out from another collector.

Either way, it's a super rare original WW1 carbine, in really nice shape, and definitely worth breaking my gun fast! Excuse the cell phone pictures, my camera is still at home.

[Jcordell]

Don't tell anybody this, but I actually rather like the Berthier and the Lebel. There is just something about them that appeals to me. Like the English bulldog. so ugly it's good looking.

[S&Wshooter]

Originally Posted by Jcordell

Don't tell anybody this, but I actually rather like the Berthier and the Lebel. There is just something about them that appeals to me. Like the English bulldog. so ugly it's good looking.

The French blood flowing through my veins cries for a Lebel or MAS 36

[Nyles]

The Lebel and the Berthier do have a certain Gallic flair, espescially with 20 inches of Rosalie bayonet on the end of them! And the MAS I think is a wonderfully practical little battle rifle - I had a postwar one for awhile and I'm very much in the market for a WW2-era example.

[Jcordell]

I'm getting closer and closer to buying that British Contract Official Police (38/200) with 5" barrel (mfd. 1941). It's been almost eight years since I first saw that sucker. It's finally been released from the evidence locker the case has been adjudicated and the suspect is in prison so the gun can be released. I figure you can appreciate this one Nyles. It's been a long haul. But it's worth it. They aren't very common.

[Nyles]

Absolutely they're not! Post pictures if you do!

So, speak of the devil, I just bought a 1939 production MAS-36. Pictures when it arrives.

On a non firearms related note, I just started a pretty cool (and higher paying) job as a fraud investigator with a major insurance company. So goodbye Cabelas, hello Great West Life!