Oops, I did it again

[pony express]

Won another Gunbroker auction with what I thought was a lowball bid. Gonna have to somehow my "Gunsafe Emergency Fund" that I keep in there.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=435145996

Still eagerly awaiting this one, checking around seems I can get by with my Lebel dies, cartridge is similar but longer. Same bullet should work, and Midway even has some 348 Win brass for conversion in stock at the moment.

[River City John]

Looks nice, Pony Express!

For a second there I thought you were going to do a Britney Spears interpretation.



RCJ

[Drydock]

That is nice!

[pony express]

Looks nice, Pony Express!

For a second there I thought you were going to do a Britney Spears interpretation.



RCJ

Well, only if Britney shoots a Kropatschek!


Now I just have to figure out what uniforms would go with it. Maybe another navy impression, most likely looked a lot like everyone else's navy uniform. Navy was probably in charge of most of their colonial adventures anyway.

[pony express]

Not much to be found on the net about Portugal's military late 1800s, but I did find this, I think it's early 1900s, pre WWI :
http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2013/the-original-camouflage-khaki-part-v-khaki-in-colonial-africa-and-the-middle-east#more-13540

Looks like it wouldn't be too hard, already have the pants, Kepi and white cover, just need brown boots and khaki jacket with slant pockets......I sewed 2 uniforms already, no big deal.....

[Drydock]

You think that's bad, I just lowballed on an 1891 Carcano rifle.  What happened to all those crazy GB overbidders that save us from ourselves?

Bersaglieri anyone?

[pony express]

Looking at some of the prices, and some offerings that don't even get any bids, I thing the "gun economy" is pretty weak right now(Except when it comes to the Lebel that Pony Racer is searching for)

[Pony Racer]

Sacre Blue...! C'est vrai!

Ughhh expensive with horrible bores so far...

[Drydock]

C'est dommage!   Why I got a Berthier!

[Fingers McGee]

Nice score Pony.  Can't wait to see your new interpretation

[pony express]

Arrived today, looks as pictured, but, seems I need a cartridge lifter spring. Hope these are not made of unobtanium. Lebel rifles are copied off of a Kropatschek design, maybe tomorrow I'll spend some time and see just how closely they copied... Failing that, it's not too complicated of a part, maybe a gunsmith could make one up out of spring stock.

[Charles Isaac]

Great looking Kropatschek! I noticed a couple good deals on Vergueiros a short time back.

I do it too once in a while, you know "If it's gonna sell that cheap, I'LL buy it!"

Saw this one in the "ending soon" banner and clicked on it. Good tight and serviceable gun, cleaned up nice! Needs ammo.

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/12893968

[pony express]

Glad to see you stop by the neighborhood, Charles! That's a great buy, probably about the same condition as the one I bought last month for about $160. None of the usual suspects seem to have any brass, though. I picked up 100 from a Gunboards for sale ad  last summer, now I have 50 and River City John has 50. 32-20 brass can be shortened, though. RCJ reported that some 32-20 case heads dragged in his, but only required a couple of strokes with a file on the case head to fix it, I didn't have that problem with the six I made. Buffalo has plated .330 bullets. Old West Molds and Accurate offer bullet molds. I loaded just a few rounds with the 32-20 sizing die, and a Lyman "M" expander die from my 8MM Mauser.

[Charles Isaac]

I was wanting to make some ammo for it-thanks for the info on what to use Sir!

I need to get out there for another Muster some time. I have other guns for you to evaluate!

[Niederlander]

Yep, we'd love to see you again, Charles!  We always like evaluating more guns, as well!  Besides, as put so well by Sam Perfye at the Muster, "Where else can you dress up in authentic 19th Century uniforms and discuss classic Bugs Bunny cartoons?!"

[Charles Isaac]

Yes Sir! I must get out there and shoot with you gentlemen again!

If I make it out there next year it will have been 6 years-where did all the time go?

"Where else can you dress up in authentic 19th Century uniforms and discuss classic Bugs Bunny cartoons?!"

Yes, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are great! Ha Ha! I trust we must be secure in our manhood!

[Niederlander]

Yes.  Yes we are!

[Charles Isaac]

We Few!  We Happy Few! We Band of Brothers!..................oh, got carried away there for a minute


Just found another deal and it just so happens I need one of these for one of the guns I was referring to for Pony Express's evaluation!!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=438876162

The rifle it's going on got it's forearm amputated years ago and busted out behind the tang so only good with GAF loads until it gets set into this good solid stock.

Its a U.S. over an anchor marked gun. We all know what that means! One of less than 1500!

[Drydock]

Loony Toons to Shakespeare in one topic.  What an outfit!

BTW, I love lazy people!  That Carcano long rifle I got for a minimum bid, bore was listed as "Fair".  Yep, fairly full of cosmoline!  This one'll make a great lead bullet shooter.

I've found a lot of Fair/Poor/Dark/Rusty/Ugly bores are really just oily dirt, got some great deals that way.  Its a chance, but I've become convinced the odds are in my favor . . .

[Pitspitr]

Yes Sir! I must get out there and shoot with you gentlemen again!

We may have a guy you could carpool with too!