Surplus Collectible

GunAuction to Watch: Remington 760 Gamemaster Pump-Action 270 Win.

“Dust 2 Dollars” is running an auction for a Remington Model 760 GameMaster pump-action rifle chambered in 270 Winchester — and there’s a twist. Because this rifle is 59 years old, it qualifies for a C&R transfer.

GunAuction to Watch: Left-Handed Deer Hunter’s Dream

Auction 11278485 at GunAuction.com is a left-handed deer hunter’s dream: a Remington Model 721 in .243 Win. This customized left-hand bolt-action rifle has several indications that it was built by a true rifleman: a nice-looking walnut Monte Carlo pistol grip stock, a 26-inch medium-heavy-taper barrel with no rust, wear, scrapes, or scratches, and a 4-pound trigger pull. And this: The rifle is a custom chambering of the .243 Win. cartridge because the Model 721 was not made in that round.

GunAuction to Watch: Cased Remington O/U Derringer .41 Rimfire w/ Ammo

GunAuction.com seller “Lock-stock-and-barrel” calls this Remington O/U Derringer chambered for .41 Rimfire the best “blue” Remington O/U derringer they have seen. The Type III, Model No. 4 two-shot top-break handgun was made between 1912 and 1935 and displays a muted blue color with no appreciable surface erosion.

Maintaining Ruger Mini-14 Rifles

Three basic subassemblies, the barreled action, trigger group and bolt assembly, are involved here. For the sake of simple cleaning, the rifle need only be taken down to these groups. If other problems exist, you'll need to go well beyond the instruction pamphlet provided with the firearm. To disassemble the Mini-14, the first thing that you must do is remove the magazine and set the hammer in the cocked condition. Pull the bolt handle all the way back, cocking the hammer, then release the bolt forward. Push the safety back to place it in the on position. Place the rifle in your padded jaw vise with the trigger guard pointing up. It works best for me if I hold the barrel in the leather-faced jaws of my vise.

Repairing Winchester’s Model 12 Shotguns

After making 2 million Model 12s from 1912 to 1980, Winchester brought this famous shotgun back. Here's what to look for in the newer one.

Inexpensive Fixes For Savage/Stevens 311s

Over the years, Savage/Stevens manufactured a whole bunch of reasonably priced side-by-side double barreled shotguns, establishing a niche in the hunting gun market. Though inexpensive, these shotguns have proven over the years to be quite durable and there are enough out there to make it likely that one will find its way into your shop for a fix-up or rejuvenation.

GunAuction to Watch: Colt’s PT. F.A. Mfg. Co. — Single Action Army Artillery Model...

Auction #11175735 is a Basic Auction posted by “SteveHMaine” that lists a Colt's PT. F.A. Mfg. Co. Single Action Army Artillery Model with a $4,499 minimum bid and a Buy It Now price of $4,500. This is an excellent example of a nice old veteran of the late Apache Wars (1880-1889) that was hastily made ready for the Moro Rebellion (1899-1913) in the Philippines when the Army realized the ineffectiveness of the .38 caliber Model 1892.

GunAuction to Watch: Franchi LAW-12 “Evil Assault Shotgun”

Seller “Oregon Guns” has listed a Franchi LAW-12 tactical shotgun for sale in Auction #11139577, pointing out that the model is “permanently banned from importation” and to “make sure to get yourself one of these ‘evil assault shotguns’ while you still can.”

GunAuction to Watch: 1926 Smith & Wesson .44 Sp Hand Ejector, 2nd Model Target...

One of the featured auctions at GunAuction.com this week is a scarce and collectible pre-war Smith & Wesson revolver listed by “jackthedog.” Auction #11136938 is for a “.44 Hand Ejector, 2nd Model Target,” a .44 Special built on S&W’s big N-Frame with five screws. This no-reserve Penny Auction is generating a lot of interest, accumulating 36 bids in about 48 hours, with the high bid being $1,806 at one point.

Excess Headspace in the 1903 and ’03A3 Springfield

GunReports.com shows how to excess headspace in the 1903 and ’03A3 Springfield rifles better than the way Granddad did it. If you have access to a lathe, use this method to correct excess headspace easily, without the need for an expensive chambering reamer.

GunAuction to Watch: 13 Rounds, 13 Headstamps of German WWII 9mm Ammo

In Auction 11105881 at GunAuction.com, Golden Bear Services (under the handle “aubruin”) is marketing 13 rounds of 13 different headstamps of Pistolenpatronen German WWII 9mm Ammo for the collector who needs to round out an entire section of a collection.

Working Rossis Model 92 Lever-Action Carbines

I had reworked many Winchester 94s and both the 336 and 94 Marlins, but I had never done a Model 92 until a friend of mine walked in with a little .357 Rossi carbine—a 16-incher at that. This gun was very tight, too tight for it to operate as he wanted it to as a working gun that goes with him almost everywhere.

More California Nonsense

I often write about outlandish judicial decisions in this space, but on March 15, 2024, Federal District Court Judge Josephine L. Staton raised the bar...