New pattern K98k and K98k scoped

Most of the previous model of VSR K98k has been carried over to the new design, the only major change is the magazine well.

But I never pass up the opportunity to share more pictures of pretty pewsticks.

 

The rear sight unit and, concealed beneath the leaf, the hop adjustment grub screw for the TDC.

The 3D printed foresight block and oil-finished barrel.

The new VSR magazine well (MkII, printed) is far neater and more intuitive to use than its predecessor.

Sniper Variant

Loosely based on the ZF39 mounted rifles, this was an inexpensive workaround to buying and fitting an original or repro scope and mounting system. While that is something I would like to do, this is good for the player who wants to snipe in style on a bit more of a budget.

The sight hood is included with the standard K98ks as well, but suits the scoped rifles particularly well.

The scope mounts have been modified to look slightly less modern. Square edges have been rounded off, hex screws replaced with oil-finished slotted screws and the chunky thumbscrew replaced with nuts.

The buttplate has been chequered for extra grip. This could be neater, unfortunately the buttplate curved across its face as well as down the length which I didn’t expect and this threw me off.

Several of the K98k stocks I have received recently have had shorter-than standard hand guards. In order to ensure a secure fit I have made a polymorph hand guard retaining piece.

And last but not least, a custom reticle for the scope. You can’t have a German Sniper rifle without a German Post. This is a prototype, I’m looking to get some laser cut for a sharper profile.

If you are interested in the history of the K98k, you can check out the introduction article here, or see the whole build process here.

If you like this project or have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

Don’t forget you can buy many of our complete products via The website.

No.32 Scope model

Producing as I have been airsoft replicas of the No.4 and L42A1 rifles, I had need to mount a scope. Unfortunately, the British issue No.32 was a very distinctive optic, even for the time when such scopes looked very different to modern ones. I tried mounting normal modern scopes but they just didn’t look right and ruined the lines of the rifle.

While a very nice replica can be acquired from the Far East, the cost is quite high once import duty has been added, so a lower cost alternative is in order.

This 3D printed shell fits around a small and inexpensive scope. It gives the profile of the No.32 and still gives access to the adjustment for zeroing the scope.

My hope is, in the longer term, to also change the reticule so that it too is correct.

P.S.: Since I wrote the rest of this article, I have been experimenting with reticle modification and construction. This is very far from perfect but it’s a start.

If you like this build you can see other complete projects here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

 

Vintage Airsoft August 2018 update

It’s been quite a year at Vintage Airsoft.

For those that haven’t read the ‘about’ page, VA is a one-man-band. As a result, the whole operation is reliant on my own health, personal life and organisation all living in harmony. As many of my followers will know, this year they have not been so and as a result of personal life (bereavements), poor weather in the winter, illness and a short notice workshop move, my organisation has suffered.

At last, things have been on a relatively even keel for a bit (one hopes it remains so). There are some exciting developments which I’m going to share here and some changes to how VA is run to make everything run more smoothly.

Item 1: Duplicating jig

This is exciting. I’ve had this in the works since I started VA and the rails have moved house and workshop with me since I started in my parents’ garage.

This device is at about the MkIII stage, there are still some improvements to make to make it easier to use, but for now this is a major improvement over making every single stock by hand.

Things like this SMLE nose cap go from being hours of intense work, focus and swearing to get right down to around a half hour.

Item 2: Batch manufacture

Making items in batches is far more efficient in terms of time, materials and logistics. As a result, I will be making most items in batches from now on. This will apply to anything I have made in the past that isn’t too weird and wonderful (I’ll never be asked by four people at the same time to make an LMG25 for example), but for things like SMLEs, K98ks etc… I’ll make a batch or two per year or as suits demand.

3. Custom builds

I’m going to formalise my builds waiting list so that there is a specific order for projects to start. Otherwise these projects will be spread between batches and overlapping with one another as they do presently.

4. Foreign shipping

I can now ship abroad (outside the UK) using a specialist courier. It’s very, very expensive for single rifles but I can bring the costs down if I send multiple rifles to a central distributor in a country. I have a man in the US who will process delivery for me at that end as I have many order requests from there, there are several other countries that I may put feelers out to as well if the quantities are high enough.

5. The Site

I have recently been offered an airsoft site and, as a dream opportunity, I have accepted. This is an entirely separate venture to VA, but there will naturally be some crossover.

It’s almost a blank canvas, but the group of us involved have already made a strong start.

 

You can join the C3 group here if you want to come and play with us in Monmouthshire, UK. 

 

That’s all for now, back to building airsoft guns!

MAS 36: Complete

Though I say so myself, she’s rather nice. When I first took on the MAS 36 build, it was just an interesting commission. Now, I rather want one. A fascinating rifle and it’s satisfying to have an airsoft version of it.

The far side, showing the sling arrangement.

The rear sight is designed along the same lines as the original.

To adjust the elevation, you press down the leaf and move the slider. The markings are visible in this picture as well, recessed deep into the receiver like the originals

The VSR magwell, shared between the foreguard and receiver. As you can see, this is the MkII magwell, which allows you to fit an extension if you struggle with the catch, useful for cold weather if you have to wear gloves.

The 3D printed middle band. It should be strong enough for use as I thickened it quite significantly, not to mention the steel screw running through it

The original woodwork really adds to this build. As and when I can do another I may make the top guard a good bit skinnier.

The bolt, all oil finished. Though I say so myself it looks the part.

The bolt handle operates at 90º, like the original.

At the front, something important was missing. I realised it was the bayonet. I had a MAS bayonet mould made up already for the FG42, so I made another and adjusted it to fit.

Every rifle wants a bayonet really, but especially when it is built in. This one has a plastic stiffener running through it to prevent excessive wobble.

 

If you like this build you can see the rest of the project here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

Vz. 24: Complete

The Vz.24, VSR base. Like the K98k builds, this was destined to be a pretty gun.

This build has used a lot of original parts, which really adds to the air of authenticity.

The straight bolt handle and cut back top guard is reminiscent of the very early Vz series.

The rear sight is 3D printed, as needs must to fit the VSR base.

It is adjustable for elevation, underneath the sight leaf is the TDC hop adjustment.

The Mauser back cap and locking block are almost identical to the K98k model.

The opposite side, where you can see the alternative sling arrangement. Rather unusually for the era, this rifle has several sling mounting options that allow the rifle to be shoulder or back slung fairly comfortably.

The middle band is original, a rather pleasing feature. The lower swivel was surprisingly tricky to find.

The wrist swivel. An unusual location, but fine so long as you’re not left handed.

This rifle was started while I was still using my MkI steel VSR magwells. As a result, it still has this model. Future versions will use my MkII magwell.

The buttplate, which interestingly is interchangeable with the G98.

 

If you like this build you can see the rest of the project here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

Stopping Rifle: Complete

At long last, the Stopping Rifle is done. So anyone planning on bringing an elephant or tiger to a site near me had better watch out!

This break action is very satisfying to carry broken over the arm and practice your swift mountings in the bedroom mirror.

The buttplate, lightly oil finished. I’m yet to take a picture that does this justice, but that gorgeous selection of colours fading from one to another is very satisfying.

The straight-wrist stock is a classic English side-by-side design. I’ll probably make other styles of stock in future versions.

The shells are roughly based on .700 Nitro-Express. These are quite nice for extraction and pocketing, a nice handful in every pair.

The Express sights deserve comment. Given the nature of express cartridges, heavy and slow, they have a somewhat rainbow trajectory. This style of sight allows the shooter to quickly select their range and fire without having to finely adjust a wheel or tangent.

At the front, I’ve taken a leaf out of the French book of rifle design, a chunky front post (already there) for fast shooting and a finer notch in the middle for more precise shots, just in case I ever want to make them!

Broken open, the shells look pretty good! APS cartridges are the heart of this system, though I may make some custom shells in the future.

Finally, the etching. I felt that this was the sort of detail that really needed doing. At some point, I’d like to come back to this and redo it with more extravagant etchings, some scrollwork or an elephant or something. Maybe when I’ve had a bit more practice…

 

If you are interested in this project you can see the rest of the project here. If you have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

Sten MkIV: Complete

The completed Sten MkIV. Perhaps not a looker, but definitely one of the most practical SMGs I have built to date. When folded, this easily fits in a backpack making it a much more portable choice than my usual long rifles.

The large trigger guard makes it ideal for use with gloves in cold conditions.

The buttstock when folded also makes a handy foregrip. In CQB this is very practical for when poking round corners.

When  you want a little more shooting precision, just grab the inner tongue and pull it towards the buttstock.

You can then unfold the stock and lock it into position at the back.

This is pretty comfortable in this layout, though I am not sure if recoil would be easy to control. I can see how the flat steel would be uncomfortable for prolonged periods of shooting, but no more so than many of the previous models of Sten gun. Frankly compared to the prolific T-stock this would still be a huge improvement so I don’t understand how this was rejected due to being uncomfortable while shooting.

 

If you missed it, you can see the build post for this project here.

If you are interested in this project or have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles. 

Don’t forget you can buy our smaller items via Etsy. Our larger items can be found here.

M2 60mm Mortar: Complete

The mortar is finished, and what a beauty she is too, though I say so myself.

The adjustable windage is quite smooth, the folding handle giving adequate purchase and leverage.

While the leg spreading system has its advantages, I can’t help but feel there are simpler designs that would have had the same result. Perhaps the reasoning is plainer with a live firing version.

The baseplate has a 3D printed socket for the ball to slot into. On the original this is stamped into the plate design and features a lock, but here the ball is left free so that the barrel can be quickly upended and spent shells ejected.

The spikes on the bipod should keep it raised just high enough to give access to the elevation control in the centre.

A top-down view, showing the windage lever in the stowed position.

Once packed away, this mortar isn’t actually too bad for portability. Considering the complexity and the precision you could achieve out to a respectable range on the original, you can see why modern light mortars are more closely related to this package than the T89 or SMBL 2″ families. While they may have portability and speed on their side, the ability to fine-tune fire for only a little extra weight and bulk certainly has its appeal.

 

If you liked this project or have an idea of your own, drop us a line on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com to discuss. ‘Like’ our Facebook page or follow the blog to get regular updates on projects and interesting videos and articles.

You can find the build posts for this mortar here.

Don’t forget you can buy some of our complete products via Etsy. If you would like to commission a build like this, please drop us a line on the above email.

 

Lanchester MkI*: Complete

So, the Lanchester is finished! And I am in love, though I say so myself.

Details, the new magazine well closely resembles the original and is an improvement on the Sten original. I have brazed the mag catch head so that when it wears it looks brassy.

The foresight and bayonet lug. This should take a rubber SMLE bayonet if the owner decides to do so!

The trigger is set back, the pull is a little unusual but not bad.

The buttplate, steel, though a brass SMLE buttplate could be substituted in here.

The rear locking lug is just for looks on this. A hinge is quite hard to do but may be doable in the future. For now you can remove the lock and back cap to replace the battery. Unfortunately the wrist of this stock is too slim to drill through to a larger battery compartment in the buttstock.

 

You can check out the build process for this gun here.

 

If you like this build, you may like to take a look at where it came from, the MP18 and its extended family.

 

Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog or join us on Facebook for more! You can buy some of our ready-made products on Etsy. You can also email to enquire about custom or special builds on enquiries.vintageairsoft@gmail.com.

 

P.S.: If anyone wants a Lanchester with this awesome period tac-light please DO get in touch. 

New rubber melee weapons

It’s been a while since I did a post about melee weapons, but there are a few items now available in the Etsy shop which may be of interest to followers of the blog.

 

BC-41

The BC-41 was an early fighting knife adopted by the British Commandos. Inspired by earlier Trench Knives, this is great for an inexperienced knife fighter who can punch and slash and be fairly likely to do some damage.

It was fairly quickly put aside in favour of the Fairbairn-Sykes design, which was much more flexible in use due to being able to hold it in a variety of ways. Ideal for the experienced and practiced knife fighter, though some would argue of questionable use to the average soldier.

You can find the BC41 here.

 

Fairbairn-Sykes

The mould for the Second Pattern died a death recently and I reckoned it was time to do something a little different. The new knife is a First Pattern, though at a glance it could easily pass for a Second Pattern.

As with the previous model, it is stiffened so that it doesn’t flop about. This is aided by a new rubber I am using for thin blades which is slightly harder.

It has an optional sheath based on the second pattern version to keep costs down, though it should fit in a repro sheath if you already have one.

You can find the Fairbairn-sykes here.

 

NR40

For the Soviets among you, the NR40 will serve you well for WWII and post-war impressions. Although it has long since been replaced in service, privately procured ones have remained popular with Russian soldiers.

Once again, this is stiffened and uses the new rubber mentioned above to maintain stiffness on this relatively thin blade. This is cast from a reproduction but should fit in original and repro scabbards.

The NR40 is here.

 

You can take a look at the Etsy store for these and other interesting and unusual items, but don’t forget to join us over on Facebook where there’s nearly always something interesting going on.