[Viking2002]

I got genuine '31 Tula Baltic Flamethrower. All original. Serials on all parts match - no over stamps, no filing. And I used a numismatist's loupe to check. Furniture rated VG, no checking, just the usual duty dings or insignificant finish wear, arsenal refurbish. Bolt a little loose but solid. Matching bayonet, web gear, leather/canvas stripper pouches, full cleaning kit with dual oil/solvent can, and cleaning rod, included. I got in when they flooded the market a dozen years ago and found an online shop, and paid extra for a hand-picked unit. Picked it up at the gun shop and came covered in so much cosmoline, it took two days to clean it. You couldn't get what I have for $500 now.

Therein lies the mystery: being of Germanic origin, it's no stretch to know many of my distant relatives were conscripted into the Wehrmacht. I just look at it hanging in my rifle rack,and wonder if a Red Army soldier might have killed one of my great uncles with it.

[Celtic Conservative]

Hex receiver- nice! I have a ‘43 izhevsk. All matching, no grind-offs. But as it was built in ‘43 its looks are not going to win it any prizes. It probably went right out the factory door and straight into battle. The front sight post looks like a second attempt, as there are grind marks on the barrel where a front sight was put on wrong. But it’s a shooter, and a good one at that. This piece of history set me back $150. I also have a romanian tokarev and a chinese sks. Those russkie guns just seem to scratch an itch for the history buff in me.

CC