Description
Mint, matching & rare Warsaw Pact .22LR Trainer!
Military trainers are a fascinating subject all to themselves & very collectible. You could spend a lifetime searching out & assembling a representative collection of the many variations which exist.
The militaries of the world struck out in different directions when it came to the concept of a training rifle. Many armies chose to train their recruits with full-power battle rifles by simply issuing low-power, low-recoil, training ammunition. Others chose to train using .22 rimfire models, either as conversions of full-size issue arms or as distinct models.
The typical quality & workmanship lavished on training rifles by every nation is, frankly, incredible. In those terms, think of the Springfield M22, or an Enfield No. 2 MKIV converted .22 rimfire trainer, or Germany’s WWI-era Model 98AZ carbine in 4mm Zimmerstutzen.
Manufactured in Poland by the famous Radom factory the rifle is known as the “kbk.S. wz.48.” “Kbk.S” is an abbreviation for Karabinek Sportowy which translates to “sporting carbine.” “Wz” is an abbreviation for wzor, which translates into “model” or “pattern.” The kbk.S wz.48 was Poland’s standard training rifle from 1948 into the 1970’s. It was designed to resemble a Model 1938 or Model 1944 Mosin-Nagant, not only in overall style, but in heft as well as it is a solid gun, a fraction less heavy than the issue M44.
Actually, the concept for a Polish rimfire training rifle goes back to the 1930’s when the Radom factory designed & produced the kbk.S wz.31, which was styled in looks & weight to resemble the Polish Model 1929 Mauser (itself a variant of the Czech Model 24). Both the model kbk.S wz.31 & the later kbk.S wz.48 were issued to various schools & universities for student military training as well as for troop training.
The receiver ring carries the number “11” enclosed in a circle which is the Warsaw Pact factory code imposed on Poland by the Soviet Union. It identifies the rifle as having been made at the Polish State Arms Factory in Radom. The breech is also stamped with the year of manufacture, 1950 & the serial number which is matching to all other visible numbers.
This example was recently imported from the US & came from a substantial collection of military trainers.
If you are a collector of these, you should buy this while you can ‘cos let’s face it, how often does a Cold War era Warsaw Pact trainer make it to our shores, let alone in this condition?
As can be seen in the photos, this retains the original sling & is in mint condition. What you can see around the bolt is genuine communist grease, not rust.
Do your own research & you will know if this is for you. We are not going to try & rate the condition out of 100 as everyone seems to have a different opinion on what the percentages should be so we’ll let the pictures be the description. You will know if this is for you so view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.
We think we have described it accurately & correctly but do not claim to be infallible so if we have got anything wrong, it is unintentional.
Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an ‘as is’ basis. As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.
Standard cost for shipping is $55 & all guns are sent via StarTrack without insurance unless requested so if you wish for it to be insured in transit, call for a shipping cost to your dealer including.
Do your own research & you will know if this is for you. Please view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.
