Michael may have this in his archives. I found it an interesting read and a little off base for this group. What do you call a pig in a silk dress?

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1025769&da=y

Was my grand fathers first deer rifle, he still has it. I asked if I could use it to hunt as I would like to take a deer with it. He wont let me. His father did a little trigger work to it and it has gone off a couple time when it shouldnt have.

He calls it "long Tom". someday Ill get him to let me take it down and replace what his father over did.

He tells of the first deer he shot with it. All he had was mill surplus rounds and the bullet went clean through. A older man then dropped the deer. Great grampa Tony made him step down and let the older fella have the deer.

After that, he tells me he started hand working his ammo. Filing the tips flat then using a drill bit by hand to make them hollow points.

Thanks for posting that, I keep thinking that someday the rifle will turn up and because of what it is no one will take a second look. Linden also sporterized a German Mauser anti-tank rifle, wish I knew where that was.

There is also a Linden Krag 30-40 out there, saw it advertised in SGN in the days before I was into custom Krags. Think it may still have had a 30" barrel.

I think it is a comment of our times that rifles, like the Nagant, are very seldom seen as worthy of use a basis for a custom rifle. I can recall seeing pictures of Alvin Linden's Nagant creations in the '60s, possibly in his book, and marveling over the clean lines and masterful metal work. Unfortunately I succumbed to the influence of those that I regarded as experts that scoffed at the idea that the Nagant had value in this respect, noting the split receiver bridge and forward bolt as primary draw backs. I enjoy books, such as Linden's and Howe's, which focus on the conversion of various military rifles to sporting use. I think they are reflective of the economy and the relatively low cost of skilled labor at the time. Even in the '60s (prior to the '64 gun laws) a nice Mauser or Springfield could be purchased (some times at a grocery store) and converted to a fine sporting rifle cheaper that buying a factory rifle. Today, the cost of building a quality sporting piece from a MILSURP rifle has reversed that.

michael. a long time ago a liquor store in anaheim Ca. had a big gun collection all over the walls behind the counter was a big mauser sporter, when i ask, i was told it was a german .50 that had been sporterized.thats all the info the clerk had. it was Fords liquor on lincoln in anaheim Ca.Mark

I purchased a Mosin sporter out of a gun shop that someone had spent quite a bit of time on. The gun did not generally exhibit the highest quality work except for about 4" of very nice scroll engraving down the barrel. I doubled my money on that gun!!($75x2)

Neat! Was it this big?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=120635796

Did Linden do any Martini's?

This is a good thread that is well worth resurrecting, a few
weeks ago I saw a Mosin Nagant on gunbroker, I told a friend
about it and Art "Texraid" kindly sent me a pdf of the Linden article which I shared with my friend.

My friend bought it after the seller sent him a very detailed
and positive description of the bore condition. I can't help but
wonder if the person who made the rifle was influenced by
the Alvin Linden article. I notice that they added a safety by
the trigger.

Anyway, here is a link to the rifle

Reminton Mosin Nagant

I hope to see it in the next couple of weeks.

I like this one better than the Linden job, but I can't say I'm a "fan".

I'm a fan of mine (though not a Linden, sent mine to Parker Arms and Tools Works of Sleepy Hollow PA, w help from a wood fellow I'll need to lookup who fit the stock, added the tip and cap... hand-checkered, too It works fine for me as my fairly inexpensive Mosin sporter. SoFla deer & pig, hopefully this season.