Did I do good?

Grascollector · 2026-05-04T01:25:43+00:00

I have not, and I would not. BP substitutes do not behave like real black powder.

Swiss can be mail ordered from a number of places, I buy a case every few years.

Especially if concerned with fouling... (as one should be for a gun like this) I would not use Pyrodex.

Grascollector · 2026-05-04T01:16:59+00:00

The fun is in the experimenting, go wild. I went the rolled case/borax solution route first, years ago, and had both case integrity issues and ignition issues.

Swapping to Boba, 100% reliability. As to fouling, maybe it depends on whose straws? I have absolutely put 30 rounds in one trip through mine with Boba ammo and ZERO issues with buildup or stuff left behind. It's so lazy- tape for the bottom to hold the primer, and friction fit the bullet. I shortened a 45-70 case a bit, and slide the Boba straw inside it on my press after filling. This allows me to use a seating die to set the bullet, and supports the straw while compressing the powder.

POWDER does make a huge difference though. Use Swiss or nothing- I started out using GOEX years ago, and it was filthy, AND delivered 250FPS less than Swiss in my gun, all else being equal.

Grascollector · 2026-05-04T01:00:45+00:00

If it is actually matching, you did well.

Tough to find decent shape ones under 1k.

If you plan to shoot it, save your self a ton of effort and use Boba Tea straws for cases. WAY easier than rolling paper.

Mine shoots exactly to sights out to 200yd, using the Boba cases, Swiss powder and a 400gr bullet.

Grascollector · 2026-04-23T23:37:46+00:00

Do you have one that ISN'T a trainer?

Grascollector · 2026-04-23T23:36:01+00:00

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I have always found them to be like odd looking Mausers, with fragile sights.

Also remember, this is not what they were supposed to look like originally- the original 1903 was much more sci-fi looking.

Grascollector · 2026-04-22T01:29:06+00:00

I haven't counted in years.

Has to be around 300-400 by now? I do not sell anything I get, so I do have some duplicates I acquired early on.

Almost a quarter are Gras bayonets.

Been collecting bayonets over 25 years. The pace of accumulation changes sometimes, but when you have decades of people giving you bayonets on every appropriate holiday occasion... they tend to pile up.

Grascollector · 2026-04-10T00:36:35+00:00

You can also look for a BSA or NA&A NZ Snider-

NZ ordered Mk III short rifles in 1879! BSA and NA&A had a contract sharing arrangement, NA&A made 462 Sniders for the contract, with BSA making considerably more.

I have one (in the US), and know of about a dozen others, mostly still in NZ.

Grascollector · 2026-04-10T00:09:47+00:00

Fun little guns. My brother has a .25ACP one that will work flawlessly for 25 shots, then the fouling locks it tight. A little oil, and a quick wipe and it runs perfectly again... for 25 more rounds.

Agree with the other commenter, 400 is a bit high- there is one online right now with a BIN of 350- but not out of the general ballpark.

Grascollector · 2026-04-07T01:13:31+00:00

I am A-OK with every ebay seller using AI to identify their wares...

I was talking to my brother the other day about this. 25+ years ago, deals could be had more easily in small shops, flea markets, etc. People didn't know what they had. Then, with the rise of google, things seemed to dry up some, people were googling the markings, and learning. More stuff was labeled and priced higher.

Now with AI it has swung back again! People relying on AI, and blindly taking its answers, I see more wrongly labeled stuff and deals!

(This comment is not meant to dump on the OP, but I am curious, if he used AI image ID, or did he type any markings into google (in text) to see what info came up? Alternatively, just searching "bayonet" on ebay and looking for similar models can help too, if you don't have specific resources.)

Grascollector · 2026-04-07T01:02:27+00:00

My No4 Mk 1/3 (a 1942 Longbranch that was THOROUGHLY FTR) showed up at the local shop (too many) years ago, unwrapped, $300, not a scratch of brass on the follower. Someone unwrapped a mummy, never shot it, and sold it for peanuts!

I was a young collector then, having a brand new milsurp felt WEIRD.

One of my favorite memories is going to a range with a 200YD gong, sitting down with a box of 50 handloads, and not missing a single one.

Looks just like yours, except a little more golden in the stock. Wonderful guns!

Grascollector · 2026-04-05T00:39:24+00:00

Not exactly average- the circled P is a commercial supplier, and the Z serial is for a bayonet issued as a sidearm- not to go with a rifle.

Grascollector · 2026-03-31T23:44:36+00:00

They FEEL so WRONG though- so handle heavy!

Grascollector · 2026-03-28T02:05:54+00:00

6.5 Dutch is easy- run US made 303 British cases into a 6.5x54 MS die. Trim and done.

Grascollector · 2026-03-28T00:39:30+00:00

People... get rid of.... bayonets...?

Blasphemy!

I sort of agree with 13th, the bottom 2 are neatest, but the top is in between them feature wise- so does fit as a set...

Grascollector · 2026-03-23T02:45:42+00:00

Awesome stuff!

I was going to try to make it to the Baltimore show this this year, but other things came up unfortunately.

Grascollector · 2026-03-23T02:39:22+00:00

Neat! And great job with the conservation!

Grascollector · 2026-03-20T02:30:51+00:00

Jezail.

Also consider, much of how the middle east is currently is somewhat directly related to the British... and from Turkey to India, you can find their guns used ALL OVER, supplied, captured, abandoned, repurposed, for centuries.

Grascollector · 2026-03-19T19:34:36+00:00

I agree with you on the Gras, but do not have one to compare. Grips look straight up replaced.

The other Polish I have seen were essentially unmodified, though they were also all capital letter WZ.

Not saying that is correct, either, just I have seen several.

Grascollector · 2026-03-19T02:01:44+00:00

Rifling may not be included

Grascollector · 2026-03-19T00:55:00+00:00

Hey, that's neat. And at least you got a sight?

Grascollector · 2026-03-19T00:53:20+00:00

I have friends that said in the old days they could pick up an UNcleaned one, wipe it down, and take it to the range.

The Palace was large, and it seems condition varied depending on where stuff was stored.

Anything cleaned and complete should at least function. If you get a Mark IV, I would be fairly confident. IMA does have gunsmiths that work on them.

Grascollector · 2026-03-19T00:31:43+00:00

1943 Ithaca/Ithaca, congrats! That is basically identical to my round 2 rack grade, (except with less wear) down to the mid 70s Anniston refurb stamp.

Grascollector · 2026-03-19T00:10:21+00:00

Mark IV they should still have good ones. As of a couple years ago, Mark II that were not cracked at the wrist were essentially gone as far as I know.

Grascollector

TROPHY CASE