[ARC5] On Hacking

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 16 Oct 2012 at 10:32, Geoff wrote:

> OTOH 30-40 years ago a Mauser actioned Springfield was worth far more
> than an original to a hunter.

Yes. Also, as a matter of fact the so-called "P-17" Enfields in .30-06 became 
the model for one of Remington's hottest selling rifles post WWI. 

I had an Eddystone "P-17", which I bought for around $30.00 when I lived in 
Montana (I was born in Kalispell).  That became my very most favorite and 
effective hunting rifle after a local gunsmith "sporterized" it for far less than I 
could have afforded a new commercial rifle. I did the stock, he did the action. 
When he got finished with it, it looked like a new Remington, except that the 
barrel was longer. I have always liked long barrels. I used it for many years.
 
> Based on some comments it seems most werent even born or out of
> diapers yet so dont realize that 24-28V DC supplies were scarce and
> very expensive. How many of you remember those large selenium
> rectifiers?

I sure do! I remember being in a terrible dilemma when someone GAVE me 
some mil gear that with a power supply would have given me a useful rig, but 
without such, it was pretty much useless to me. I think I eventually gave it to 
someone else.

> Readily available transformers had only 5 and 6.3V
> windings along with the HV and usually came from scrapped house radios
> or other military surplus.

Or console TV sets...

The development of cheap, high current, high voltage silicon diodes made a 
lot of this much easier to deal with.
 
> > So did I (except in Louisiana, not Montana).  But try to sell one of
> > them today.  I have two No. 5 MK 1 Enfields.  One is partially
> > "sporterized" and is essentially unsellable.  The other is all
> > original and worth $350-$500.

which is somewhat less than what one would now pay for a new, civilian rifle 
by Remington or Winchester. The value of our dollar has dropped to an 
all-time low.

Just because someone has to have the latest and greatest most modern 
firearm doesn't mean there aren't those paupers out here who could never 
afford such an item. We are quite happy with PROPERLY (not "bubba-ed") 
converted old military arms. They are generally strong, reliable and accurate.

And I do have a very small collection of military arms in their original 
condition which will never be converted as long as I am alive.

A gunsmith friend of mine built a .300 Winchester Magnum hunting rifle out 
of a WWI "P-17" Enfield action. My son bought that a few years ago for 
around $300.00 from the original owner. He can easily put them all in one 
hole at 100 yards, and the rifle functions flawlessly. He could never have 
afforded such a reliable and accurate firearm if he had bought a new one at 
twice or three times the cost.

Ken W7EKB