10 Things Often Missing from Military Surplus Guns

We’ve published at length about how military surplus guns (and other used firearms) often represent incredible value. Let alone the fact that buying used or surplus is the only way to get some rare firearms that are now out of production - on top of that, used guns often sell for a fraction of the price of new models.

But, as with buying anything used, there is always a risk involved. Therefore we compiled this list of parts that are sometimes missing from used guns (but of course, not always). You should always check for these before buying used - you may even be able to negotiate the price on the basis of a missing part.

Sights

For whatever reason, military surplus guns are sometimes missing sights. This is only a concern in cases in which the sights are pressed or threaded into slots milled into the barrel or receiver, though. Integral iron sights have no way out. Of particular annoyance would be a condition in which either the front sight or rear sight is missing, but not both.

Action Components (Extractors, Ejectors, Etc.)

Always work the action of a military surplus gun to make sure it is in good working order. However, simply cycling the action (though it will give you a feel for the sort of shape the gun is in) will not alert you to the absence of certain missing components.

For instance, a broken or missing extractor claw, or a missing ejector, can hobble the action of a gun. You won’t notice these without a thorough visual inspection, though.

Grips

In most instances, the grips of a gun will be integral with the design. However, in some more modern models the grips may attach via a nut or screw, in which case the absence would be quite noticeable.

Buttplates

For some reason, buttplates are pretty often missing in old rifles. This is to some degree a cosmetic issue that can be easily fixed; for instance, you can just slide a recoil pad over the end and be done with it. But it’s also important to note that the buttplate provides protection to the end grain of a gun’s stock. Without it, the stock runs a higher risk of cracking or splitting.

Sling Mounts

The omission of a sling mount is easy enough to check for. Just scan the rifle. Also, not all models even have them. But if the rifle or shotgun in question does, look for them. Fortunately the fix is easy and affordable to make.

Barrel Bands

This is another one that might not be applicable, but before the modern era many military models had barrel bands. If missing, this can constitute a flaw in operability that should be redressed. Unfortunately, parts for old models can be hard to find - but we have them, for many rifles.

Trigger Guards

This is pretty rare, but there are occasionally surplus guns for sale missing trigger guards. This is not just a cosmetic flaw but a safety concern so make sure you can rectify it if you intend to buy the rifle.

Magazines

This is one of the more common issues associated with military surplus guns that accept any sort of detachable magazine. Granted, in many cases, older rifles (like the M1 Garand) fed from fixed internal magazines, but any model with a detachable mag could have it missing.

It shouldn’t be a deal breaker, assuming you can get a replacement magazine for the model in question. We sell a wide range of rifle magazines; take a look through our collection if you’re looking for a replacement.

Roll Pins/Takedown Pins

If the gun in question has any sort of roll pins or takedown pins, these are highly suspect to walking loose and getting lost. Make sure you give the rifle a once-over to check for these before you buy.

Miscellaneous Hardware

Lastly, just take a look at all of the other exposed fasteners and other hardware on the rifle, handgun, or shotgun. Screws should be present and not stripped. It is fairly common for used guns to be missing hardware, but you should know about it before you buy, not after. In some cases it might be cause for concern, and not so much in others.

Start Your Search for Military Surplus Guns with SARCO, Inc.

Want to inspect a collection of military surplus guns to get your search started? Check them out here first. We carry a wide range of historical firearms, including those that are hard to find, as well as an exhaustive collection of thousands of gun parts, many of which are equivalently hard to find.

Take a look through our collections and if you have any questions about what we have listed for sale (or are looking for a specific part that you can’t find) get in touch with us at 610-250-3960.