A Nice "Finnish" to the Day

[MilsurpDan]

Went to the Gunshow in Frederick this morning. Got there at 7:45 and there was already about 80 people in front of me. Walked in an checked out Shooters Discount's table (Lou had some good stuff so if you're looking for a Mosin or other surplus rifle check him out). Walked by another table and saw a strange looking M38 carbine. Didn't look as nice as the other refurbs around so I took a closer look, crossed my fingers, took a deep breath and saw a Finnish SA stamp! Needless to say I never put it down and gladly paid $225 for it and walked away happy. Sucks that I had spent all my gun money within 5 minutes of walking in the door but I could care less now, a Finn Capture M38 has been one of the tops of my list since I started collecting.

Now for the run-down. Its an ALL Matching 1941 Ishvesk. All parts seem to be correct Ishvesk stamped as well. Got a Pre war M38 stock and the bore is spotless with a little rust, oh and its non-counterbored. The finish looks surprisingly good and there isn't any issues. Don't know if I should shoot it or leave it a safe queen yet. h2u and pysoring I'd love to hear you're guy's input on it.

 

[Sirex]

That's really cool. I don't see Finn carbines around.

 

[Malblast]

Nice find man looks great. It would be a queen if it were in my hands

 

[h2u]

Dan,
Great grab!! Finn carbines are pretty scarce-ESPECIALLY all matching examples. Your rifle is easily worth the price paid

I do have a reservation about the stock. I've seen several Finned M38's and none have had a stock with that light of a color. Looking further, I see the grasping grooves are much darker and much closer to that Finn oiled look.
The pictures in the daylight appear a little too shiny-did someone rub it with BLO? Again, without it in my hands - I can't be sure and will leave the call on the stock to you as you have other Finned Mosins to compare the stock to.

Being all original matching is a BIG plus in my book. Most of the Finned carbines I see have either a M/M or Finn matched bolt.
Because these are so few and far between, the going rate for them lately has been $700-$2000+ depending on year and condition. Even if the stock has been lightly sanded and refinished, it's still easily worth twice what you paid.

I'd say go ahead and shoot it if you want to. If you own another M38, switch out the stocks for range use, just so you don't have a chance to drop or crack it shooting.

I'd be VERY happy to own that carbine at the price you paid!
Congrats and let me know if you decide to sell down the road

Here are two pictures of my all original matching Finned M38. 1941 as well.

 

[dancnr]

That is a great find, I was going to go down this morning, but didn't make it. Apparently there is some kind of Finn bug spreading around.

 

[Bravo757]

I happily get that FINN bug handy so I always have an excuse to pick another one up - I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Mauser NUT but the Finn-Nagants... ya gotta love the history.

Congrat's on a fine looking rifle

 

[Augie]

Great pick up, congratulations!

 

[MilsurpDan]

Thanks everybody, I do agree h2u the stock does look like somebody may have messed with it but its a little iffy to me. The pictures make it look a little shinier than it really is although it is very possible

 

[MilsurpDan]

That is a great find, I was going to go down this morning, but didn't make it. Apparently there is some kind of Finn bug spreading around.

Thanks! Makes up for that Finn capture SVT 40 you stole from me

 

[cjroman]

You stole that thing, Dan. Nice find.

 

[psoyring]

I really wouldn't worry about the stock, it may very well be the original finish. If the stock is a potbelly then the finishes are pretty uniform but if the stock is Russian, then the finishes are all over the place, from very light to very dark. The Finns stripped a lot of the Russian stocks and then attempted to give them the pine tar treatment, and this often produced some really strange looking results.

 

[TheMaskedRabbit]

Looks nice! Good meeting you today, I was the guy with the 590A1 hanging out with ken792.

 

[DarthZed]

Oh, that's purty. I like the stock color.

 

[lee2]

i believe i talked to you at the shooters discount table and commented on your score.
congrats at a great find!

 

[Doctor_M]

Beauty... and great pun btw.

 

[MilsurpDan]

i believe i talked to you at the shooters discount table and commented on your score.
congrats at a great find!

Yup that was me. Nice talkin to you as well.

Doctor M, Thanks! I sat there for about 20 minutes before I posted this thread trying to think of a whitty attention grabbing title before I thought of it...just kidding

 

[h2u]

Thanks everybody, I do agree h2u the stock does look like somebody may have messed with it but its a little iffy to me. The pictures make it look a little shinier than it really is although it is very possible

Don't sweat it. You've got a very hard to find carbine captured by the Finns during the Continuation War. As has already been said (other forum), these Finn-captured carbines are extremely hard to find as they weren't issued to front line troops. The Finns weren't exactly steam-rolling through the Russian lines, so getting firearms from the REMF's did not happen much at all

I know many advanced Finn collectors that don't have that carbine. You did very well!

 

[MilsurpDan]

Don't sweat it. You've got a very hard to find carbine captured by the Finns during the Continuation War. As has already been said (other forum), these Finn-captured carbines are extremely hard to find as they weren't issued to front line troops. The Finns weren't exactly steam-rolling through the Russian lines, so getting firearms from the REMF's did not happen much at all

I know many advanced Finn collectors that don't have that carbine. You did very well!

Now if I could only seem to find a Finn Capture M44. Now that would be something!

 

[jindodog]

Outstanding find, congratulations!

 

[mawkie]

Congratulations! A great score for any Finn collector. You can now say you have something that I don't. I've been looking hard at just about every M38 I run across for the boxed SA and no luck for me, yet.
Sanded stock isn't a real big deal, considering how hard these are to find (let alone matching) and the excellent price you paid.