Daveboone

And their quoted turn around time was...?

If you are really using it for hunting, I cant imagine wanting anything less than 4"...the longer the sight radius the better your aiming capability, muzzle velocity, sight radius. I had a Ruger .44 SBH, and foolishly traded on something else. I have a 6" Model 28. Although the Smith has a far superior action and sights, for hunting I would rather have that Ruger back in a heartbeat. (Now, if I had a Model 29, that would change the story!). I am frequently surprised by guys who never would allow a rifle group of more than an inch at 100 yards, figure a 6" handgun group at thirty yards is acceptable...just sayin.

First step would be to thoroughly degrease it / clean the inside action, then lightly relube it, then field test it again. Where did you send it for repairs? Keep in mind standard ups shipping is going to be who knows how many days there, and then returned, don't count week ends, and of course, you did call them ahead of time and got an estimate on the turnaround, right?

Give him a call. Good work takes time, and good taxidermists are usually backed up. I have about the worst case wait....I initially dropped off a bear hide for a rug to be made, anticipated about a year. the following year I dropped off another. I wasn't concerned at that time the other wasn't done yet. End story....it ultimately took four ...4 ….four years to get my first rug. When I picked it up, I also picked up my other hide (of course they are sent out almost immed. for tanning). When I got it home, my wife and I loved his work so much (he really did do a outstanding job) we decided to take the 2nd rug back for him to do. FOUR more years later, I got it back. Absolutely outstanding work, but I wont take anything more to him. I was aware he had a lot of heavy family matters that were greatly pressing, and had absolute confidence in the work getting done, and my work was some of the last he took in before this set in.

Still....having helped field dress, quarter and pack out several moose, you want to make sure...not think, that it is a chore that you are up to. Boned quarters go about 100 lbs apiece, and guaranteed...the moose will be dropped in the most inaccessible spot imaginable. 1000 lbs of moose in a bog or a black cedar jungle is a major task, even for several experienced guides. Add a warm fall day, and the nightmare of a big pile of rotting meat can occur all too quickly.

Just a thought... New Brunswick has a draw moose season, and the odds aren't bad, certainly better than Maine or NH. Other hunters I had talked to up there report anywhere from two years to about 8 for a draw. You have to have an outfitter, but for a moose hunt NB is a giveaway! My bear outfitter (last I checked) just across the border in eastern Maine, was charging 1800. Compare to Newfoundland, where a good price for a moose hunt is going to run you about 6 grand, plus incidentals. If I remember right for Maine and NY you need an outfitter too...moose has to come out whole!

Several years ago when in the market I settled for and purchased a Sig Saure 938 9mm. Incredibly well made, for a very compact 9mm recoil was negligeable, and it packs very easily. (usually in a pocket holster ). It has been stone cold reliable with ammo, though note!!::: These like many of the compact 9s, are designed for full strength +p. I shoot almost exclusively nato spec 124 g. I have to admit also that I love the compact wheelguns, but the sun rose and set on the S&W model 36 for me. glassy action, compact, natural pointing and bombproof. the newer ones of of course modern metals are all approved for +p loads, but for the ranges they are geared for I prefer my semiwadcutters.

I had a stainless Single Six with the mag cylinder (never used it). I cant remember what I traded it for, but I sure wish I had it still. Stone cold reliable, low maintenance, great accuracy, and it is one of the prettiest handguns ever made. For me though, it was too big for my normal woods wandering that it would accompany me on, I didn't really small game hunt with it, but it was a lot of fun for plinking. I had always loved the Bearcat, and think for my purpose it is more size appropriate. It would be perfect with an adjustable sight. Along the same line, a S&W .22 kit gun is great too, closer in size to the Bearcat, and it has the fantastic Smith adjustable sights. I already have a High Standard Sentinel .22 though, which though well worn is certainly in the same game. I think I don't give a lot of thought to it as much as I used to, in that I seldom grab a handgun heading out in the woods anymore. I have grown to feel sorry for the poor redsquirrels, porkies, woodchucks, etc. that were the game of opportunity, and don't harass them like I used to.

I am usually up to my camp a fair bit through the winter, cutting wood, maintaining trees or just hiking/ scouting. This year the weather hasn't been cooperating much. I was going to go up this w/e, but it is cold enough that it would take too long to heat up the cabin to make it comfortable for overnight. Back home, I am reloading, doing a lot of planning for a long awaited trip to South Africa in 2020, catching up on a lot of reading.

Usually I am still getting out up at the camp to stretch my legs, woods management, firewood, etc. Unfortunately, the weather has been severe enough I cant really get into the woods to do so, and even though I would like to this w/e, it is cold enough that I wouldn't be able to get the cabin warmed up enough in a reasonable amount of time. Hopefully in the next year or so I will be spray foaming the subfloor, which will help a lot.

A lot of the time when I see a scrap wood stand like those, I cringe. I had spent way too much time in poorly maintained old stands and several times had near falls.... I frequently find old stands when I am out looking for new stand sites, and frequently they are in good spots. I have found many partial manufactured stands hanging. It looks like the owners removed the lower part to keep others from getting or using them. (or maybe someone else looted the lower section).

Saturday afternoon I was also home alone, wasn't up to doing anything outside. I decided to watch "Das Boot" Great movie, but long! Not many movies nowadays go a full 3 hours plus!

yep, had a drop floor plate. (well, technically all the mausers do, but they are a pain in the butt with a bullet point) It was a convenient button, inside the trigger guard if I remember right. He also bought his at a neighborhood garage sale...I wont mention the price, I will be called a liar. The husband passed away, the wife was selling off the guns, he helped her out and she gave him a giveaway deal.

I have seen rats big enough to pin ya down, give you and indian rub , wedgy (or is it weggie? then make ya cry like a baby. The picks as best as I can tell show pretty skinny relatively bare legs.

Mongi.

An acquaintance had a ( I think I remember correctly) 1903 Argentine 98, he paid ….100.00 for it at a local garage sale. It had its original bbl, but was scoped, safety and bolt converted in a synthetic stock, but the metal work was amazing, I would have loved to have got my hands on it....

i was going to guess a rat....

I would consider it, but don't have an appropriate work area for it. I kind of hate to redo the original bluing, it is so dark and deep it is black, but after 80 years for most of the gun, it is time.

If I had originals, I would probably feel the same. Keep your eye open...literally millions of both were made. Almost countless millions of the mausers. You can find prev. sporterized 98s very reasonably that you can complete the job on. Keep in mind, no matter how much money you put into them, they will only be worth that to you. No doubt for the price for the most common sporterizing conversion work (start with an action, drop the bolt handle, convert the safety, drill and tap the barrel, heaven forbid the cost of a new barrel and replacement....) you can buy a very nice Mauser clone new (Kimber, Ruger Mk 2, etc).

My working 98 is a 1933 Oberndorf Banner, originally dads in 1950s sporterized form,, with turned down barrel bolt handle and Redfield aperture sight and Brownells front ramp. As the accuracy holds to anything anyone I know owns, and the good old great 8 does all I want, the barrel stays, but I upgraded with a Timney, drilled and tapped for single piece scope mount, supporting my leupold vx 3 1.5 x 5. Add side swing safety, aftermarket alloy trigger guard and magazine, with spring release. It sits in a synthetic stock. In dads original Herters birds eye maple stock, it weighed almost 12 lbs! Now I have it down to just under 7. It really needs a new bluing or maybe ceramacoating, but that will be in time. A couple years ago I bought a 1941 vintage Steyr mfg 98 a friends dad bought at a garage sale in the 70s for fifty bucks. It is also in an old herters stock, but that is all that was changed. (military rear sight was gone also, with a two piece weaver bases added). I gave him 100.oo for it. Everything except the missing rear sight matches, but I don't care much about that. I gave it a new firing pin spring, low swinig safety, cleaned up the sear and trigger a bit, and put a period correct Weaver K2 scope on it. Once I got used to the trigger, she shoots just fine. This is my Oberndorf with this years buck. It has also earned a couple moose and a bunch of deer. Take all my rifles, leave that one and I am happy.

oooh, goodygoody! Right up my ally. I have a preference for 8x57 JS though. My long time glass has been 1.5 x 5 power Leupold VX 3. Compact, precise, tough and all the magnification I have ever needed, esp. in typical NY woods, but are more than capable of picking out that shot at 200 yards. I actually have 3 of them on different guns, 8x57, 45-70, .308. The oldest one is about 30, never had a hitch of trouble with any of them.

Thread getting a bit old, but still timely.... Others had mentioned already, your county cooperative extension should sell young trees. I am in Oswego County, every spring on site they sell approx. 3" tall bare root seedlings very cheap. I think I paid 20.oo for ten oak seedings....bought a mix of red and whites. They all lived, They also offer conifers, apples, etc. Tough to go wrong for the price. I have bought nursery potted trees, and they never seem to do so well.

You guys are probably right.... The long gone bait/ sports store on Bartell was called Brewerton Sports. Every year for a number of years they had a fall extravaganza, with a lot of reps and great deals. I bought one of the last produced Ithaca shotguns there for a great price. The other store of course is on Bartell also, but has only been around a few years. They do seem to be very customer oriented.

Sorry Wolc123, the bait store formerly on Bartel Rd is long gone...probably almost 10 years, at least. There is a good bait store in the plaza on the north side of Bartel just a bit further up though. There is a Gander OUtdoor store just off rt 81 the next exit south though, at Cicero. I think they are going to have live bait too. Sylvan Beach is popular with the teens, but a very nostalgic, small park. Heading towards Rome, about 15 miles away are Fort Rickey Game farm, the Old Erie Canal historic park, and in Rome itself Fort Stanwix, national historic spot, with a recreation of the old Revolutionary War fort, which is a very interesting visit, with reenactments. ABout an hour 1/2 away you could run up to Old forge where there are a couple water parks, and a lot more to do. I would pick up one of the weather proof fishing maps available in the area for a fair guide to the lake....and beware! ONeida is known for its shoals, and being actually quite shallow, stirs up quickly. There are a lot of state boat launches surrounding the lake, so that makes for pretty easy access. I agree the animal park in Chittenango is well worth the stop, and a very family friendly day. Drop down to Syracuse, and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is another real nice stop, about 1/2 hour away. There are a lot of rentals on the lake, those in Sylvan beach tend to be more expensive. A lot of them just go word of mouth, but I am sure you could just google ONeida lake summer rentals and get a quick list of them...but don't wait, this is the time of year folks plan for it. I wonder if Verona Beach State Park offers cabinis?

Over about the past two years I sold quite a few....I wanted to go on a moose hunt, and the most fair way of paying for it was to thin my closet. Most of the guns were duplicates (some triplicates), I had way more shotguns then I would ever be able to use, and a lot of dead wood. Ultimately I was able to raise most of the price of the hunt. In my opinion, whether guns keep going up is ….iffey. Some folks think every piece of everyday gun is worth a mint...NYS has made it much more difficult for casual sales, with the resulting sales to dealers, etc. taking a killing. I did to my expectations going through an auction house that does a regular firearm business.