he!!o

He!!o everyone. Thought I'd drop in and say how I ended up here.

I have guns mostly for hunting and recreation. Never really had a whole lot of interest in owning issued military rifles until about a month ago. My Dad had been learning a little about our family history and found that I had a Gr. Gr. Grandfather that served in WWI. Turns out he had been to trenches and was returned stateside after a gas attack. Sadly he didn't last a year after his return.

Well since the American National WWI museum is relatively close I made a trip to see it. WWI seemed to be mostly swept under the rug as far a military conflicts go from what they taught in history in public school. I knew a little but the amount that I learned that day was about 20X what I thought I knew.

The military rifles they had on display were amazing, I've always been a rifle guy, but far and above everything else from tanks and cannons, to trench knives and pistols I couldn't help but be drawn to the smle's. Especially the MKIII*. Something about the lines and function of them hit me and I started reading about them a little more. When I was at the museum and now online found myself amazed about how modern/futuristic this rifle was considering the time, and the huge effect it would play in both of the major wars of the 20th century. It also is a very elegant looking rifle and the combination of form and function is defiantly my favorite of the hundreds of examples of wartime weapons they had on display.

So anyway I'm in the market to find one now. I have a lot to learn but I know generally what I'm looking for. Ultimately I'm looking for advice on what was good, what to watch out for when buying, information on use and maintenance and if I should even shoot one with modern ammo. Would I be endangering a piece of history? I'm going to find out.

T - MTN:

You state you live close to the U.S. WWI museum.
The American Legion was supposed to have that museum contact me.
I have a boxful of a gent's info from WWI (pics, part of the diary, paybook, women's phone # etc)
They never contacted me.
This stuff belongs in that museum...not here in Canada, gathering dust in my basement.
Maybe you could PM me, for further info. Or make arrangements to have them contact me?

Thanks for the tips.

Here's a link to the museums' FB page.
https://www.facebook.com/theworldwar

If you're not on FB I told them what you have and can act as a liaison. I should hear back from them relatively soon.

Nice to meet you guys.

Welcome to the forum! You asked about shooting the ol' rifles.... Well lots of us around here do just that. I haven't been out in a while with winter and all but soon it will be time to hit the range again. As long as you have the rifle checked out thoroughly and it is deemed safe, there really is no reason not to shoot them. The one I fire the most is a 1917 BSA Mk III*.

Oh dear he's got the bug and there's no known antidote. He'll get a rifle then another and continue to collect WW1 and WW11 items for the rest of his life. You're in good company we're all barmy on here, certified gun nuts with a massive knowledge of enfields. Just 1 point our resident "loony" has an aversion to charger clips being called "Stripper clips" and a rifle is called a rifle not a gun! Mention stripper clips and we have to dart him until he calms down. Meanwhile welcome to the forum.

*poink*
*thwock*
"Ouch"
Why is there this feathered syringe stuck in my butt?

So let me see if I have this right?

Charger = correct designation, mind the rims, reloads your rifle
Stripper = covered in glitter, smells like a pina colada, may have her own rifle?

I am going to reserve the right to use either depending on my own situation. The second one would be pretty rare but if I should happen across this, I don't know that I can totally reject the concept.

Another welcome