mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Both of these rifles fought on the Republican (losing) side of the Spanish Civil War. The Republicans were heavily backed by the Soviets and received not only Mosin Nagant 91s and 91/30s but Polish Mausers, French Berthiers and just about anything they could scrounge on the arms market of the late 30's. A couple of decades after the civil war ended many of these arms were sold by the cash strapped Spanish government and found their way to the US. I'd bet my last dollar that Sam Cummings of Interarms fame was involved in some way as he was a major arms broker in this period (late 50's / early 60's).
-This was my first Mauser, bought back in the very early 90's. Didn't know squadoosh about 'em and just stumbled across this Polish carbine by accident. Plus it was one of the only Mausers that I could afford! Turns out I got my mitts on a Polish version of the 98AZ Carbine that was later scrubbed of its Polish markings and sold to the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. Like so many SCW survivors it's been refinished (see blued bolt and lightly sanded stock) and the bolt, bands and buttplate are non-matching.
-I also added a Republican SCW MN to my collection last year, deciding that I needed to have one example in the collection. Luckily these rifles tend to just blend into the forest of MN imports and so they can be found and acquired cheaply. Think I paid around $135 for this one.
-It's a '36 dated Izhevsk with the tell-tale "Made in USSR" stamping on the receiver that's found on most imported SCW MNs and the Spanish stepped blade front sight that's similar to that found on Finn 91/30s. Unfortunately the bolt doesn't match but the rest of the rifle matches and is in original condition. Many times you'll find SCW MNs that were arsenal refinished in Spain and are sporting the "MP8 flaming bomb" stamp.
Photo 3 - 98AZ scrubbed receiver ring. All signs of the original Polish markings were removed before export.
Photo 5 - "A" mark on stock that I've seen many times on SCW Polish Mausers. Clueless as to its meaning. If anyone here has an answer I'd love to hear it!
Photo 6 - Exported Mauser muzzles were marked "8 MM" but this example was lightly struck and you can only make out the top of the text. This one drove me crazy until I saw a detailed photo up on the new website "The Spanish Civil War Mosin Nagant", a very nice source of info!
Photo 7 - M91/30 receiver export mark "Made in USSR" which is the easiest way to ID a SCW MN. I've seen this text misspelled "Made in URRS" as well.
Photo 8 - SCW 91/30 bladed front sight. Another give-away that it's a SCW Mosin. Note the unique step in the blade.
Photo 9 - Finn 91/30 blade in foreground, SCW in background to show the subtle differences in the blades.
-This was my first Mauser, bought back in the very early 90's. Didn't know squadoosh about 'em and just stumbled across this Polish carbine by accident. Plus it was one of the only Mausers that I could afford! Turns out I got my mitts on a Polish version of the 98AZ Carbine that was later scrubbed of its Polish markings and sold to the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. Like so many SCW survivors it's been refinished (see blued bolt and lightly sanded stock) and the bolt, bands and buttplate are non-matching.
-I also added a Republican SCW MN to my collection last year, deciding that I needed to have one example in the collection. Luckily these rifles tend to just blend into the forest of MN imports and so they can be found and acquired cheaply. Think I paid around $135 for this one.
-It's a '36 dated Izhevsk with the tell-tale "Made in USSR" stamping on the receiver that's found on most imported SCW MNs and the Spanish stepped blade front sight that's similar to that found on Finn 91/30s. Unfortunately the bolt doesn't match but the rest of the rifle matches and is in original condition. Many times you'll find SCW MNs that were arsenal refinished in Spain and are sporting the "MP8 flaming bomb" stamp.
Photo 3 - 98AZ scrubbed receiver ring. All signs of the original Polish markings were removed before export.
Photo 5 - "A" mark on stock that I've seen many times on SCW Polish Mausers. Clueless as to its meaning. If anyone here has an answer I'd love to hear it!
Photo 6 - Exported Mauser muzzles were marked "8 MM" but this example was lightly struck and you can only make out the top of the text. This one drove me crazy until I saw a detailed photo up on the new website "The Spanish Civil War Mosin Nagant", a very nice source of info!
Photo 7 - M91/30 receiver export mark "Made in USSR" which is the easiest way to ID a SCW MN. I've seen this text misspelled "Made in URRS" as well.
Photo 8 - SCW 91/30 bladed front sight. Another give-away that it's a SCW Mosin. Note the unique step in the blade.
Photo 9 - Finn 91/30 blade in foreground, SCW in background to show the subtle differences in the blades.
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