Picked up a Weird Mosin-Nagant Today

MilsurpDan · Aug 9, 2014

Went to the Gunshack in Mt. Airy a couple hours ago to pick up some reloading stuff. Looked in one of the racks and saw this sitting there, looked it over and it appeared to be a well used M91/30. Saw the price tag and decided to take it home with me. $100. They had it marked as a "wall hanger" and after seeing some of its characteristics I almost agreed at the time, but there was something special about it.

1939 Ishevsk. Only thing that matches on it is the buttplate, I suspect the stock and bands match too since they are Ishevsk marked. No import marks anywhere. No post war refurb markings either. Not counterbored but the bore is pretty dark, I think it will clean up though. Tons of dust inside and outside. Like its been sitting in a closet for decades. Small amount of surface rust but I cleaned most of it off with some kroil.

The reason they thought it was a "wall hanger" was because the trigger wouldn't work and the bolt couldn't be removed. Easy fix as all it was is somebody forgot to put the axis pin in last time it was disassembled.

Let me know what you guys think! (Especially h2u).

lee2 · Aug 9, 2014

i think you got a great score there!

Dave91 · Aug 9, 2014

It could be a bringback, maybe Vietnam. That's my guess at least. It is certainly well used.

j8064 · Aug 9, 2014

lee2 said:
i think you got a great score there!

Agreed. Looks like a vanilla milsurp Izzy someone bought cheap once ago and let sit. But with no import mark it could be a bring back.

For $100 in today's market most of us would have brought it home too.

Nice find. :thumbsup:

BossmanPJ · Aug 9, 2014

the rifle is neat. certainly looks like it could be a bringback but who knows. by the way.... you have a nice looking house.

MilsurpDan · Aug 9, 2014

Thanks guys, Bringback passed through my mind, figured "maybe" from Korea or Vietnam (although I remember reading somewhere that m91/30s showed up seldom if at all there).

I don't think it is a SCW as it's 1939 date is too late to have been sent to Spain for the conflict (SCW ended in April 1939) and it doesn't have the "Made in USSR" marking or the wire sling hangers.

Oh and after I bought it I went down the street to Shooter's Discount to see what Lou thought and he wasn't there! WTH

c4snipar · Aug 9, 2014

I called them last week said they didn't. I would have pick it up too, but the bolt looks really old.

MilsurpDan · Aug 9, 2014

c4snipar said:
I called them last week said they didn't. I would have pick it up too, but the bolt looks really old.

If you mean you asked if they had any Mosin-Nagants when you called, Steve at the gunshack told me they had just got it in 2 days ago on consignment.

I believe the bolt is mid-war due to the rough machining, its got some light surface rust and grime on it, which is steadily coming off due to me soaking it in kroil

c4snipar · Aug 9, 2014

MilsurpDan said:
If you mean you asked if they had any Mosin-Nagants when you called, Steve at the gunshack told me they had just got it in 2 days ago on consignment.

I believe the bolt is mid-war due to the rough machining, its got some light surface rust and grime on it, which is steadily coming off due to me soaking it in kroil

Got mine already, put a scope on it. Can't wait to try it out. Any good outdoor range near Montgomery county besides crespa that opens to the public?

Lou45 · Aug 9, 2014

MilsurpDan said:
Thanks guys, Bringback passed through my mind, figured "maybe" from Korea or Vietnam (although I remember reading somewhere that m91/30s showed up seldom if at all there).

I don't think it is a SCW as it's 1939 date is too late to have been sent to Spain for the conflict (SCW ended in April 1939) and it doesn't have the "Made in USSR" marking or the wire sling hangers.

Oh and after I bought it I went down the street to Shooter's Discount to see what Lou thought and he wasn't there! WTH

Yep, I was closed today; had two appointments, one in PA and another in western MD.

jindodog · Aug 10, 2014

I'm thinking SCW even with the late date. Some where in my hazy memory I seem to recall a thread on one of the other collector sites where a 91/30 dated 1939 was being discussed as having possible SCW provenance. If I recall correctly, some pretty good arguments were made for the possibility of such being the case. Dan's rifle surely has the "look" of a SCW to me. The "red" look to the finish is something I see on some of the SCW rifles in my collection. Not all SCW rifles are import marked with the "Made in USSR" or "Made in URRS" stamp. Spanish sling hangers could have been removed after import. I'm only going on a feeling and can't really say for sure and anybody's guess is certainly as good as mine,but I'm going to say SCW. It is a fine piece in any event and it was a steal at the price. Congratulations to MilsurpDan!

MilsurpDan · Aug 10, 2014

Took it apart and fixed the "broken trigger". Cut a nail and put it in place of the axis pin (saved me $5 plus shipping) and the trigger works, the bolt cycles and can be removed and it dry fires.

The more I think about it the more I don't think its a SCW, just for the reasons I already listed and the fact that I found a piece of what looks to be the leather dog collar stuck in the rear sling slot. It's very possible that it could be though

j_h_smith · Aug 10, 2014

I think you may have a survivor. That's great. Glad you were able to get the trigger working too.

Congrats!
Jim Smith

lee2 · Aug 10, 2014

Lou45 said:
Yep, I was closed today; had two appointments, one in PA and another in western MD.

did you bring back some goodies?

Lou45 · Aug 10, 2014

lee2 said:
did you bring back some goodies?

Those appointments were NOT for firearm acquisitions.

h2u · Aug 10, 2014

I'll start off by saying any of the above guesses could be correct. I've seen the vertical serial stamped on the stock on some Balkan rifles in the past-all M1891s.

My first guess is to agree with the sentiment that has it coming in before import marks were required and being neglected. I have a 100% Remington M91 that was left in a damp basement for years and looks even worse than this rifle :sad20:

But I keep returning to that stock stamped serial number and the wear/dings on the stock and become lost again as to what I think

All I know is its a cool rifle and I wouldn't have hesitated a second to pay $100 for it! Congrats!!

Alphabrew · Aug 10, 2014

Makes me miss the $100 Mosins at Classic

Melnic · Aug 10, 2014

Alphabrew said:
Makes me miss the $100 Mosins at Classic

How about the $89 Black Friday ones?

Mooseman · Aug 10, 2014

Nice pick up.

psoyring · Aug 11, 2014

A major clue is the serial number being stamped on the stock, not previously encountered on any SCW rifle I have seen.

Picked up a Weird Mosin-Nagant Today

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