Warrior1354
ax - hole
This rifle was nothing but a stroke of luck, and having good knowledge under your belt. And surprisingly Gunbroker of all places, but it was advertised incorrectly by the seller with not very good photographs. I did verify from the seller that the stock matched, as well as the bolt. He told me it did, and they have a seven day inspection period. So I hit that buy now button! Luckily I sold something a few days before. What I made off that rifle, and what I had in it. I'm in this rifle maybe $900! When the rifle was in hand far better then expected. It's completely untouched, and I'm keeping it that way! Nothing has been done to it, and it's had a hard life. Shows battle fatigue. Check out that butt plate area? Not from light use. But check out the parts? So many cool made parts from different manufacturers: Early Sauer, Early Mauser, BLM, early Gustloff, some Erma, even Imperial. Like the lower barrel band, an Erma made part that was once numbered. You can still see the old faint numbers by the new numbers. Cool 1939 dated barrel as well. I'm sure others will chime in and tell me more about these cool parts. Love to hear your findings. I thought this would be the end of it, but it's not. Me breaking this rifle down for the first time in a very long time, brought up more findings. What I found in the stock channel was a Veterans name, rank, and service number!
Not only that I found information on the veteran as well. Most of this information was found in his letters he wrote home to his family, as well as battlefield reports where he was interviewed. They were donated in 2002 from his estate when he died at the age of 91. I have a felling the rifle was sold around the same time. Maybe because of the anti-gun laws in New Jersey the family sold it possibly?
So far this is going to be the short version of this life, due to I have so much more info to post on this thread. Private Victor V. Evangelista was drafted at the age of 33 out of New Jersey. Left behind a wife of Irene, and a son Noel. He left for Texas early 1944 for Infantry training for combat in Italy. From his letters to his wife the heat was unbearable. He was sent to Italy late 1944 with the 337th Infantry Regiment part of the 85th Infantry Division. They were basically brought in as replacements to fight in the Italian campaign. From more of his letters many of these replacements were killed in the first week, and he lost quite a few friends. Later on in the Spring of 1945 in his words. "This weather made the winter go away, but now we have the mud and rain." Around the same time his battalion commander was killed by a Granatwerfer 42. At the same time his unit was heavily engaged with the German 1st Parachute Division up until the last days of the war. Still his regiment of combat draftees fought for well over 260 days of combat in terrible conditions, and suffered heavily losses. The 85th Infantry Division total suffered 1736 men killed, 6314 men wounded, five President unit citations, received four Medals of honor, 545 silver stars, and 4988 bronze stars.
I have so more information to go through, but will post more findings when I come across them.
You know guy's it's been almost two years since I bought a K98k. As much as love this variation type. To me this history makes it so very special. These men really were the Greatest Generation. I'm proud to own such a special rifle, and thank you so very much Mr. Evangelista for you and your fellow soldiers service to this country.
Not only that I found information on the veteran as well. Most of this information was found in his letters he wrote home to his family, as well as battlefield reports where he was interviewed. They were donated in 2002 from his estate when he died at the age of 91. I have a felling the rifle was sold around the same time. Maybe because of the anti-gun laws in New Jersey the family sold it possibly?
So far this is going to be the short version of this life, due to I have so much more info to post on this thread. Private Victor V. Evangelista was drafted at the age of 33 out of New Jersey. Left behind a wife of Irene, and a son Noel. He left for Texas early 1944 for Infantry training for combat in Italy. From his letters to his wife the heat was unbearable. He was sent to Italy late 1944 with the 337th Infantry Regiment part of the 85th Infantry Division. They were basically brought in as replacements to fight in the Italian campaign. From more of his letters many of these replacements were killed in the first week, and he lost quite a few friends. Later on in the Spring of 1945 in his words. "This weather made the winter go away, but now we have the mud and rain." Around the same time his battalion commander was killed by a Granatwerfer 42. At the same time his unit was heavily engaged with the German 1st Parachute Division up until the last days of the war. Still his regiment of combat draftees fought for well over 260 days of combat in terrible conditions, and suffered heavily losses. The 85th Infantry Division total suffered 1736 men killed, 6314 men wounded, five President unit citations, received four Medals of honor, 545 silver stars, and 4988 bronze stars.
I have so more information to go through, but will post more findings when I come across them.
You know guy's it's been almost two years since I bought a K98k. As much as love this variation type. To me this history makes it so very special. These men really were the Greatest Generation. I'm proud to own such a special rifle, and thank you so very much Mr. Evangelista for you and your fellow soldiers service to this country.
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