Finnish Mosin

[Tejaas]

ok kinda broad... but trying to see if this is worth another drive to check it out again...

im unsure of the year because i looked through so many rifles that day... but i remember it was a Tula arsenal 91/30 that had a finnish <SA> stamp along with an importer engraving. all visible numbers matched... so i figure at the worst the stock MAY not if i DID purchase it and strip it down. wood furniture was in VG condition, and price was FIRM at $250 including tax. complete(both barrel clamps intact,cleaning rod)... but no accessories included -- although the only thing i particularly care for is the bayonet and sometimes a sling(it was pre-owned) still seemed excessively expensive to me... but i would love to add a Finnish captured Mosin to the collection... is this still worth pursuing?????

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[jmoore]

Possibly. I like the Finnish rifles- they're usually in excellent condition and there's lots of little variations. Is the stock a one piece Soviet mfg. or two piece Finnish? Bore condition? Actual 91/30 or Finn conversion? ("Ring" front sight vs. "double dovetail" blade)

If it's nice, it's not much for a good rifle of any sort. The give away prices for the rebuilt Russian 91/30s are just that. Good unreconstituted 91/30s bring more. At this level of cheap I just can't see trying to pinch a few pennies for good gear. (Most Finns ARE rebuilt, but if it's not re-rebuilt, that's fine!)

[Tejaas]

so i couldnt resist...i bought the rifle for $250 flat.

i did my research yet again after i broke it all down and am thrilled... but still would like some input from others:

its a numbers matching rifle... its a 1942 <VKT> stamped barrel..barrel is also stamped with a "D"... and mated with a Hex reciever.

it is NOT a post war "B" Barrel!

it sits in a mint condition "english contract" stamped stock from Westinghouse... i learned these were made from beautiful, high quality walnut and they are considered as original stocks for the Finn M91s.

research from numerous sources online say that the stock variations are numerous as far as sling mounts go... this one features the two-screw brass variant of the russian escutcheons and does NOT have the finnish installed wire sling mounts... this is commonly seen according to the "BIG" Mosin websites... why fix it if it works i suppose???

STOCK DISC IS MISSING. again, online sources says very common but not a major hit on value... not gonna lie...when i saw that i kinda got to thinkin of my swedish mauser... i learned that the Finnish mosin stock disc only reflected UNIT... while the mausers of course tells relevent info on the bore,etc...

cleaning rod is intact... and is the finnish correct "long head" steel rod.

barrel bands are of the "OLD" russian style.. with built-in tension screw on the bottom of each band to tighten/loosen. much more awesome that the Russian "Spring style" i think!

front sight is the dovetail style, and the rear leaf is the finnish curved style... restamped to meters rather than the russian arshen.

NUMBERS MATCHING i say pertains to the bolt, barrel and finnish restamped reciever... apparently the finns scrubbed/stamped out the magazine floorplate and recoil pad russian assigned numbers... and mine reflects exactly that.

i frickin love this rifle... but for curiositys sake... any honest opinions on whether i got a fair shake on price????

[jmoore]

Sounds like a Finn '91 rather than a 91/30. Seems reasonable.

[docbob]

Some may say that was a little too much, but I think You got your money's worth. It sounds nice.

[MJ1]

If $250 was to much for one of the better bits of history in what sounds like VG condition you need to look into another hobby,,,LOL. Compared to Russian production numbers the Finn's produced less than a drop in the borscht bucket. From what I have seen and shot even lightly Finn'ed 91/30's are an improvement. I have a 1933 Finn stocked rifle listed this weekend in CA. I won't take less than $280 for and it's got a 5mm couterbore and still shoots into 1.5" at 100 yards. Check the photos I posted in the Russian/Soviet section. I hope your new rifle impresses you down range,,cheers.

Need a hand to ID some Finn rifles