• 1931 M27 Finnish Mosin Nagant Rifle (Mfg by Tikka)

    1931 M27 Finnish Mosin Nagant Rifle (Mfg by Tikka)

    (Click PIC to Enlarge)


    Caliber: ....................... 7.62x54R
    Barrel Length: ............. 27 in. (685mm)
    Rifling: ........................ 4 groove, right hand twist, 1:9.5"
    Overall Length: ............ 46.6 in. (1185mm)
    Weight: ....................... 9.04 lbs (4.11Kg)
    Magazine capacity: ...... 5 rounds.
    Qty mfg: ..................... Approximately 71,550 M27's made from 1927-1940, all but 2550 made by Tikka.

    Source: The Mosin-Nagant Rifle by Terrence Lapin, ISBN: 1882391217

    1931 M27 Finnish Mosin Nagant Rifle (Mfg by Tikka)

    (41 picture virtual tour)

    Observations: (by "Claven2")
    Note: Pics of rifle provided courtesy of Milsurps.com moderator Claven2.


    In the 1920's the Finnish authorities were beginning to re-evaluate the M91 as the country's primary infantry arm. Many of the examples in service were well worn and a good number required new barrels, stocks and other parts. Despite the country's best efforts to acquire these spares abroad, it was becoming evident that an update was needed. In 1924, the Civil Guard began building the M24, essentially an M91 with a heavier foreign made barrel and in some cases updated sights. The Army too was actively rebarelling numbers of M91's, but the Finns were not oblivious to the changes going on in other countries. It was becoming clear that the trend was toward shorter and better handling infantry rifles of a standard length for issue to most or all services within the armed forces. Both the Army and the Civil Guard then began experimenting with designs to supplement or even replace the M91 rifle.

    The Army was the first to field a new arm. Designated the M27, it had a shorter barrel with a thicker profile than the M91, an improved front sight with protective ears and a rugged new nosecap. A reinforced Konovalov sight with wings that hugged the sight base and a ladder with a replaceable sighting blade as well as a variety of sling arrangements were also incorporated. To economize, these early M27s were constructed from M91 stocks cut down to the M27 configuration. the trigger of the M27 was redisgned to hand from a modified sear. It incorporated a two stage trigger and a sear bearing surface bevelled to minimize contact surface friction. Another innovative design change was the inclusion of winged projections on the side of the forks at the back of the connecting bar on the bolt, along with corresponding grooves in the receiver. This was intended to stabilize the bolt and make feeding smoother. In practice, however, the grooves could fill with dirt in the field and prevent the bolt from closing to battery. In 1933, this feature was dropped from production.

    The M27 was produced at both Tikka (produced 1927 through 1940, approximately 69,000 rifles) and VKT, the State Rifle Factory which eventually became the Valmet company (produced in 1932 and 1935, approximately 2,550 rifles). In 1935, the design of the M27 was altered to address cracking of the forestock during bayonet use. Extensions resembling popsicle sticks were added to the sides of the nosecaps and a cross-bolt put through the forestock to secure these extensions. It was also ordered that all M27's in inventory be so modified, though it is unlikely that this order was fully carried out on all examples.

    It was also ordered at this time that one-piece M91 stocks be no longer cut down for use on the M27. Instead, new stocks with thicker fore-stocks finger-spliced onto the butts be used. These stocks can be found both with new manufacture buttstocks as well as recycled M91 buttstocks. Additionally, many existing M27 stocks were refit with heavier forestocks spliced on during arsenal refits. A new, heavier barrel band was also devised for these thicker forestocks. Later on during the Winter War, however, it is not uncommon to see M27's made or repaired with stocks inletted for the later nosecap, but an earlier non-reinfoeced nosecap fitted due to the urgencies of wartime production.

    Some M27 rifles can be found inletted for a brass unit marking disc that may or may not still be present. this feature was not added to all rifles, and most rifles fitted with discs later had them removed during the Winter War so as not to pass intelligence regarding troop makeup to the Russians via captured arms.

    Though the M27 was intended to be the primary infantry rifle of the Finnish Army, by 1935 the Finnish Authorities were already examining the concept of issuing one rifle for both the Army and Civil Guard - a process that would ultimately see the M27 and M28/30 replaced as the primary infantry rifle by the excellent M39.



    Collector's Comments and Feedback:

    1. The M27 is an uncommon Finnish rifle these days due to the attrition resulting from its use through three wars. Its relative rarity compared to the more common M39 and M91 models is well reflected in the ever-rising prices associated with these arms. Condition can rate from excellent to abused. Additionally, most of the earliest produced M27's will have undergone some degree of refurbishment after 1935 to upgrade the older and fragile modified one-piece M91 stocks with either a newer and heavier forestock or entirely new wood. A rifle in completely original condition made prior to 1935 is a rather rare find, as is any M27 that retains its brass unit disc (assuming it ever had one).

    Typically collectors can expect to find matching numbers on the bolt and barrel. A bolt having its original winged connector bar is also a plus to find on a rifle whose receiver is machined to accept the modified part. Other factors that can increase the value of a rifle are rarer features such as a front sling slot fitted with a side-mount adaptor or oddities like an uncommon walnut buttstock grafted to a finnish forestock. Occasionally, one can also find a Winter War era M27 fitted in an expedient M91/30 replacement stock with the barrel channel inletted for the heavier M27 barrel. These rifles, if authentic, will carry a premium.

    It is important for collectors to note that rifles with matching serial numbers should be valued higher than the same rifle with mismatched serial numbers. Renumbered parts on an arsenal refurbished rifle are to be expected and should not adversely affect value. Of course, rifles without importer stampings will carry a premium due to their enhanced state of authenticity. Though this rifle is not counterbored, counterboring was a common practice during refurbishment in Finland. While some collectors avoid arsenal counterbored specimens, acuracy is usually above average from these barrels due to the fresh barrel crown. Again, its impact on pricing will be an individual consideration............ (Feedback by "Claven2")
    This article was originally published in forum thread: 1931 M27 Finnish Mosin Nagant Rifle (Mfg by Tikka) started by Badger View original post
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