Found a Schmidt Rubin 1889 For sale in TN

SPOCAHP ANAR · 04-12-2009, 07:39 AM

Passing this along for those who might be interested in it.

Schmidt Rubin 1889 rifle for sale at the Reloader's bench in Hermatige TN. This is the one with the detachable magazine.

Price 500$
Condition: Fair I guess; some visible signs of rust gathering at the barrell tip and finish is a nice rusty-brown.

My thoughts: I think the price might be a little high But I have never come across one of these before so if anyone really wanted it.......... I did pass up the one between the 1889 and the k31 for $200 once at a gun show. Dumb move, I know.

Big Dog · 04-12-2009, 07:55 AM

An interesting collector piece. But any prospective buyer needs to remember these rifles are NOT safe to fire with the GP11 Swiss ammo. The M1911 began the use of the higher-powered GP11.
Still, for those of us reloading the 7.5 Swiss, that wouldn't be much problem! Adjust the load for that earlier rifle!

SPOCAHP ANAR · 04-12-2009, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the heads up BD. I was wondering if that were the case due to the age of the rifle.

Cyrano · 04-12-2009, 11:34 AM

On a related topic: Southern Ohio Gun has some Martini-Henry carbines in .303 British from the blackpowder era. The ad specifically states they are not safe to shoot with smokeless powder ammo; it's why they are selling them as "antiques" and not as firearms.

Therefore, if you wanted to shoot one, you'd have to make your own ammunition. I'm not sure if loading tables exist, but I'm sure if you searched the Internet you could scare up the specs on the original load and then work backward to find out how much Pyrodex or whatever to use in the cartridge.

I ask because as far as I know, no one is making blackpowder ammo for these rifles any more. Could you take modern .303 British brass and primers and the appropriate bullet, load the cases with blackpowder, and shoot them safely? Or would this be a dangerous thing to do?

04-12-2009, 07:39 AM	#1
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,463 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 6	Found a Schmidt Rubin 1889 For sale in TN Passing this along for those who might be interested in it. Schmidt Rubin 1889 rifle for sale at the Reloader's bench in Hermatige TN. This is the one with the detachable magazine. Price 500$ Condition: Fair I guess; some visible signs of rust gathering at the barrell tip and finish is a nice rusty-brown. My thoughts: I think the price might be a little high But I have never come across one of these before so if anyone really wanted it.......... I did pass up the one between the 1889 and the k31 for $200 once at a gun show. Dumb move, I know. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

04-12-2009, 07:55 AM	#2
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 12,906	An interesting collector piece. But any prospective buyer needs to remember these rifles are NOT safe to fire with the GP11 Swiss ammo. The M1911 began the use of the higher-powered GP11. Still, for those of us reloading the 7.5 Swiss, that wouldn't be much problem! Adjust the load for that earlier rifle! __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

04-12-2009, 08:14 AM	#3
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,463 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 6	Thanks for the heads up BD. I was wondering if that were the case due to the age of the rifle. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

04-12-2009, 11:34 AM	#4
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,917	On a related topic: Southern Ohio Gun has some Martini-Henry carbines in .303 British from the blackpowder era. The ad specifically states they are not safe to shoot with smokeless powder ammo; it's why they are selling them as "antiques" and not as firearms. Therefore, if you wanted to shoot one, you'd have to make your own ammunition. I'm not sure if loading tables exist, but I'm sure if you searched the Internet you could scare up the specs on the original load and then work backward to find out how much Pyrodex or whatever to use in the cartridge. I ask because as far as I know, no one is making blackpowder ammo for these rifles any more. Could you take modern .303 British brass and primers and the appropriate bullet, load the cases with blackpowder, and shoot them safely? Or would this be a dangerous thing to do?