[martin08]

Picked up an early, large curved logo New England Westinghouse. Missing a handguard, but by the looks of the top of the barrel, it has been that way for a very long time. No Finn marks, original bluing, full of dried cosmoline. No Import marks, either.

I wish I could say that it had an identifying feature to determine where it came from, but it doesn't. Most assuredly rearsenaled at one point - Remington bolt body, Tula star stamped cocking knob and trigger guard, and a orange/brown stock with the strangest finish I've encountered. The wood is heavily sanded and coarse grained, and a gritty finish coat is applied, similar to Middle Eastern finishes that I've seen. No marks under the buttplate.

At least I think it has been coated??? It may just be dust/sand caught in dried cosmoline. There is no streaking, running or flaking. Weird. Oh, well. Pics, and thanks for looking.

 

[Ken in Iowa]

The stock finish looks similar to a couple of carbines that I had. One was a Romanian M44, the other an M38 with Romanian and Bulgarian markings.

 

[Lancebear]

Hey Martin,

Nother interestin piece. Since the metal is covered in dried cosmolene, I'd assume the wood is too. Maybe try a little mineral spirits on a small spot on the bottom of the stock. Don't think that would take any finish off. It's not a battle field pick up if it's full of dried grease. Looks like the color of a Balkan I have, but it's shellaced.

LB

 

[martin08]

Probably will keep it in cosmo, LB. Looks pretty that way to me!

I bought this one for the early production, but it's nice to see it in hand for study. The stock is definitely not birch, and likely a heavily sanded Remington stock. With the later Soviet parts and lack of import or Finn stamps, the Spanish Civil War seems like a logical possibility. I thought about Balkan too, but the normal indicators don't add up.

Now, just a small arched logo to go, and the major variations of NEW logos will be complete.

 

[atob37]

I have a NEW with an almost identical stock. It visually resembles beef jerky, and is exceedingly rough to the touch. Almost looks like the stock was dehydrated or something. I'll snap some photos when I get home. Its a pretty hideous stock. Very brown.

 

[Vic]

Baby needs a bath for sure! No way of ever telling but it went to war that's for sure.

 

[AbueloMark]

I'll suggest that it was involved in the Post WWI intervention and may have been shipped to Vladovostok to arm the Czechs. It's a mix of american parts and the Czechs were given American-made rifles. It might have ended up in Japanese hands. She's as ugly as the hind end of disaster, yet retains a certain charm befitting a well-flogged warhouse.

 

[martin08]

This one does fall into the early serial number range that was contracted and sent to the Tsar before default.

I do have three other US guns that are serialed after the shipments to Russia were halted. One Remington Japanese trainer that was very likely a Siberian Expedition gun. One NEW with Balkan features that is US eagle stamped. And one new NEW, still in cosmoline, that never left the US.