Finned Mosin-Nagant with Step/Balkan Wedge

• Jan 12, 2015

• #1

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

I'm trying to figure out how common these are. Does anyone have a Finned MN that has the so-called "balkan wedge" in front of the front sight? I purchased this rifle over the weekend. The stock is definitely Finnish - I won't know if the rifle has any other characteristics of a Finnish rifle until I get it in my hands. Some guys on gunboards confirmed that they have Finnish rifles that exhibit this characteristic, but I thought I'd throw it out here too.

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #2

yellowsled

Retired C&R Addict

Jun 22, 2009

9,348

Palm Beach, Fl

balkan wedge?? Thats a new term. Looks like a standard ex-dragoon to me. I have seen tons of non-finned mosin with that ground down for clearance for the rear sight. Maybe I am mis-informed?

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #3

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

It's not an ex-dragoon. It's an M91 infantry rifle, probably in a replacement stock.

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #4

Dave91

Ultimate Member

Nov 25, 2009

1,992

Anne Arundel

It was interesting to see the ground examples that people posted on gunboards yesterday. They were the first I had seen. Maybe I have seen others but not noticed. It kind of looks like the Tula star was scratched out a little bit. I'm looking forward to seeing more pics.

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #5

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

I'm hoping it has some Finn trait(s) other than the stock.

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #6

K

ken792

Ultimate Member

Sep 2, 2011

4,491

Fairfax, VA

I don't think that is the "Balkan wedge." This is it.

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/...9F6D8B0-7980-00000C021935CA74_zps2485202b.jpg

From
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?305770-Izhevsk-1915-M91-Balkan

 

• Jan 12, 2015

• #7

psoyring

Ultimate Member

Apr 25, 2010

1,052

Brunswick MD

Ken is correct, the so called Balkan wedge is underneath the rear sight. The barrel shank ground down can be found on many 1920's ex-dragoon refurbs which for the most part never left the USSR as well as SCW dragoons. The stock is 100% Finnish, if it is a mixmaster with only the bolt matching then I would say Finn for sure. Any import marks? If early CAI mark could be Finn or Balkan, if no import mark and all mismatched numbers then I would lean towards restocked SCW rifle.

 

Last edited: Jan 12, 2015

• Jan 12, 2015

• #8

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

psoyring said:

Ken is correct, the so called Balkan wedge is underneath the rear sight. The barrel shank ground down can be found on many 1920's ex-dragoon refurbs which for the most part never left the USSR as well as SCW dragoons.

Click to expand...

Well, it's also on one M91 infantry rifle too. We shall see.

 

• Jan 13, 2015

• #9

mawkie

C&R Whisperer

Sep 28, 2007

4,357

Catonsville

So you got that lot! Well bought. I was watching it over the weekend but was engaged in bidding on a P38 Grey Ghost and Finn M28 (no joy on either of these). What attracted me was the early 20's date. I don't have an M91 from the early Soviet era. That it's a Finn is a bonus to me as a Finn collector. You're gonna have to source some Finn sling hangers but they're not hard to find.

 

• Jan 26, 2015

• #10

Dave91

Ultimate Member

Nov 25, 2009

1,992

Anne Arundel

Andy, have you had a chance to look over this rifle in person?

 

• Jan 26, 2015

• #11

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

Dave91 said:

Andy, have you had a chance to look over this rifle in person?

Click to expand...

Nope. Still hasn't shipped. The guy said he would try to have it out last Friday but he never called for payment. He seemed pretty frenzied.

 

• Jan 30, 2015

• #12

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

This is on vehicle for delivery, so I will have news to report tonight.

 

• Jan 30, 2015

• #13

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

It came today and I couldn't be happier. The bore is perfect and the receiver IS Finn marked.

 

• Jan 30, 2015

• #14

Dave91

Ultimate Member

Nov 25, 2009

1,992

Anne Arundel

That's a nice one. By the way, have you seen the auctions on handguards lately? You have $230 worth of handguard there alone.

 

• Jan 30, 2015

• #15

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

Dave91 said:

That's a nice one. By the way, have you seen the auctions on handguards lately? You have $230 worth of handguard there alone.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been following the haters on Gunboards.

 

• Jan 30, 2015

• #16

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

Bolt body

Btw, this is how the asshats shipped my 2 rifles.

 

• Jan 31, 2015

• #17

mawkie

C&R Whisperer

Sep 28, 2007

4,357

Catonsville

Whoa, you were lucky to get 'em in one piece! That's one scary packing job.
Congrats on the Finn'd M91! You got a keeper for sure. BTW, what's the other rifle in the box?

 

• Jan 31, 2015

• #18

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

mawkie said:

Whoa, you were lucky to get 'em in one piece! That's one scary packing job.
Congrats on the Finn'd M91! You got a keeper for sure. BTW, what's the other rifle in the box?

Click to expand...

The other rifle is a French Fusil de Infanterie Modèle 1907-1915 Modifié 1916 (Rifle of Infantry Model 1907-1915 Modified 1916) that picked up for $170.

 

• Feb 1, 2015

• #19

Abulg1972

Ultimate Member

Apr 11, 2014

4,234

Somewhere south of the Manson-Nixon Line

Cleaned the bore and couldn't be happier. Also, after having the rifle in my hands and moving the rear sights around, I absolutely believe that making room for the Konovalov sight is the sole reason for that relief - nothing to do with country of origin/capture/use.

 

• Feb 1, 2015

• #20

psoyring

Ultimate Member

Apr 25, 2010

1,052

Brunswick MD

Actually you are lucky that the sight grinding did not reach the star, I had an Izhevsk 1921 ex-dragoon with the same grinding that partly obliterated the Soviet crest, it was a typical refurb but because of that I eventually got rid of it. The swivels and missing parts you need show up on ebay quite often.