Forwarded message:

Subject: Re: Lock and Load (fwd) Date: Tue, 23 Dec 97 02:41:03 -0500 From: "Brian B. Riley" <brianbr@together.net>

It was the first cicilian marketed semi-auto in the country

This doesn't use a Mauser 1898 action does it? The top feed 5-round clip is my first clue... As to first semi-automatic in the country, I believe the Springfield 1903 has that particular honor. It used a Mauser '98 action also. It's also where .30-06 got the 06 from...also very popular in WW1 and used as a sniper rifle through Normandy, after which the Garand pretty much took over.

... the right hand safety can be operated and usually is by the thumb of the right hand its a big flat lever with a good sized tab on it, just extend the right thumb and push down.

How can that work if the R. thumb is on the L. side of the gun while the safety is on the R. side of the gun? Your description leaves me with one of two mental images. Either my hand is off the trigger guard and I have a loaded and unsafed weapon or else I have to do some sort of finger gynmastics around the trigger guard in the same unsafed condition. Scares the be-jesus out of me...an errant twig could fire a round.

The magazine was a non removeable clip that could only be loaded from the top, no stripper clips. The one drawback to the weapon was it was a top eject and the it was said that the ejecting shell distracted the eye of the shooter, personally I got used to that within the first 100 round I fired with it.

Yep, bet this is some sort of Mauser '98 action...

Merry Christmas to you too ... we here in Vermont are having a *very* white Christmas already with more snow coming tonite and tomorrow ...

We're supposed to get rain and more rain starting tomorrow. They say it might be clear on Christmas but the rain returns on Friday...;( Stay warm & thanks for the discussion. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make | | violent revolution inevitable. | | | | John F. Kennedy | | | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|