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[The Right to Bear Arms]

You could say the last two common enemies, the USSR was briefly officially at war with Japan in August 1945.

Old rifles have history, that's what I like about them.

Or we could just lump the Imperialist Japanese and the Nazi together and call them the Axis. haha.

[gao1976]

New guns, old guns, long guns, short guns, wood guns, plastic guns......I just love all guns.

[16in50calNavalRifle]

History guy here - especially WWII - and that's the main reason I started with the WWII milsurps. Lots of Russian language study and Soviet studies background led me to Mosin-Nagants (well that, and the cost of the rifles and ammo) at the start.

After this I added an M1 Carbine (1943 Quality Hardware) and just this week, finally, a Garand from the CMP (HRA 1955 Service Grade).

Echo all the sentiments here about the character, weight (literal and figurative), style, craftsmanship, and smell of the milsurps (the gun cabinet opens, and it's all blued/parked steel, wood, and the aroma of cosmoline).

I think it's great that so many people love their modern rifles - I want more and more people indulging the hobby with everything under the sun, from bows to black powder - the more the better. I have limited time for this hobby and the milsurp rifles take up all my space for long guns (handguns are more mixed).

I shoot an informal action rifle match every few months and I'm usually the only one with the bolt-action (Mosin) - I love it, and a few of the others there seem to like it too. There's something about the rhythm and style of the bolt action, with the large cartridge and projectile, and the impressive sound and recoil.

It thrills me to learn that some of the regular C & R posters here are so young, and are so into history. As they know that's not particularly true of many - not just their age, but older folks too. Good to see a few other small points of light out there in what is otherwise a fairly dim landscape.

[NissanPreRunner]

Its funny how out all of my friends, I am the only one that wants to get older rifles first before getting a plastic/newer rifle. I don't care if my bolt gun is slower, if it goes bang when I pull the trigger I am happy.

Now off to find me a K98 so it can keep my Turkish Mauser company