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Posted: 7/8/2014 2:46:39 AM EDT
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A few years back I found this byf 44 P-38 at the flea market. It had been welded together at the front of the action, the mag welded onto the frame, and the barrel plugged. I bought it for it's parts and the gxy 44 "paper" holster for $50.00. No idea why it was done like that.
I figured I could not hurt it any so I got it to where the action worked (so I could get at the internal parts) and while I was about it cut the mag loose and unplugged the bore. Of course what with the action being welded I would never trust it as even a blank shooter but I never parted it out. Up till now has just served as a wall hanger. I was thinking it would make a great desk or wall lamp as it's not much count for anything else. I figure I could replace the grips with P-1 grips and save the wartime grips, holster, and a few of the internal parts like the firing pin and locking block. At least it would become a useful wall hanger. 
What say you? I'd add a poll but don't know how. 
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It's hard to say what the future holds for deactivated military weapons. Over the years they have been stripped for parts or made into lamps and such. Who is to say that they may become collectable in a few years.
I have two DP Enfield rifles in my collection. They are part of the history of the Enfield rifle that is disappearing. I would keep as is and mount in a display case if it were mine. |
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Quoted:
It's hard to say what the future holds for deactivated military weapons. Over the years they have been stripped for parts or made into lamps and such. Who is to say that they may become collectable in a few years. I have two DP Enfield rifles in my collection. They are part of the history of the Enfield rifle that is disappearing. I would keep as is and mount in a display case if it were mine. Deactivated by a .gov like your Enfields is one thing but something that was basically made into a paperweight or kid's toy that goes click is another. As far as I am concerned it's history is no less served as a lamp than in a display case. Think about it, what are you are displaying.....Just a broken P-38 right? "Becoming collectable" speaks to a dollars and cents issue that really carries little weight with me in this case. I can derive a lot more satisfaction and get a lot more use from the "paperweight" as a wall lamp that I could ever possibly derive from it just sitting in a case. I had thought about sending it off and having a cut-a-way made by the same guy that did my K98 and Enfield but the cost was prohibitive with a turn-around measured in years.
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I can derive a lot more satisfaction and get a lot more use from the "paperweight" as a wall lamp that I could ever possibly derive from it just sitting in a case. I get what your saying 100% and support your logic. The unfortunate part is that IMHO wall lamps should be in pairs. |
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If only that end was tack welded shut why is it so dangerous? Find a new barrel though, maybe a p1 slide to go with it to shoot and original slide for display. I tried a P1 barrel/slide on the frame and it did not work. Oddly enough the byf barrel/slide would work on the P-1. Weird. Meh, I have P-38s (and a P-1) to shoot (or look at) so why risk it? |
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I went ahead with the project and used it as kinda-sorta a night stand lamp next to the daybed (more a big rifle disassembly area these days) in my gunroom. I found it much more useful than I thought it would be.
I have my computer in the same room and found that it casts plenty enough light to the point I can turn off the overhead florescent lights. Useful and it will save me money too.
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Quoted:
I went ahead with the project and used it as kinda-sorta a night stand lamp next to the daybed (more a big rifle disassembly area these days) in my gunroom. I found it much more useful than I thought it would be. I have my computer in the same room and found that it casts plenty enough light to the point I can turn off the overhead florescent lights. Useful and it will save me money too.
http://oi61.tinypic.com/1zf1shv.jpg looks nice!!! sadly, I have a 1896 Krag that someone welded up the barrel on,, it makes a nice wall hanger,, |
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