Finish on 91/30's

Thought I'd bring this up again as I was at my local gun auction and there was a very early US import marked 91/30 for sale. Import mark said "Made in USSR" No additional US added serial number or import company. It was a hex receiver early stock with brass fitting handguard and screws holding the sling plates.

What drew my attention was NO SHELLAC, it was exactly like the Finn 91/30's I've seen. More of an old neglected oil finish. It was not refinished, there was no trace of that shellac on it anywhere. It also was not a Finnish rifle. No refurb markings on it anwhere so perhaps the shellac was added to these rifles post war during the arsenal refinish.

You may want to look again after you visit the 7.62x54R website and study up on M-Ns used by Spain. A "Made in USSR" stamp is typically found on guns used in the Spanish Civil War & imported here later. See Other Country's Mosin Nagant Marks 7.62x54r.net and Mosin Nagant

A Spanish Civil War gun is a very desirable & sought after rifle!

Had I known that, I may have had more interest in it. I couldn't stay however and as the refurbished 91-30's sell for $250 and up at this auction, I didn't see much point in it. There was no Spanish marking on the stock but it did look like it had the faint Soviet cartouche.

In any case, it's the finish or lack thereof that I found interesting at the time.