Finn Mosin Questions

[Dalebert]

A friend has this Finn Mosin and I may have chance to buy it.

Has SY on receiver
Has SA in square on receiver
Has X on top of receiver that looks the same as what's on my RC Mauser (rework mark?)
Left side of receiver has lined out serial number
SN on right side of serial number and bolt match. But bolt looks like force match
Butt plate and mag floor plate don't match bolt/receiver
Rear sling estuctcheon has been been filled and a sling swivel added to bottom of stock
Bore is very good from what I could see, but couldn't fully clean it.

So this feels to me like a Russian rework of a Finn Mosin with the normal mixmaster of parts.

Sorry for poor pictures, but any thoughts on history of gun and value.

Thanks for any input

Information

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[Eaglelord17]

Looks to me like a M28 (correct me if I am wrong, I have very little working knowledge with the Finnish Mosin Nagants). There is nothing there to indicate to me that it is a Russian rework. That 'x' on the receiver is the pre-1928 Tula Arsenal symbol (it is actually a hammer) which would make your receiver originally a Tula manufactured one. If you take it out of the stock you will see a date on the back of the Receiver (usually two numbers like 12 which would be 1912 or 98 which would be 1898 this is also important for you guys in the states as it can determine if it is legally a antique). As for the 'force matching' all the Finnish manufactured Mosin Nagants utilized parts from other rifles (bare minimum being the receiver) so that is actually a all matching piece (as they would have scrubbed the bolt when the rifle was manufactured).

Issues I can see at close inspection are that sling swivel, and the screw going through the trigger guard/magazine well to hold the floor plate in place? Overall I guess it depends on what you want to do with it. It should be a good shooter (pretty much all Finnish manufacted Mosin Nagants are) but if your looking for a collectors piece I would hold off with those condition issues. Value wise I wouldn't pay more than a average 91/30 (so 180$ max) but that is me, and that is in Canada.

[Aragorn243]

The sling swivel isn't really an issue but that screw in the magazine well is. Most M28's have the standard through the stock sling set up but some have the swivel on the bottom.

It's not a Russian rework.

Value for an M28 is usually 40% more than a 91/30 but that screw doesn't help that. Simple matter to replace it and parts are cheap, any 91/30 magazine would fit it. Finn's pretty much force mateched everything. I'd say $240 less the cost of a new magazine based on condition. $300 will usually get you a real nice one so keep that in mind also.

[Dalebert]

Thanks Aragorn

So are the Finn Mosins reworks of captures from the Russians? Or did they produce their own? I own other Mosins, but not familiar with Finn models.

[Aragorn243]

Finland essentially created new rifles using former Russian/Soviet materials. Some were captured but many were left over from when Finland was part of Russia which is why you'll find a large number of them being antiques. They stripped them down, did some fine tuning to the triggers, etc, installed new barrels, refurbished or replaced the stocks usually rebuilding them with the finger joint fore ends. Finland produced their own barrels. The Finn rifles are more accurate than the Soviet ones and generally have a better trigger pull. They valued accuracy over volume which was the Soviet style and is one reason the casualty figures are so skewed in favor of Finland despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered.

They are more desirable than the Russian Mosin Nagants, even a Finn capture 91/30 that has been unaltered is worth more. They tested the rifles before rebuilding them and it they met their strict standards as is, they left them alone and accepted them with the SA stamp. I have an 1891 Finn essentially unaltered. The M28's are nice because they probably saw use during WWII so they have that history with them. The later M39 is the top of the line Nagant but even those are built on old receivers.

[Tikbalang]

As long as the bolt number matches the receiver number you're in business. The Finns needed rifles in the worst way between '40 and '44, so many of their arms were well assembled "grab-bags" My own Mosin '42 dated M91 even has a M39 trigger. "Parts correct" is the obsession of collectors, but not of either armorers or soldiers. That being said, clean Finnish Mosins are the finest of their tribe.

[Dalebert]

Bought this M28. Have some better pictures now

Matching gun (receiver, bolt)
Barrel is counterbored a half inch or so
Bore is very good other than being counterbored

Left side of rear of stock looks like it got carried a bit

Have heard that might be best to shoot .308 bullets in these. Any feedback on that?

[Eaglelord17]

I think you need to slug the bore to find out. I know some Finnish Mosin Nagants can have .308 diameter bores.

[browningautorifle]

I would agree, why speculate? Just find out about your particular rifle.

[Dalebert]

I'll get it slugged. I am set up to reload 7.62 x 54, so not an issue if a tighter bore.

This gun intrigues me and I want to shoot it (safely). I need to get the replacement front sight fixed as well. It might shoot better with the taller sight, but I like my milsurps as correct as possible.