As my wife says...Gun Porn!
- Thread starter Beentown
- Start date
Ohiosam
*Supporting Member*
Several more rather rare 22 caliber Trainers.
Top to bottom.
1. Winchester 1903 in 22 Auto caliber from WW1 with less than 600 purchased by England and used for aerial training. It has all proper British Military Proofs and had the barrel threaded for a post war sound moderator (silencer).
2. Winchester 1903 in 22 Auto from WW1 purchased by the US Military in less than 600. It has all proper US Military Proofs.
3. Mossberg 42MB sold to England as a Lend-Lease rifle. Fitted with post war Parker Hale front and rear sights and a post war threaded barrel for a silencer. All proper British Military Proof stampings.
4. Winchester 67 in 22LR sent to England during WW11 as a either a Lend-Lease or a direct buy by England for the Home Guard training and defense if Germany invaded. All correct British Military Proof stampings. Barrel threaded for a post war silencer.
5. Winchester 74 in 22LR. England bought 600 rifles in 1941 and delivered in 1942 for Parker hale to convert into sniper rifles for the Home Guard. Parker Hale installed scope blocks and a converted artillery aiming scope which I am missing. They also threaded the barrel for a sound moderator (silencer), I've installed a fake silencer. I'm looking for the scope at this time.
The Home Guard theory was in case of a German invasion the snipers would hide in underground sniper hides and shoot Germans and British traitors with a silenced 22LR.
Very unusual and impressive collection there frank! :smiley_clap:
Thanks to all. I had the misfortune of having quit work at a rather young age due to MS so I missed out on a retirement fund. The investing in desirable firearms has been good to me over the years. Invest in a desirable high end firearm and it'll never go down in value if bought right. All the tickle my fancy buys are long over with it's strictly good investments now. But I do slip at times like the 22 TCM pistol and rifle but I will sell off couple other good buys I made and cover the new gun cost several times over. That way I still can enjoy my sport.
Two more rare US 22 caliber Trainers.
Top rifle is a US 1898 Krag Military rifle converted to 22 Short at the US Springfield Armory in 1906-07. Only 841 rifles were converted before switching over to the 1903 Springfield Hoffer-Thompson conversion. The conversion used a new 22 caliber barrel with the chamber offset about .100 so the original centerfire bolt could be used with a lighter weight firing pin spring.
Bottom rifle is a 1903 Springfield Hoffer-Thompson in 22 Short converted at the US Springfield Armory (Thompson was the designer of the Thompson machine gun). The design really didn't work out because the steel inserts mouth got dented and lead to inaccuracy. About 10,000 rifles were converted but after it didn't work well most were surplus sold off or converted back to 30-06.
The conversion used 5 steel insert shown in a stripper clip. The original unloading tool is shown.
Loading the steel inserts is rather dangerous as you must push the spring loaded firing pin back and if it would slip when inserting the loaded round you basicly had a zip gun that could fire in you hand. Scary to say the least.
Both rifles are rarely seen for sale.
Top rifle is a US 1898 Krag Military rifle converted to 22 Short at the US Springfield Armory in 1906-07. Only 841 rifles were converted before switching over to the 1903 Springfield Hoffer-Thompson conversion. The conversion used a new 22 caliber barrel with the chamber offset about .100 so the original centerfire bolt could be used with a lighter weight firing pin spring.
Bottom rifle is a 1903 Springfield Hoffer-Thompson in 22 Short converted at the US Springfield Armory (Thompson was the designer of the Thompson machine gun). The design really didn't work out because the steel inserts mouth got dented and lead to inaccuracy. About 10,000 rifles were converted but after it didn't work well most were surplus sold off or converted back to 30-06.
The conversion used 5 steel insert shown in a stripper clip. The original unloading tool is shown.
Loading the steel inserts is rather dangerous as you must push the spring loaded firing pin back and if it would slip when inserting the loaded round you basicly had a zip gun that could fire in you hand. Scary to say the least.
Both rifles are rarely seen for sale.
Last edited:
Archertl
Senior Member
Complete set of 5 US Commercial that the US Military purchased as WW11 22 caliber US Trainers. All rifles are correct and properly marked.
Top to bottom.
1. Mossberg 44US
2. Winchester 75
3. Remington 513T
4. Stevens 416T
5. H&R 65 auto for the USMC only about 7000 made. Made to train with the M1 Garand.
Top to bottom.
1. Mossberg 44US
2. Winchester 75
3. Remington 513T
4. Stevens 416T
5. H&R 65 auto for the USMC only about 7000 made. Made to train with the M1 Garand.
Last edited:
Post WW11 22 caliber US Military Trainers.
This is basicly is the end of the US Military purchasing 22 caliber rifles for Military Training. The only 22 caliber rifles purchased after the late 1950's were Youth rifles or target rifles for gunclubs, Boy Scouts, High Schools and the such Youth groups.
The US Army and the US Air Force both developed a 22LR conversion for the AR16. The inter-service rivalry prevented a combined development of a single conversion. The Government at work wasting our tax money.
Then came the M12 type of 22 caliber rifles which were full size Target rifles for Colleges and the Military Shooting Teams.
More on this at a later date.
Top to bottom.
1. Mossberg 144US
2. H&R 65-58 only about 3000 produced in 1958 for the USMC when they were issued M14 rifles after the M1 Garand.
This is basicly is the end of the US Military purchasing 22 caliber rifles for Military Training. The only 22 caliber rifles purchased after the late 1950's were Youth rifles or target rifles for gunclubs, Boy Scouts, High Schools and the such Youth groups.
The US Army and the US Air Force both developed a 22LR conversion for the AR16. The inter-service rivalry prevented a combined development of a single conversion. The Government at work wasting our tax money.
Then came the M12 type of 22 caliber rifles which were full size Target rifles for Colleges and the Military Shooting Teams.
More on this at a later date.
Top to bottom.
1. Mossberg 144US
2. H&R 65-58 only about 3000 produced in 1958 for the USMC when they were issued M14 rifles after the M1 Garand.
Last edited:
If you liked these then I'm sure you will appreciate these 2 pieces.
The top rifle is a Mossberg 44US was in the 1st Military purchase contract with the proper Lyman 57MS receiver sight.
The bottom rifle is a commercial Winchester 75 purchased at the out break of WW11. It has all the proper US Military markings and original Winchester sights. There is no research results as to how many were purchased off the commercial market until Wartime production was up and running. Rarely seen rifle.
The top rifle is a Mossberg 44US was in the 1st Military purchase contract with the proper Lyman 57MS receiver sight.
The bottom rifle is a commercial Winchester 75 purchased at the out break of WW11. It has all the proper US Military markings and original Winchester sights. There is no research results as to how many were purchased off the commercial market until Wartime production was up and running. Rarely seen rifle.
Huckleberry Finn
Senior Member
- 15,973
- 135
Wealth of knowledge. Very impressive assortment and background on the collections Frank. Not my thing, but I respect the info you have on all them. Interesting.
US 22 caliber Trainers are very good investments if complete and bought right.
I used to do Display Shows and won 1st Place in US Military. But there was too many want-to-be Experts that knew everything about the Trainers but didn't own any. Go figure. I have a very difficult time dealing with 'stupid is and stupid does'. LOL
Thanks for the comments.
FYI I'm always looking for US Trainer rifles, parts, sights, and magazines for the rifles.
I used to do Display Shows and won 1st Place in US Military. But there was too many want-to-be Experts that knew everything about the Trainers but didn't own any. Go figure. I have a very difficult time dealing with 'stupid is and stupid does'. LOL
Thanks for the comments.
FYI I'm always looking for US Trainer rifles, parts, sights, and magazines for the rifles.
WW1 Trainer made in 1918. A little late for the war and most surplus sold out after the war.
Winchester 1885 Low Wall in 22 Short called the Winder Musket after the designer.
Winchester 1885 Low Wall in 22 Short called the Winder Musket after the designer.
When I bought my 1st rifle in 1999 I knew nothing of them either. The internet is just a click away from all the info you seek. If it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't have 75% of my collection.
In fact my 2nd buy was what I was told was a Trainer but it turned out the seller-dealer knew even less than I did. But I paid 225.00 for it and have it on the market now for 600.00. So it was a good lesson to learn on.
In fact my 2nd buy was what I was told was a Trainer but it turned out the seller-dealer knew even less than I did. But I paid 225.00 for it and have it on the market now for 600.00. So it was a good lesson to learn on.
Huckleberry Finn
Senior Member
- 15,973
- 135
