Hey Dutchman....

[Mike Venturino]

Dutchman: The day after I bought that 6.5mm Swede I first got a stomach virus and then a heck of a head cold. That put me behind several weeks.

Finally, I'm healed up enough to get back to the M1896. After examining it closely without the "drug of new ownership" it is indeed more of "Mike Venturino's museum quality" than a genuine one. However, it is a darn nice rifle and of such quality that its a joy to shoot.

So far I've only put 50 rounds through it, first getting the front sight drifted where needed and then shooting a few three shot groups and finally burning up the rest of my ammo on steel at 200 and 300 yards.

I do like it very much! Some bullets are cast so that will come soon.
Mike V.

[dualsport]

Dang Mike, you gotta take better care of yourself. I know what you mean about the Swedes, they are a joy to shoot. I'm proud of mine too, my daughter has her eye on it. She'll get it when she pries my cold dead fingers...

[Mike Venturino]

Dualsport: Thanks for the concern. My problem back around the 1st of the year must have gotten my resistance down. The two times I've gotten around crowds I've been sick afterwards. But, I'm doing fine now and really looking forward to the silhouette season.

I put off buying a Swede because I felt it didn't fit into my WW2 collection well enough. Then I found out the Swedes loaned them to the Finns about 10 minutes before seeing this one at that gun show. I'm sure glad I did. Its great to see such manufacturing quality.

I've got a bunch of cast bullets loaded up. I sure hope it doesn't snow again today!

Mike

[218bee]

I really like the 6.5 cartridge. What boolits ya gonna try?? Been thinking about trying the LEE custom order "cruise missle" from Midsouth

[bruce drake]

Now Mike, That tidbit about the Swede's loaning the weapons to the Finns didn't come from the seller did it? ;)

I hope the Spring Air helps get you better as well.

Looking forward to reading your new Cast Bullet Manual as soon as its available also!

Bruce

[StarMetal]

Mike,

You need to read the 6.5 HV thread and the 300 jug thread. Not that you have to shoot high velocity, but there are tips in them to getting the bullet to align better with the bore for better accuracy.

From what I've researched the Swedes not only lent the Finns rifles, but also sent some troops that fought with them. Then when the troops went back to Sweden they deliberately left the Finns the rifles they had with them. It seems to be documented pretty well.

[Mike Venturino]

Nope, it wasn't the seller. It came from a friend who is so "into" the Finns' war with the Rooskies, that he has even put together the uniforms, etc. I didn't even spot the 6.5mm until after that conversation. But I'm glad I did.

So far I've just fireforemed the 50 rounds of new brass I bought with 35 grains of Varget and five different jacketed 140 grain bullets. Accuracy was exceptional and so got me enthused!

Blue sky and no wind so far today, so maybe I can get some trigger time in.
Mike

[mike in co]

Dutchman: The day after I bought that 6.5mm Swede I first got a stomach virus and then a heck of a head cold. That put me behind several weeks.

Finally, I'm healed up enough to get back to the M1896. After examining it closely without the "drug of new ownership" it is indeed more of "Mike Venturino's museum quality" than a genuine one.


Mike V.


sorta like some womeni have met....and the morning after....just different "medicine"


lol

[StarMetal]

sorta like some womeni have met....and the morning after....just different "medicine"


lol

You better watch out Mike in co, you might find yourself needing medicine after some of those women! :kidding:

[Dutchman]

No matter what type of museum it would fit in. PICTURES!! PICTURES!! PICTURES!!
(cheap thrills, ya'know?)

I have a Finn m/1891 with the Belgian "B" barrel in new condition. And the everybody-has m/39. The m/1891 shoots cast bullets real good. Nearly one hole groups at 50 yds. I've not spent a lot of time with it yet. 311294 is what I've put through it. About a year ago I bought my son-in-law a fresh rebuilt unfired Finn 91/30. New stock & handguard and new barrel. Lots of these around but they're not so inexpensive anymore. I paid $250 but that was from a friend. Wire sling hangers, front sight blade spacer to bring point-of-impact down, much better stocks than Russian Mosins. I have a couple other Russian 91/30 SA marked with KK scratched into the buttstock. Thought to be konikivaari for "machine gun" as they were issued to machinegun squads.

The Finnish soldiers who fought the Russians are very well worthy of respect. They delivered many cases of whoopass on Ivan. The Finn boys scared Ivan. The photo of that one Finn sniper rifle with the engraving (in Finn): "Killed many Russians".

If you haven't seen "The Winter War" it's worth hunting down.

Looks like there are some available but not from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-War-Talvisota-Pekka-Parikka/dp/B0000646UN

looks like its available here, too. $30.
http://www.ihffilm.com/dvd005.html

Dutchman

[spqrzilla]

The 6.5x55mm Swede cartridge is a lot of fun. Easy to reload and well known for being a better big game cartridge than its muzzle energy would suggest. It definitely punches above its weight.

[dualsport]

D-Man, are you referring to a 1891 Mauser? If so please elaborate a bit on that 'B' barrel thing. Would that have anything to do with the Modelo Argentino? Mine is a very early one, 4 digit serial number. It has proof marks I don't understand but one looks a little like a stylised B. Any connection?

[mike in co]

D-Man, are you referring to a 1891 Mauser? If so please elaborate a bit on that 'B' barrel thing. Would that have anything to do with the Modelo Argentino? Mine is a very early one, 4 digit serial number. It has proof marks I don't understand but one looks a little like a stylised B. Any connection?

no a finn converted mn1891

[Dutchman]

This m/1891 still has the original Russian stock. The barrel bands are cut for handguard tabs but since this rebarreled there's been no handguard on it. It looks much better without one anyway.

The B-barrels show up on Finn m/1891 and Finn m/39. They are a very high quality barrel in line with Swiss Schmidt-Rubin barrels. That's why they shoot so good.

http://images30.fotki.com/v1037/photos/2/28344/157842/DSCF6688b-vi.jpg

http://images106.fotki.com/v494/photos/2/28344/157842/yr31-vi.jpg

http://images41.fotki.com/v1246/photos/2/28344/157842/yr32-vi.jpg

http://images38.fotki.com/v1214/photos/2/28344/157842/yr33-vi.jpg

[Buckshot]

............I had an 01 FFL from 1980 until moving to town in 2000, and I remember well the flyers from Century Arms offering M96 Swede's @ $59 and the M38's for $79 and you could have bought them by the boxcar load at those prices :-) I also bought a Ag42b which came with a tool roll for $149 and looked unfired. I now only have one of each: a M96, M38, M94, and the Ljungman. They were very fine rifles built by and maintained by a thoughtfull government. Of course we all have our favorites and mine are still the pre-war South American contract Mausers.

................Buckshot

[Dutchman]

Since this is a "hey Dutchman" message thread I can post all kinda stuff here, huh?

You might see this picture elsewhere but I took it and it was taken behind my house when I lived in Pulaski County, Indiana. We had a GI party one day.

http://images51.fotki.com/v731/photos/2/28344/157842/h007-vi.jpg

This 1911A1 kit paid for 3/4 of my milling machine a year ago. I owned it 25 years and moved it on to finance machine tools. It was a very nice pistol.
http://images45.fotki.com/v1237/photos/2/28344/157842/h010-vi.jpg

This M3 holster has 2 cigarette burns. It was owned by Capt. Francis Messmore of New York, U.S. Army. He died in 1997. Initials F.B.M. on the front but his name is fully spelled out on the back. And I just found him on the net!!

(the 1911A1 was not his)
http://images20.fotki.com/v533/photos/2/28344/157842/DSCF7520fn-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v527/photos/2/28344/157842/DSCF7514fm-vi.jpg

http://images17.fotki.com/v274/photos/2/28344/157842/DSCF7517fm-vi.jpg

http://images110.fotki.com/v570/photos/2/28344/157842/DSCF7515fm-vi.jpg

Soldier of the 34th Illinois Volunteers
Colonel Francis B. Messmore
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 88 pp.
Published: 1996
Price: $29.00
Item #: GWFH84
Send orders to: Mrs. Francis B. Messmore, 130 E. 67th Street, New York, NY 10021. The price of the book includes postage and handling.

Welcome to the Facebook group for the new NYC VENUE, STUDIO MEZMOR (NYC'S BIG ROOM). After a successful three years as New York City’s #1 super-club, the Chelsea nightlife institution at 530 W. 28th Street is reborn as Studio Mezmor. The new name is a tip of the hat to the building’s original tenant, Colonel Francis Messmore, whose manufacturing firm designed immense theater props, movie sets, and animatronic dinosaurs in the massive warehouse space.


Deaths MESSMORE, COL. FRANCIS B.
Published: November 19, 1997

MESSMORE-Col. Francis B. On November 16, 1997. Beloved husband of Dorothy; loving father of Pamela Tobiason; adored grandfather of Peter. Friends may call at Frank E. Campbell, 1076 Madison Ave. at 81 St, Thursday at 6-8 PM and Friday 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday 10 AM at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, Lexington Avenue at 66th Street. Interment, private.

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archives/vol29/vol29n01/n2.html
The bronze buffalo was funded with $25,000 gifts from Gerald Goldhaber, associate professor of communications, and the late Burt P. Flickinger Jr., prominent Western New York community leader and businessman. It is a reproduction of the original statue that for years was the focal point of the old Central Railroad Terminal in Buffalo.

The statue was produced by Messmore & Damon, Inc., a New York City company whose founder, G. H. Messmore, sculpted the original Central Terminal buffalo for the New York Central Railroad in the 1930s.

The plaque will be unveiled by Goldhaber and Col. Francis B. Messmore, son of the original buffalo's sculptor and president of Messmore & Damon.
*************************************************

http://www.usmm.org/books.html

Messmore, Francis B. Dodgin' Subs: The World War II Memoirs of Colonel Francis B. Messmore. New York: 2000 [Served on SS Argentina troopship for Army Tranportation Service]

************************************************** *

Francis B. Messmore, Colonel, was born on Feb. 6, 1916 in Los Angeles. Col. Messmore was drafted in 1941 into the Medical Department, transferred to the Camouflager Engineers, went to OCS and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in July 1942. He was an original memeber of the Transportation Corps which was formed in 1943.

He spent two and a half years at sea, carrying troops to Scotland, England, North Africa, Sicily and Italy and bringing wounded troops, as well as prisoners of wars, back to the U.S.

Col. Messmore stayed in the Reserves and attained a grade of lieutenant colonel AUS, and retured after completing 28 years of Army service. He had an additional 10 years in the New York Guard where he attained the rank of colonel. He received the American Defense (Pre-Pearl Harbor), EAME with Battle Star, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Medal, Army Reserve (20 years), French Rhine & Danube, Medaille de la France Liberre, Yugoslave War Cross and Battle for Britain Commemorative Medal.

He received his BS and MBA degrees from Fordham and his docorate from Pace University. Col. Messmore joined his family business of building theatrical scenery and props for ABC, NBC, the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, among others.

He resides with his wife, Dorothy, in New York City. They have one daughter, Pamela Tobiason, ESQ (asst' secretary/treasurer for Alcatel USA).

*************************************************

Never saw any of this before tonight..

Dutch

[Mike Venturino]

Great stuff, Dutchman. I started the thread and I say post anything you like. Here's one of my favorites . (I hope I haven't posted this before.....)

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/10-28-09067LargeWebview.jpg

And here's a fun military hangun. Wish I had its history.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/7-29-09012LargeWebview.jpg

And last, three of my funnest ones.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/12-29-08068LargeWebview.jpg

Now, I had better quit playing and get to work this morning.
MLV

[NVcurmudgeon]

Good on you Mike, for correctly classifying the M1 Carbine as a fun gun. I feel the same way about the Mini 14 and Marlin Cowboy .44 Magnum. They are both reliable 3 MOA rifles and fun to shoot. Sometimes that is quite adequate.

[Dutchman]

Born in Toronto

http://images56.fotki.com/v1597/photos/2/28344/157842/DSCF0010-vi.jpg

http://images12.fotki.com/v213/photos/2/28344/157842/bayo1-vi.jpg

I was asked to go inspect this in-person for a potential buyer. It was in Rensselaer, Indiana. I was to inspect for originality and Britishness.
http://images54.fotki.com/v514/photos/2/28344/157842/bar3-vi.jpg

This was sitting hidden away in the pole barn.
http://images54.fotki.com/v452/photos/2/28344/157842/z25-vi.jpg

This attitude will not be tolerated!!

http://images19.fotki.com/v275/photos/2/28344/157842/dutchman-vi.jpg

Sweet little thing. Factory letter said 1919.
http://images54.fotki.com/v1592/photos/2/28344/157842/2-vi.jpg

I was at about 7,500 feet on the western rim of Death Valley at a place called Hunter Mountain, named for Lyle Hunter, one of Mosby's Raiders. After the CW Lyle Hunter ran a teamster's cabin on the road over the mountains into Death Valley. In amongst the pinion pine and rocks and bighorn sheep I looked down and there was this fully loaded .50 BMG cartridge. And some links and a couple/few empties here and there. Hmmm... This is a very remote place. Nobody carried a M2 up there. Seeing Hunter Mountain was north, a ways, of China Lake Naval Weapons Test Center, which was a U.S. Navy training facility for pilots in WW2 it didn't take much to figure these .50 BMG came out of an airplane doing combat maneuvers.
http://images52.fotki.com/v1566/photos/2/28344/3886627/50bmg_tif7513076638271867581-vi.jpg

This is what America was like just months before January 1, 1969 when the Gun Control Act of 1968 took effect. Martin B. Retting, Inc, Culver City, Calif. This place was like a tiny Bannerman's on the westcoast. I bought a cherry US Model 1905 bayonet mfg in 1906 with the canvas and leather tipped scabbard for $20.

http://images9.fotki.com/v448/photos/2/28344/1676633/Martin_Retting_1968b-vi.jpg

"Brand new, unfired..." $65.00. It sold from Empire Arms last week for $1,450.
http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/2/28344/1676633/g_1968f_bmp6550594491093580377-vi.jpg

http://images9.fotki.com/v448/photos/2/28344/1676633/fsr42-vi.jpg

[Mike Venturino]

This was one of my smartest moves - building a "shooting shack."

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/11-28-09gp102.jpg

This is the view from the rifle shooting window. I can only shoot to 300 yards.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/11-28-09gp104.jpg

Here's another view of the front showing a little more.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/11-28-09gp103.jpg

And here's a dream come true, visiting the island of Iwo Jima.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/IwoJima08091LargeWebview.jpg

And another dream come true - losing about 70 pounds.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/9-14-09059LargeWebview.jpg

Now I'm heading to the reloading bench to get something useful done.

Night all.
MLV

[bruce drake]

Mike,

That last photo if it's current let's me know you are back at work and getting better.

Bruce

[Mike Venturino]

Bruce: That photo was from last September, its still far too cold, windy, and snowy to be dressed like that today. But I can still wear those clothes.

Mike

[spqrzilla]

Happy to see you, Mike. I enjoyed the magazine piece on Iwo Jima.

[dualsport]

More! Thanks guys for the sweet eye candy, keep it coming. Those are really beautiful guns and toys you have.

[218bee]

Nice photos Dutchman and Mike...hope I'm not hijacking this but seeing Dutchmans photos reminded me of two holsters and stuff I found in my dads "stash" after he passed away. He was an Army Sgt. in WWII and I always wondered if these were from that period or if he got them elsewhere. He never talked about the war much so I don't know...anyway I thought one of you guys can help me ID the holsters , and the rest I guess but really the holsters...
Not shown in picture the back of holster has a small US and below that Warren Leather Works
Any info would be appreciated


http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r123/nkorhn/Moulds/100_0695Small.jpg

[Mike Venturino]

I have two holsters like those. Both of mine have "Sears 1942" on the back. Do yours have a date like that?

MLV

[RayinNH]

Mike, I have a Sears 1942. It houses a Union Switch & Signal pistol. The pistol is all correct with HS(High Standard barrel), Keyes Fibre Co. grips, and Scovill magazine. I had it appraised at the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery ME a couple years ago. The appraiser said that was his first Sears holster he had ever seen and would add $150 dollars to the package. I sure hope he's right...Ray

[Mike Venturino]

Ray: That's good to know. One of my Sears holsters came with a fine Colt 1911A1 that I bought last December. I don't remember where the other one came from. Both of mine show quite a bit of wear.

MLV

[StarMetal]

My holster like those pictured here is black. Is this original or aftermarket?

[RayinNH]

Mike, mine is darker than your two, probably oiled at some point in it's life. The snap and grommets are turning green too...Ray

[Mike Venturino]

Ray: Those aren't mine above. They belong to 218Bee. My two are very dark also. Starmetal: I've seen black US holsters also but don't know why there were two colors.

Here's another one I bought last year, a Nazi marked Hi Power. Maybe later I can get some others downloaded onto photobucket and maybe soon I can get my wife to photograph some of these new rifles I bought.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/2-25-09069LargeWebview.jpg

Mike V.

[BoolitBill]

I was told once that the black holsters were for honor guards and dress uniforms. The tan ones just did not look good enough. I cannot verify if this was official policy or not but my source was a old army seargent and have no reason to doubt him. I also was told by Bobby McNellis (may he rest in peace) that a marine general ordered black leather holsters, from El Paso Saddlery, for guards at some embassy for the Beretta 9mms that they use today because the green fabric holsters they use look terrible on a Marine's dress Blue uniform

[218bee]

Nah, mine don't say Sears on them ...and no date I can see, I'll have to look better.
Just Warren Leather Works....maybe Warren, MI???

[Mike Venturino]

Ok, somebody above asked for more so here goes. The dark holster in this photo is one of my two marked "Sears 1942." The lighter holster is a replica of one of the military shoulder holsters.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/ForPhotobucket014.jpg

[Mike Venturino]

I added these to my WW2 collection in the last couple of years. The P38 was made by Mauser in '43, the Luger by Mauser in '38 and the FN P35 in '43 or '44.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/ForPhotobucket010.jpg

This general officers' Colt 1903 .32 belongs to a friend. I always wanted to shoot a 1903 Colt but never dreamed it would have belonged to a 4 star general.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/ForPhotobucket004.jpg

To go with the STEN I bought these two Canadian/Inglis 9mms.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/ForPhotobucket009.jpg

My wife did this photo for me last week between snow storms. Rifles are 1903 Springfield, K98k Mauser and Japanese Type 99. (Not in that order.)

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/ForPhotobucket015.jpg

And I'll stop with this one. Colt 1911 .45 made in 1918, Colt Government Model made in 1937, and Colt 1911A1 made in 1944. I lucked into all three of these between March and December of 2009.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr169/MLV1/ForPhotobucket016.jpg

Well, that's enough playing for a while.
Mike V.

[izzyjoe]

mike,your my hero. nice lookin' guns you have there. good to hear your feelin' better and your spirits are high. and i love those .30 carbs, i do belive that the good lord himself carries a well worn carbine :Fire:.

[RayinNH]

A keyboard cover has been added to prevent the drool from shorting out the system...Ray

[roverboy]

Mike I love the pic of the k98,1903,and Type 99. The carbines are sweet too. Oh and congratulations on the weight loss. My brother is in the same boat as you were in. Hes trying to get surgery soon.

[Mike Venturino]

Roverboy: Just for information let your brother know that late in '09 my stomach band came loose for reasons unknown, moved upwards and abraded a hole in my esophagus. The resulting infection nearly killed me before they figured out what was going on and got the band out.

I thought that photo my wife took looked pretty good too. She's worth at least as much as I pay her!

MLV

[roverboy]

Thanks Mike I'll tell him. He's lost some weight on his own. Still got a long way to go. Oh just wondered if you still had your Sharps .40-70? I read the article you wrote years ago about Africa. I loved it and thought that it was a good read.

[Mike Venturino]

Roverboy: I went through 4 barrels on that particular Sharps; .40-50BN, .40-70BN, .40-70SS, and .45-70. Then in 2008 when I got the big bug for WW2 subguns I sold it to a gent in Texas. It was a fine rifle but since I don't hunt much anymore, it needed a home with someone who would use it.

Mike

[roverboy]

Well, I'm glad you sold it to somebody that will appreciate it and shoot it. Thats what they're for. A friend of mine has a Cabelas Quigley model .45-120 cal. Deadly recoil on that thing. I'm really into WWII military rifles. I think its my personal midlife crisis. lol.

[PAT303]

So do any of you think people will be drooling over any of todays rifles in 50 years?,Mike I hope you stay fit and well,I've just renewed my handloader subscription!!!!. PS in Australia every man has a shed,it's a national tradition,yours just needs some nudey pictures and a fridge. Pat

[bruce drake]

Lately, here in the States, we've been calling them ManCaves. But the thoughts the same. Wife won't let me paint a handprint on the wall like the Lemiuex Caves in France though...

No nudie posts as I'm raising three young men but everything else is the same as my Mate's in Brisbane. He's a RAN Commander who served with me in Iraq in 2004 and has since retired. We spent the entire tour talking abour reloading, casting and shooting things other than Iraqis.

Bruce