Polish Wz98a F B RADOM 1937 Returns After 34 Years

Gents:
As the title bar says, at long last, was able to reacquire my former Polish Wz98a rifle. Letting it go in the first place as part of a trade trade deal was one of my larger blunders (although it was toward a Polish Maroszek Wz38m) which I would not have sold off later, if not to fund a PzB39. In any event, the rifle has come back just as it left, with the exception of a added Kranc & Lempick muzzle cover. I recall walking into Martin B. Rettings in Culver City, Ca. and spotting it in a rifle rack behind the counter. It did not take long to look over and pull out my wallet to consummate the transaction. Tried to get some decent snaps but tell you, it weighs more than any of my Gew98s, so tough to hang onto with one hand and snap a pick with the other. Mentioned this piece previously so ser# should be in the data base. Matching rifle...

Remaining photos:

Definitely a beauty! Congrats on such a long awaited reunion.

What an absolute stunner! Correct cleaning rod as well (unobtainium).

Great example.

Love stories like this. Congrats on hooking back up with it again.

pretty sharp rifle, amazing that it has come back after that length of time. we see other collectors here ‘passing’ some pieces back & forth, but 34 years must be a record. (hoping no one died to make this happen!)
weight: is the stock maple?

Thanks guys. Rifle ended up in a exceptional personal collection of over 40+ years after I sold it. Many of the owner's acquisitions were hand-picked from two very advanced collectors during that time. Am sure we have all heard the saying "Happy Wife. Happy Life." Well, if the opposite is true, have known many a collector (and/or his collection) are bound to suffer. I believe this was the case. Rifle weighs in at 9.5 lbs. so guess it is just me (since everything weighs twice what it used to feel like)!

pwcosol said:

Am sure we have all heard the saying "Happy Wife. Happy Life." Well, if the opposite is true, have known many a collector (and/or his collection) are bound to suffer. I believe this was the case.

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One of the best decisions I ever made, way back when my wife and I first got engaged and started merging our finances, was setting up a separate bank account for my collecting. We each get some money every month to do with as we please, and mine goes in there. Sell a rifle? Funds go in there. Want to buy a rifle, or ammo, or whatever other dumb thing? Funds come from there, no need to even consult with her. If the account is empty, it's empty, time to start saving up again.

It's made it a lot easier to have an expensive hobby without getting into arguments about dumping our money into that rather than vacations or other things we can both enjoy.

good way to do it. I do it less formally, wad of bills instead of bank account. but then I never really thought I’d ‘collect’ outside of being a pack rat. (At least 4 generations of pack rats!) I don’t ask & I don’t tell. I pay the bills, so I see what she spends on….. !