Finnish Capture Soviet M91 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R Bolt Action Rifle C&R Pre-1918

Make: Russian Arsenal: Tula, Izhevsk, or Sestroryetsk

Model: M1891

Serial Number: 60731

Year of Manufacture: Pre 1918

Caliber: 7.62x54R

Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 rd magazine

Markings: The top of the receiver is marked with an Imperial Eagle stamp which has been mostly scrubbed off. The barrel shank is marked with a serial number "3728", a boxed “SA” (Finnish Army) mark, a rare mark from the Finnish Ammunition Factory. The top of the bolt body is marked “3728”, an older serial number lined through, and with a faint T-shaped hammer (Russian Tula stamp). . The buttplate is marked with a serial number "188467". The base of the magazine is stamped "181797". The metal nose cap has a pre-1928 Izhevsk proof. The wooden buttstock is stamped "02756". There are various small proof marks on the metal surfaces. The barrel shank is marked "Schweiz Industrie Gesellschaft, Neuhausen". There is an import mark near the muzzle.

Barrel Length: 31.5"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Type 1 fixed blade dovetailed into a barrel mounted base. The rear sight is a Type 2 v-notch sight escalator (an upgrade for the M1908 Spitzer bullet). It is marked in Arshins and in meters after the Finnish fashion.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has a straight grip, finger grooves, metal nose cap, cut out for the included cleaning rod, two barrel bands, two sling eyelets with sling loops, through bolt, and a metal buttplate. The buttplate is pitted with wear along the edges. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. There are two <1 inch cracks in the handguard. The stocks are moderately worn throughout. The LOP measures 13.5” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates a Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Arsenal refinish

Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is still sharp. There is pitting, but little erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal refinish. There are scratches and tiny spots of patina throughout the metal surface of the barrel and magazine. There is considerable finish remaining on the receiver, though there is wear along the edges of the receiver. The bolt and action show operational wear. The screw heads exhibit light to moderate tooling but all are still serviceable. The markings are mostly legible. Overall, this rifle rates a Good to Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Canvas and leather sling.

Our Assessment: The astute reader will have noticed that the parts of this rifle are not matching. Before dismissing the firearm, a collector should consider why the parts do not match. This firearm reads like a history lesson.

Unusually for a 1891 Mosin, this rifle has never been converted to the 91/30 configuration, and has had an Imperial Eagle ground off. The presence of an Imperial Eagle dates the original maker to 1917 or before, and places it at one of the three Russian Arsenals: Tula, Izhevsk, or Sestroryetsk. The fact that it is ground off places it in Soviet hands, post 1917, as they could not tolerate symbols of the former Tsar. The boxed "SA" places it in Finnish hands, meaning battlefield capture, as the Soviets never traded arms with rival Finland.

The barrel is one of 8,000 barrels the Finns bought from SIG in 1923. The bolt was made in both the Tula and Remington Arsenals - the barrel cap at Izhevsk. This unconventional construction bespeaks wartime expediency on the part of the Finns, in 1939-40 they were hard pressed at war with a nation 50 times their population and were making do with what they had. When almost 1,000,000 Soviets died in the Continuation War, they left a lot of rifles behind, many of which were reconditioned and sent back out to fight those who had brought them.

This old rifle bears the scars of war, but has a story to tell. She is likely still a shooter, with strong rifling in her bore.