Mosin-Nagant Model 1891
Three-Lined Rifle System of
1891
Трехлинейная
Винтовка Образца
1891 Года
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Nomenclature
Designers
Basic Function
History &
Development
Serialization
Safety &
Standards
Unique
Features & Comparisons
Quirks
Fakes vs.
Reproductions
Wood (Stock) Material
Stock Types (ST)
Escutcheon Types (ET)
Rebarreling
Considerations
Official Arsenal Cutdown Models (OACM)
Surplus &
Commercial Ammunition
Reloading Your Own
Ammunition
Value Considerations
Availability &
Sales
Internet Resources
Conclusion
Almost everything
the English-speaking world knows about the
Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 (M91) is based upon flawed hearsay, bad translations, and
misguided observations. Indeed, there are those who
are eager to repeat unsubstantiated balderdash as if it were fact. Some also
make detailed observations on the smallest, most insignificant details. These often
turn out to be temporary and/or nonrepresentational quirks. However, junk
data is largely what English speakers have to go on since most data and official records
are unreadable and unavailable to them. Russian-speaking researchers have
much more to go on. Even so, they make some huge mistakes as well. In the most
basic terms, much of what Americans have been told about this venerable rifle by
well-meaning English-speaking writers is often incomplete, misguided, ill
observed, or patently wrong!
Clearly, not knowing the Russian
language is a handicap
when trying to research a firearm with its roots & technical data steeped in Russian
& Soviet history. I offer another dimension to this project...I'm
ethnic-Russian. I've lived there for twenty years, and I'm fluent in
Russian/Cyrillic. Although I'm now a proud American citizen living in
America, I've retained my linguistic skills and my love of all things that are
Russian. I'm therefore able to
accurately translate the preponderance of technical & historical data from
Russian & Soviet sources. I've also been assisted in this treatise by my native-born American
husband who adds invaluable hands-on experience regarding the nuts & bolts
of this marvelous firearm.
I often find myself analyzing the accuracy of particular English-language documents just to see how well Russian scripts have been translated. Indeed, if the author mistranslates data, this is an indication that he/she is simply repeating incorrect rubbish (which clearly taints everything else that is written). In this regard, I frequently start out by trying to ascertain how a writer translates the basic factory barrel markings on M91's. Unfortunately, most modern-day English-speaking researchers don't have a clue. What many think is Tula Ordnance Factory, Tula Gun Plant, or Tula Arsenal Works (the same holds true for all arsenals), is correctly translated as Tula Weapon Factory. Although various words mean nearly the same, Weapon Factory is the correct & preferred English translation! Some would-be researchers also translate the word ПЕРВЫЕ (as used on the early Tula rifles) as meaning Premier or Foremost. Not even close on this one! The accurate translation is Initial (Because Tula was the first...or Initial weapon factory in Russia). Of course, many Russian>English translations mean almost the same thing but in some cases, they don't. Regardless, this little habit of mine is just another way that I can tell if someone is repeating misinformation.
Another indication of incompetence is
how certain arm chair historians refer to the nations that developed &
manufactured M91-type firearms. It seems that many English-speaking writers
can't tell the difference between Russians and Soviets (since they habitually
refer to Soviet-era firearms as being Russian). Here's a brief rundown of who
did what (and when). Until 1917, all three "Russian" weapon factories
(Sestroryetsk, Tula, and Izhevsk) manufactured this gun within the Imperial
Russian Empire. From 1917-1918, these arsenals fell under the authority of the
Provisional Russian Government (established by the Duma) due to the abdication
of Czar Nicholas II. In 1918, the Sestroryetsk Weapon Factory ceased operation
(leaving Tula and Izhevsk). From 1917 through 1921, the region experienced the
Russian Civil War (also known as the Russian Revolution). However, by 1919 the
Bolsheviks had assumed authority over the two remaining arsenals. From 1918
through 1920, the first Soviet government was established (although the country
was still in a state of civil war). This first Soviet government was much
smaller than the original Imperial Russian Empire (and the later Soviet
government) and was called the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic
(RSFSR or РСФСР). In December 1923, the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or СССР) was
formed...basically the same government with the same Bolshevik/communist/Soviet
leadership but with increased territory (similar to the previous Imperial Russian
Empire). This latter Soviet government lasted until 1991 when it was replaced
with a democratic government known as the Russian Federation (which is back to
the approximate size of the old RSFSR). Yes, history can get a little confusing
to certain "wannabe" researchers. However, make no mistake that
(lets say) an M1891/1930 rifle made at Tula during the Great Patriotic War
(WWII) is a SOVIET firearm made in the Soviet Union. It is not a Russian
firearm! Any misguided writer that can't tell the difference has no business
researching this particular rifle.
Still, another indication that many
researchers are simply repeating hearsay is how they refer to the earliest M1891
models. For example, most English-speaking collectors make no distinction
between the original Model 1891 and the M1891/1894 or the M1891/1910 (with their
three variations...Infantry, Dragoon, and Cossack). Indeed, the M1891/1894 and
M1891/1910 models are remarkably different from the original M1891! However,
many ill-informed writers somehow missed this point during their research.
They've been repeating misinformation for so long that it has now become
accepted truth. This is irresponsible/inaccurate research at its best.
It's also common to find researchers (especially
American) who are mesmerized by minutia. These folks seem to have a need to explain every
weird little anomaly by its date of manufacture, type, features, etc. Being
Russian, I can tell you that Russians don't think or operate this way. What may
seem to a Western observer as a manufacturing trend or modification may simply
be a temporary quirk in the manufacturing process. Like it or not, The Russians
(and especially the Soviets) swapped a lot of things around and made temporary
changes that would horrify gun makers in the rest of the world. On the other hand,
some of these quirks actually turned out to be significant changes. However, trying to chase the tail
of an obscure anomaly will often end with misrepresentations that are passed
along as being representational modifications. Be careful!
Another consideration when trying to
study the M91 is that most older rifles (especially the receiver portion) were
continually reused, altered, and upgraded throughout the years. Constant
upgrading and part-swapping has also taken its toll whereas it is now difficult
to acquire an original older model or to tell when one particular model ended
and another began. Another major point must be made that what we think
we know today may be entirely different a few years from now (when more
definitive data may become available).
The following treatise isn't nearly
as precise as some would like simply because I'm not comfortable trying to pass
along every scrap of hearsay and incomplete
observations as facts. However,
its clear that I've gone into more detail than I can possibly prove. Such is the dilemma
of a researcher who must rely upon a certain percentage of unsubstantiated verbiage & observations
because (in many cases) there simply isn't anything else to go on. Yes, I'm
bound to have made some major errors. However, my knowledge of the Russian
language and my detailed research brings a new perspective to the study of the
M91. I hope you enjoy my work.
What English-speakers commonly refer to as the Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 rifle (M-N M1891 or simply the M91) is officially termed in Russian/Cyrillic as "Трехлинейная Винтовка Образца 1891 Года" ("Trechlineynaja Vintovka Obraztsa 1891 Goda" or "Three-lined Rifle System of 1891"). In Russia, this rifle is colloquially called "Винтовка Мосина" ("Vintovka Mosina" or "Mosin Rifle"). We're all talking about the same firearm (with all its variants). Still, confusion abounds. The Russian term "three lines" relates to a bore (land) diameter equivalent to .30 caliber (in fact, the land diameter is normally .301"). Somewhere along the way, the caliber (which should be the groove diameter...not the land diameter) started to be called 7.62mm by the Russians (as a note, 7.62mm = .308"). However, The Russian standard for this rifle calls for a groove diameter of .311" (which is actually 7.65mm). To confuse things even more, the Finns rebarreled their rifles in .3082", 3095" and .310". Basically, the Russians couldn't tell the difference between lands & grooves, and screwed it all up! Also, the Russians refer to the overall cartridge as 7.62x54R but the Finns call it the 7.62x53r (54mm vs. 53mm case length with a rimmed case). The Finns are closer to the truth.
The designers and designing process of this firearm is clouded (and usually misrepresented). Most Russian sources firmly believe that the majority of the design features of this gun were accomplished by Captain (later, Colonel) Sergei Mosin of the Imperial Russian Army. In fact, they almost never mention the other designer. When they refer to this rifle, they proudly say "Mosin rifle". In fact, there were two competing designs that caught the attention of the Imperial Russian Main Artillery Commission during the late 1880's and early 1890's. It appears that Capt. Mosin was only responsible for the magazine-feed system while a Belgian inventor, Emile Nagant (not to be confused with his brother Leon Nagant who designed the Russian M1895 gas-seal revolver), is credited with the bulk of the M1891. Even these bare facts are often switched around and confused. It should also be noted that the Imperial commission seems to have mandated some significant features of their own. However, it is now generally accepted by historians that Emile Nagant is responsible for most of the design features of the basic Model 1891.
The M1891 action incorporates a single-column/5-round/protruding magazine with a cartridge cutoff system that also acts as the cartridge ejector. It is a rotating-bolt secured with two bolt head lugs that interlock with the receiver. The bolt/firing pin mechanism cocks-on-opening (contrary to what Century International Arms Inc. says in their instruction sheet). Furthermore, the bolt body locks into the rear of the receiver for additional safety. It has a military-type two-stage trigger which is often difficult to ascertain (due to its long-grinding trigger pull), and a manual safety (by pulling and rotating the bolt knob to the left). It also has a split bridge receiver with cutout guides for ammunition stripper clips. From its inception, it was made with modern/heat treated steel and designed to fire high pressure/small caliber bullets propelled by modern smokeless powder. Barrel lengths and stock configurations varied greatly over the years but the basic action stayed the same. [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo]
The following is organized by year
with significant models appearing as such (M1891 Infantry). Not
everyone agrees upon dates, data, model, variation, type designations, specific
alterations, prototypes, when, why, how, etc. Indeed, much is still clouded
and/or subject to interpretation. Another consideration is that there is just so
much information (especially in Russian/Cyrillic) to sift through, that there is no single
clearing house for correct information. Alas, even
highly respected sources have gotten many things terribly wrong (especially
Western observers). It should also
be noted that the model designations listed below are what most English-speaking
collectors know them as, not necessarily the official designations (nor
translations of official designations). We just don't know in some cases (and in
other cases, American collectors have really bastardized things). Here's the
best I can do:
1883: In this year, Czar Alexander III directed
his Main Artillery Commission to begin design & development on an infantry
rifle. Why an artillery commission was named baffles the imagination, but this
may have been a contributing factor why the commission basically stagnated until
1887.
1884-1886: French chemist Paul Vieille secretly
developed & improved smokeless gunpowder during these years. This is one of
the most significant developments in firearm history! Until 1886, this new
propellant was a closely guarded secret by the French government.
1887: As news of the secret smokeless gunpowder
leaked out in 1886-87, Russia also learned that France & Germany were
developing a new high-pressure/high-velocity/sub-caliber infantry weapon using
this new propellant. Finally, the Czar's commission intensified their own
development in 1887.
1889: Russian rifle trials began this year. A
design by Russian Captain (later Colonel) Sergei Mosin and another by Belgian
designer Emil Nagant (not to be confused with his brother Leon Nagant...who
developed the M1895 Nagant revolver) won early favor with the
commission. [photo]
1890:
Rifle trials between Mosin's and Nagant's designs intensified, and modifications
were also suggested by the commission. This is where fact, fiction, and
nationalistic pride collide because no one is really sure which designer (or
commission) developed what. This issue is so utterly clouded that there are several
seemingly-credible sources that credit the same specific features to opposite
sources. Most Russians today firmly believe that Capt. Mosin was the primary
inventor of the winning rifle design but patriotism seems to have gotten in the
way of historical facts. Without a doubt, the final rifle was a hybrid that
included the best features of Mosin, Nagant, and the commission's changes
thereof. However, it is my learned view that Emile Nagant was, in fact, the
major designer of the original M91.
1891:
The Imperial Commission adopted a final design this year, termed: Трехлинейная
Винтовка Образца
1891 Года which
has come to be know as the basic Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 (or M1891
Infantry). [photo] [photo]
Only a few "Pattern" rifles were produced at the Tula
Weapon Factory this first year (and some also say at Izhevsk Weapon
Factory). It should also be noted that almost all rifles (except New
England Westinghouse Company and a few others) were stamped (either on the
receiver top or adjacent barrel) from 1891-1917 with the seal of the Russian
Empire (the Double-Headed Eagle seal of Czar Peter The Great). This sometimes includes
the Russian/Cyrillic letter "П"
(the Cyrillic initial for Pyotr ... as in Peter The Great, or this
could simply be the letter "П"
designating that the rifle had been proofed. No one is entirely sure which it
is!). Earlier rifles were marked in the same place with "ПК"
(Cyrillic initials for PK meaning "Probaya Komissiya" or "Proof
Commission") immediately below the Imperial seal.
1892:
The first Production rifles were manufactured at the Chatellerault Weapon
Factory in France (because the three Russian factories had yet to tool-up). This French factory continued to produce this weapon
until 1895. Most of these rifles were not dated (on the tang) but they all had
the "©" arsenal mark (looks exactly like a copyright
mark). However, these early rifles looked a great deal different than what we
normally think of as an M91. For example, there was no stock escutcheons, no
handguard, different rear sight, no recoil lug, etc. Later (see below) three
Russian gun factories produced this weapon, (Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroryetsk)
and two American manufacturers made this for the Russians (Remington and Westinghouse).
1893:
The M1891 Dragoon was introduced at Chatellerault this year
(since it was the only factory currently making production runs), and it was
produced (with significant modifications along the way until 1932). The Dragoon
model has a shortened barrel (at 28.75") and was also issued & fired
with a bayonet. It should be noted that this model evolved into the M1891/1930
in 1928-30 (which was the Soviet main battle rifle of The Great Patriotic War).
Eliminated during 1893 was the "barrel-thread grease hole" (BTGH), a
tapped & caped hole on the left/front/underside of the receiver which
presumably aided in rebarreling. Except for rare/early pattern rifles, the only
arsenal producing M91's at this date was still the Chatellerault Weapon Factory
in France (see above).
1894:
Czar Nicholas II assumed power due to his father's death. The M1891/1894
Cossack model was introduced in 1894 and was produced until 1920 or so.
[photo] Each of these rifles have a "Каз."
stamp on the barrel (abbreviation for Казак meaning Cossack). The Cossack model had a barrel length like the Dragoon
model but was not issued a bayonet (although it could accept one). Also during
1894, an upper handguard was added to the previous M1891 Infantry and M1891
Dragoon (the Cossack model presumably started life this year with a handguard).
These handguard changes necessitated new barrel bands and perhaps other changes
(like the elimination of the finger groove magazine, etc.). Previously made
Infantry and Dragoon rifles were upgraded to reflect these significant changes.
Many purists refer to this first major modification
as the M1891/1894 Infantry, the M1891/1894 Dragoon,
and the M1891/1894 Cossack (however, these new model designations
may or may not be an official designation).
Additionally, the Tula Weapon Factory was the first factory in Russia to
began regular "production" of the M91 weapons in 1894.
1895:
Two additional Russian weapon factories (Izhevsk & Sestroryetsk)
began their production runs of the three M1891/1894 variants (Infantry, Dragoon,
and Cossack) in 1895 (although earlier "pattern" rifles were certainly made
there). Chatellerault ceased manufacture this year. Also introduced this
year was a very rare carbine that was produced in limited quantities and for
perhaps a year or two. It is known as the M1891/1895 Carbine.
1904:
The M1891/1894 Dragoon appears to have had its sling escutcheons replaced with a
newer slotted version this year. However, known rifles with this change may
simply be due to retrofitted changes started in 1908-1910 (see below).
1907:
In addition to the Infantry, Dragoon, and Cossack versions of the M1891/1894, an
additional model was introduced in 1907 known as the M1891/1907 Carbine.
This was a shortened cavalry model that was produced until 1917 or so.
1908-1910:
Several changes started to be made on all three versions (Infantry, Dragoon, and
Cossack) of the M1891/1894 during these years. Previously-produced models were
rearsenaled to these standards. These changes included the new "1908
Kohovalov" rear sight (first graduated in arshins and later in meters), new
higher-velocity spire-pointed ammunition calibrations, new sling escutcheons
with a slotted hole which accommodated a "dog collar type sling (which
replaced the front barrel band with sling loop and magazine loop in 1909), new
handguards, new handguard bands, and perhaps other changes.
1910:
The above 1908-1910 modifications officially culminated in the M1891/1910
Infantry, [photo] M1891/1910 Dragoon, and M1891/1910 Cossack
(the M1891/1907 Carbine is uncertain). It is interesting to note that
Russian sources recognize both this new model and sometimes the previous M1891/1894
variants (see above) but most western sources erroneously continue to refer to
this rifle as the basic M1891. This problem can be plainly seen when Russia
ordered rifles from Remington Armory and New England Westinghouse
Company as they specified rifles with the 1910 model modifications.
1915-1917: A few
"Special Run" and "Concept" rifles surface from time to
time. Some are known and some still undiscovered. All are usually for a special
purpose or as a proposal for a new model, and often manufactured in very small
quantities. Typical of these is the "Special Run" rifle M1891/1915
St. Petersburg Cavalry School Carbine. The only known example of this
rifle was made at Izhevsk in 1915 and features a short barrel, no
handguard, unusual barrel-band sling loops, and two other strange accoutrements.
Another interesting example is the M1891 Half Scale rifle (date of
manufacture unknown) made for the Czar's son Alexi (complete with 1/2 scale
ammunition). "Prototype" rifles (not to be confused with
"Pattern" rifles) also turn up from time to time (online sources
document many such examples). "Special Run" rifles,
"Prototype" and "Concept" rifles are all based upon the
basic M91 action and are clearly rifles that never made it into mass production.
Super-rare, indeed (if proved to be original).
1915-1918: Both New
England Westinghouse Company and Remington Armory manufactured (in
America) the M1891/1910 Infantry for Imperial Russia from 1915
thru 1917 (and for the US govt. in 1918). In 1917, Czar Nicholas II abdicated. In late 1917
(at the beginning of the
Russian Revolution), the new provisional Russian govt. (before the Bolsheviks
came to power) refused to accept and pay for these American guns. In January
1918, Remington and Westinghouse sold their entire remaining stock
to the U.S. govt. (and even contracted to make several thousand more during that
year). Another interesting note is that all Westinghouse rifles are dated
1915 (even though they were actually made from 1916 thru 1918. Many Westinghouse
rifles (who's components were often sub-contracted out to other
American manufacturers) were marked "English Contract" because the
British govt. owned the machinery and assured payment for the first million
rifles. After buying these Remington & Westinghouse rifles,
the U.S. govt. gave some away to the Czech Legion (fighting for the White
Russians), delivered many to White Russian factions in Vladavostok, and Arch
Angel, supplied the American Expeditionary Force (1919-1920), and gave the
rest to the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Reserve Officer Training Corps,
Director of Civilian Marksmanship, various state National Guards, and the National
Rifle Association. These leftovers were officially designated by the U.S.
Government as US Rifle 7.62mm Model of 1916. Basically, the US military loathed these rifles
and simply called them "The Russian Rifle".
1917: As a result of the
Russian Revolution, Finland freed itself from Russia in December 1917 and
acquired many M91-types from the captured Helsinki Depot. They later traded all over
Europe for more captured Russian rifles. The first rifle they "Finned"
was the standard Russian M1891/1910 (and older rifles "up-arsenaled" to
that configuration). In many cases, they simply marked the barrel with an
"[SA]" stamp (meaning Suomen Armeija / Finnish Army) or "SY"
(meaning Suojeluskuntian Ylieskunta / Civil Guard) and did as little as possible
to bring the gun back to battle-worthy condition. The Finns refer to this first
remake as the SAT Riihimaki M/91 (but American collectors
commonly call this the Finn M91). Most agree that this first
rehabilitation work was primarily performed from 1922-1924 (however, some insist
that dedicated-rebarreling was done from 1926-1927 and then again from
1940-1943). As expected, there are many variations. Indeed, the standards for
this model seem to be that there are no standards! Many of these early Finn
M91's were later refurbished again into succeeding models.
1917-1918: With the Czar's abdication, the
Provisional Russian Government assumed short-lived power over all three weapon
factories. In 1918, the Sestroryetsk
Weapon Factory was permanently closed by this provisional government.
1919-1923/24: Eventually, the Bolsheviks consolidated power. By 1919, they had control of the two remaining arsenals (Tula & Izhevsk). Their new preliminary Soviet government was established in 1917 but didn't have widespread support until 1920/21 due to the ongoing civil war. From appx. late 1919 through early 1924, firearms made at Tula were stamped with РСФСР (RSFSR or Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic).
1923/24-1928: The final Soviet
government was established in December 1923, known as the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, USSR, or CCCP. Firearms made after the beginning of 1924
until appx. 1928 had CCCP stamped on their barrels.
1925: The Finns produced
their Kivaari M/91 P-25, ( also P-26, and P-27)
from 1925-1927. Modern collectors simply call these the Finn P25
(etc.). These were rifles with relined barrels, modeled after the Italian
"Solerno" process (and usually had an "S" stamped on the
barrel). After extensive testing & usage, the Finns were not happy with them
and almost all were removed from service (and rebarreled).
1927: The Finns finalized
their next official modification, the Finn M27 (they call it the Kivaari
M/27). This is another long barrel version of the M91 with Finnish
innovations and was made until 1939. Also this year, the Finns started producing
the SK.Y Kivaari M/28 (known by most collectors as the Finn
M28). This is a short barrel Finnish model, similar to the Soviet
M1891/1930 (but with Finnish innovations) and produced until 1930.
1930: The Soviet Union
finalized another modification this year (although some say as early as 1928)
known as the M1891/1930 (also called the M91/30 or M30)
This new Soviet model was the standard main battle rifle of The Great Patriotic
War (WWII) and is basically the M1891/1910 Dragoon but with a new hooded front
sight, new rear sight, new handguards & bands, and other minor changes.
Barrel length was normally 28.75". [photo]
Previous Dragoon models were upgraded to
this new configuration so it is common to call a rifle made before 1930
(especially before 1928) as an "ex-Dragoon". it is interesting to note
that M1891/1910 Dragoons (with more recent modifications) continued to be made
until 1932. This model was made at Tula from 1928 (or 1930) through 1944
(minus one or two wartime years due to the factory being relocated). It
was also made at Izhevsk from 1928 (or 1930) through 1945. This
particular rifle was commonly modified into a sniper version. [photo]
[photo] [photo]
[photo] Also this
year, the Finns produced another model. Western collectors call it the Finn M30
(or the Finn M91/30) but the Finns know it as the Kivaari
M/91/30. Some sources mistakenly believe that this model was only made
from 1943-1944. Indeed, some were made/rebarreled during these wartime years but
it all got started in 1930.
1933: The Finns start production of another
official modification, called Finn M28/30 in the West (but known to them
as the SK.Y Kivaari M/28/30. This was another shorter barreled
model that was produced until appx. 1939.
1935: So-called
"hex" receivers ceased manufacture this year (or in early 1936).
Starting in 1936, only "round" receivers were made (however, hex
receivers from older rifles were reused to make new models). This change
simplified the manufacturing process and did not effect the strength of the
action.
1938: Approved in 1938,
the M1891/1938 Carbine (also known as the Soviet M38
or simply the M38) went into production at Izhevsk this
year (although some say it was in 1939). The Tula Weapon Factory started
producing this model in 1940 (and then became overrun by the Nazis from 1941
into1944). This model has a carbine-length barrel of 20.34" (sometimes
longer or shorter by an inch or so) and was not issued with a bayonet. It was
intended for non-combatant soldiers, specialized troops, engineers,
artillerymen, etc. This model was made in the Soviet Union until 1945. Later,
the M1891/1944 Carbine (see below) was produced alongside this model (as was the
M1891/1930). Also, many M1891/1938 Carbines share the same stock as the later
M1891/1944 Carbine because the gun was nearly identical (except for the folding
bayonet cut-out on the stock).
1939: The Finns finalize
and start to produce their most famous model, known as the Finn M39 (the
Finns call it the Kivaari M/39). This model is considered to be
the best of all the Mosin-Nagant rifles. The rifle is extremely robust and was
used/rebarreled by the Finns into the 1970's (or later). It also has a pistol
grip stock (except for some rifles made in 1941).
1941-1945: The Soviet Union became embroiled in
The Great Patriotic War. The majority of M91-type firearms used during this war
were the M30, M38, and M44. By October 1941, the factory at Tula had started to
dismantle due to the encroaching Nazis (but it never was overrun nor did
operations completely cease). By Spring
1942, much of the factory's operations had relocated (see detailed information
about this situation by looking at my treatise on the M1895
Nagant revolver). It appears that by 1945, the original machinery was returned to
the original Tula location but a lot of things happened between 1941 and 1944
that still remain clouded. [photos of
Soviet soldiers using the M91] [Soviet
propaganda posters]
1943: The Soviets produce
50,000 "Trial" carbines with a folding bayonet this year, and placed
these in the field for battle testing with the famed Belarussian Front. This was later
designated the M1891/1944 Carbine (also called the Soviet
M44 or simply the M44). This carbine eventually had six different folding bayonets. It was produced until 1948 by the
Soviets and exported to many Soviet-allied countries in the 1940's & 50's
(some made within the USSR and some made outside). Tula produced these
only in 1944 but Izhevsk made these from 1943-1948.
1944: Designed and
produced this year (in very limited quantities) is a longer barreled version of
the Soviet M44 known as the M1891/1944L (with a 24" barrel).
This model is also known as the Soviet M44L or M44L.
1945: The Great Patriotic
War (WWII) ended and the vast majority of M1891/1930, M1891/1938 Carbines, and
M1891/1944 Carbines cease production. Only M44's were made after this date,
ending in 1948.
1949: Hungary started
producing a Soviet M44 version this year until 1953, known as the Hungarian M49 Carbine
(erroneously
known as the Hungarian M44).
1950's: During the early
1950s, the Soviet Union began a major rehabilitation program for all existing
Mosin-Nagant rifles. Basically, they were checked & refinished (both wood
& metal) and placed into long-term storage for future wartime reserves. Most
of these guns seem to have been the M1891/1930, M1891/1938 Carbine, and
M1891/1944 Carbine models. In most cases, the stocks and metal surfaces were
harshly-sanded but the gunsmith/checking seems to be excellent as well as the
bluing. Some of these rearsenaled guns were stamped with an additional date
(such as "1930/52") and perhaps with an "MO"
(presumably for The Ministry of Defense). For the most part, they were simply
refurbished and stored in heavy grease for several decades. Also during the
(presumably) early part of this decade, the Czechs started cutting down existing
Soviet M1891/1930 rifles and fashioned their own Czech M91/38 Carbine
(although this designation is apparently erroneous). This was almost identical
to the Soviet M38 except that the rear sights were totally new (instead of cut
down sights from M1891/1930 rifles).
1950: From 1950 through
1954, Hungary made a version similar to the Soviet M1891/1930. The true
Hungarian model number is unknown to this writer, but most American collectors
refer to this (erroneously) as the Hungarian M91/30.
1951: The Poles started
manufacturing their own version of the Soviet M44, erroneously called by
collectors the Polish 91/44 Carbine (equally erroneous, the Polish
M44), because the Poles surely had their own unique model designation
(which is unknown to me at the present time). It should be noted that Poland had
been using Soviet made M91-types since the end of WWII (the Soviets even
"branded" them for the Poles even though they were made in the USSR).
However, this latest Polish model seems to have been entirely made in Poland,
and was made there until 1955.
1953: The Communist
Chinese (PDRC) were given Soviet M44 machinery & tooling by the Soviet Union
during the "Era of Good Feelings" whereby they started producing their own Chinese Type 53 Carbine
(also called the Chinese T53). This model was made from 1953-1956
and finally in 1960. Another M44-type carbine was the Romanian M54 Carbine.
(erroneously known as the Romanian M44). It was made from 1953 (or
1954) through 1955.
1955: During this year
only, Romania made a rifle similar to the Soviet M1891/1930. The exact Romanian
model number is unknown by this writer, but most American collectors erroneously
refer to this as the Romanian M91/30.
1956: The Finns came out
with additional modifications this year that basically altered existing models.
These are known as the Finn M91/56, Finn M27/56, and
the Finn M39/56. Little is known about these.
1957: Another little known
Finnish version that came to light this year was the Finn M1928/57.
1959: A few so-called Soviet
M1891/1959 Carbines have recently turned up. It is clear that these
carbines were once M1891/1930s that have been cut down to M38 lengths. Some say
they were altered by the Soviets for the Bulgarians. These
could easily be U.S. or Russian fakes so beware!. Until more documentation &
evidence is seen, I doubt their authenticity.
1961: For one year only,
the Albanians made a few rifles known to American collectors as the Albanian
M91/30 (although the Albanians almost certainly had their own model
designation). The rifle was manufactured using Chinese tooling & equipment
(since they were closely allied with Communist China). However, they also
feature some unique Soviet features.
1985: A Finnish sniper
rifle was introduced this year and is believed to use the basic M91 receiver. It
is known to collectors as the Finn M85 (but the Finns probably have
their own designation).
Currently: Mosin-Nagants
are still turning up and are still being used by militaries, sportsmen,
terrorists, and everything in between. It is reported that the Finns still use
their M39 & M85s in marksmanship training.
The Russians, Soviets, Chinese (and presumably others) did not serialize the receiver portion of their rifles. The Finns would sometimes re-serialize their acquired receivers but normally, they would only serialize a new barrel upon installation. This becomes problematic when trying to keep track of production, reuse of the receiver, and in determining the date of manufacture. Instead, the Russians, Soviets, and Finns serialized the barrel (probably others as well). The Russians (at first) used the Latin symbol for number "N" (which is not a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet) and later, the symbol "№" (which was the popular European/American symbol at the time, meaning "number"). These two symbols are not part of the serial number! It would be the same as if we were to put the symbol "#" in front of a number. However, many importers and gun dealers made/make the mistake of including this as part of the serial number. Dummies! It should be noted that receivers were commonly rebarreled. Not only did the Finns do this on a regular basis, but also the Russians & Soviets (I have a 1909 Tula receiver rebarreled with a 1915 Izhevsk barrel, etc.). The dates of original manufacture on most receivers (except the early Chatellerault & Remington receivers, and a few other odd balls) were stamped on the underside of the receiver tang with two, three, or four number-dates. Unfortunately, these were sometimes purposely removed during rebarreling (especially by the Finns). However, an arsenal mark (or several marks) usually survived this refurbishing. Also, the age of the receiver may often be approximated by the receiver style (high wall, low wall, hex, later cutouts, etc.). Prior to and during WWII, the Soviets started using Cyrillic letter prefixes (followed by numbers, such as "ДЖ12345"). The soviets also eliminated some older Cyrillic letters of their alphabet (but this happened in 1918 when they started consolidating power). Cyrillic letter prefixes were necessary during The Great Patriotic War because there would not have been enough space to stamp a complete number due to the sheer mass of production at that time. As far as I can tell, every Russian, Soviet, Chinese, Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian and (many) Finnish barrels were also stamped with the year of manufacture. The serialized numbers seem to have started over with each year. Also a Cyrillic letter following the year of manufacture ("г" which stands for "Господь" or "God") was used by the Russians/Soviets. This is the same as Westerners would say "A.D.". Even the officially-godless Soviets continued to use this. It should also be mentioned that during production and rebarreling, various production numbers, inspector's numbers, standard's numbers, gauges, Civil Guard District numbers, etc. were also stamped on the receiver. These are usually in strange places and should not be confused with serialization (although they are sometimes confused as such). Obviously, the Cyrillic alphabet isn't used in the West so modern-day firearms importers are required by the U.S. BATF&E to serialize the receivers into something recognizable. They have done this by making a complete mess of things by disfiguring the receiver and/or barrel with often-crude stampings, etchings, and even electro pencils. This is totally irresponsible and constitutes disfigurement (from a collector's point of view).
The firing pin extension (beyond the bold head face) should be between .075" - .095" (click here for adjustment procedures). Headspace is usually between .007" - .014" (except that many Finnish guns headspace at .006" while Russian/Soviet guns seem to average .011"). The standard bore/groove diameter is .311" and the standard bore/land diameter is .301" for all Russian (and Russian allies) rifles. The Finns were different. Their standard groove diameters are reported to be: .3095" for early Finnish-rebarreled rifles up to the M28, .3082" for the M28/30, and .310" for the M39. However, bore diameters varied a lot due to wartime expedience and sloppy standards enforcement (especially in the USSR). Therefore, it is not uncommon to slug a perfect/factory-condition barrel only to find it at .312" up to .315" (click here for bore slugging procedures). Well-used barrels will often go to .316". I've personally found no Russian/Soviet groove diameters smaller than .310 (because the gun would probably exceed dangerous pressure levels if it were smaller than this). Basically, the optimum groove diameter (for safety and accuracy) is equal to the bullet diameter (i.e.: a .311" diameter bullet fired from a barrel with a groove diameter of .311"). However, the Russians didn't do a good job in their bullet making either. I've measured bullets from .309" to .311". Most Eastern European 7.62x54R military ammunition seems to be near .310" while most modern-day commercial ammunition measures .311". Otherwise, the M91-type action is very strong and will accept modern-day factory & reloaded ammunition. Over the years, many actions were proofed at the factory using black powder and other high-pressure loads with little ill effect. The cartridge is exceptionally efficient due to it's short & bulky design, and ammunition is often safely reloaded to approximate .30-06 Springfield standards.
This section is listed alphabetically
by subject. The M91-types were way ahead of contemporary designs in many
regards. Yet, they exhibit a few shortcomings, especially when other countries
produced better infantry rifles in succeeding years. This section includes my personal views as they pertain to design features and their comparison to other
period rifles.
Ammunition: The 7.62x54R
cartridge is in the .30 06 class ...not quite as good but producing better
velocity/energy than all other military rifle cartridges (slightly better than the 8mm Mauser
and much better than the British .303). The M91's rimmed cartridge (and
often-oversized groove diameter) made it tolerant of non-standard (garbage)
ammunition. Basically, the M91 would shoot and function well under the worst
conditions and with some of the worst ammunition ever produced by man.
Bolt Design: Although more
complicated (and requiring more milling operations to produce), the M91 bolt
consists of three major sections and is well thought out. It is truly a work of genius!
The bolt head section has double-opposed locking lugs that provide great
strength. It can be replaced in order to correct minor headspace problems
without the need to completely rebarrel. The rimmed cartridge also offers a huge
advantage over semi-rimmed cases because sloppy/non-standard ammunition is much
more likely to headspace correctly. Also, more of the case's web (that portion
immediately in front of the rim) is enclosed in the chamber than with a
semi-rimmed case (except for the extraction cutout). Since the vast majority of
cases rupture at the web, this adds a higher degree of safety. The bolt face is
also recessed, giving still further safety for the shooter. Another reality is
that overtime, most bolt faces started corroding and deteriorating (where the
primer abuts the bolt face) due to the use of corrosive primers. On all other
period rifles, this would necessitate the replacement of an entire new bolt
(which may also necessitate a new barrel due to headspace concerns). The
extractor (located on the bolt) is a massive claw that would yank a Russian T34
tank out of the chamber if necessary. Robust, indeed! Another remarkable feature
is the adjustable firing pin. If it's too long or too short, just screw it in
our out! The bolt body section is robust and is wedged against the receiver on
the right side when the bolt is closed...a huge safety feature. The cocking
knob/safety section is another example of pure genius! As such, the bolt can be
recocked & fired without opening the bolt (a safety feature in case of a
hang fire...something that Mauser 98's don't have but most others do).
This knob also acts as a safety. In fact, the M91 safety is the most robust
safety of any firearm ever developed...ever! Although it requires a little bit
of strength to overcome the firing pin spring, it locks securely on the rear
portion of the action. Overall, the M91 bolt assembly is clearly the best
designed bolt with the best safety features of any rifle made! Some would argue
that it is over-designed and the cost of manufacture outweighs practicality.
Perhaps, but the designers were willing to pay this price for having the best
bolt in existence.
Barrel Design: M91 barrel
design was pretty much average for turn of the 20th century battle rifles...long
and spindly. Just prior to The Great Patriotic War (WWII) the M91's got left
behind (except for the Finn models). While other countries realized that
longer/thinner barrels caused more problems that they were worth, the Soviet
Union stuck with (what had been) a winner. Also, bore manufacturing standards
(specifically groove diameters) went to hell just prior to WWII and never got
better. Accuracy suffered. However, since the M91 was designed to be an area
fire/mass fire weapon, this accuracy deficiency didn't cause the Soviets much
alarm. If you're a modern shooter, you'll need to find a good quality barrel
with a decent groove diameter in order to achieve good
accuracy.
Magazine Design: There are
both good things and bad things about the M91 magazine. The biggest detractor is
that it loads & feeds cartridges in a single column, and only holds 5 rounds
in an ugly under-the-stock line design. Unfortunately, rimmed cartridges don't
do well in a staggered-column design. While Lee-Enfield's feature a 10-round
magazine, most other period rifles only carried 5 (so the M91 wasn't that far
off the mark). One of the best features is the magazine cutoff/ejector apparatus
(which is really attached to the receiver but extends into the magazine). This
function holds down all cartridges in the magazine until the current round is
fully ejected. It also ejects the spent cartridge from the rifle. The
cutoff/ejector was originally a one-piece unit but was later modified to a
two-piece unit (for ease of manufacture, only). Simply Amazing! The magazine
also has a unique leaf-spring/hinged/removable floorplate which makes unloading
the M91 a snap. This feature keeps the shooter from cycling the remaining
ammunition (in the magazine) through the action (which would be necessary due to
the cartridge cutoff feature). Thus, M91's may look ugly because of their weird
protruding magazine but everything functions flawlessly.
Receiver Design: The M91
receiver is as complicated as it's bolt assembly. Clearly, there are an
abundance of small parts and sub-assemblies required. The action also requires a
multitude of milling operations (far more than any other military rifle of it's
time). But it works! Indeed, it works in the mud and in freezing conditions that
would jam most other rifles. Still, the bolt function is smooth and tight
(unlike Mausers and Springfields). The receiver's biggest detractor is that it
has a split bridge (the bolt arm must pass through a receiver cutout slot during
cycling). When it was designed, no one ever realized that future soldiers (and
sportsmen) would want to affix a telescopic sight. Although this was later done
during The Great Patriotic War on M1891/1930 rifles, it's cumbersome. For the
most part, Mausers & Springfields (and other solid-bridge receivers) make
better modern-day sporters that easily accommodate scopes. Also mentioned elsewhere in
this treatise is the fact that the Soviets went from the original so-called
"hex" receiver to a round receiver in 1935/1936. Many folks mistakenly
believe that the hex receiver is stronger (therefore this type is more
valuable). Balderdash! The hex receiver simply looks better. An interesting
tidbit is that I've never heard of an M91 receiver failing (blowing up) no
matter what the condition (although I'm sure some have over the years). However,
it's common to hear stories about Mausers, Enfields, Carcanos,
Schmidt/Rubens, Lebels, Arisakas, and even Springfields
blowing up. I'm not saying that you couldn't destroy an M91 if you really put
your mind to it, but over 37 million have been made without a whole lot of fuss.
Recoil: One major
advantage of longer barrels is that it tends to push the shooter's shoulder
rather than slam it. Prior to the M1891/1930, felt-recoil was modest (and
certainly less than other contemporary rifles) due to the M91's
longer-than-average barrel. Once the Soviets adopted the M38 & M44 carbines,
recoil became almost unbearable. Another nice M91 design feature that helps to
reduce felt-recoil is the curved butt plate (which transfers more of the recoil
to a wider portion of the shoulder than a flat buttplate).
Sight Design: Like all
period rifles, the rear sight was placed on the barrel just in front of the
receiver. They were graduated in Arshins (the length of an average man's step or
28") and later meters. The sighting radius (due to the short distance
between the front & rear sight) made accuracy a problem. Also, the
"V" notch and post system wasn't very good. Later, the Finns improved
their sights somewhat on the M91's but the Russians/Soviets stuck to the same
basic design. Once the SMLE No. 1 Mk. 4 and the Springfield 1903 A3 came
out with the rear sight mounted on the rear of the receiver (and with a
peep-sight), the M91, Mauser, Lebel, Schmidt/Ruben, Arisaka,
etc. sighting systems became obsolete. For it's time, however, the M91 was in
keeping with it's competition.
Sling Design: The basic
M91 sling is a unique dog-collar design with an extra wide canvas strap. This
simple design is clearly the most comfortable sling system on any military
rifle...ever! The Finns modified their sling system to fit their own liking (and
made it worse than the original).
Stock Design: M91 stocks
are rugged and lighter weight than many other military rifles of the era. They
were normally made from Birch (a great material due to it's strength-to-weight
factor). In most cases, they were nominally inletted & bedded from the
factory so that there was unrecognizable pressure on the barrel at the fore end.
The Finns commonly used shims and extra stock relieving measures to minimize any
fitting problems. Early Russian M91s were expertly fitted with no shims but the
Soviets later used the same shimming methods as the Finns. However, the barrels
weren't "floated" within the stock (like many modern-day rifles are).
Like most (perhaps, all) military rifles of their day, they simply watched for
stock-to-barrel pressure. This gave reasonable accuracy until the barrel &
stock heated up...then the bullet pattern often made a predictable
"String-to-Nowhere" shot group. The Soviets didn't worry too much
about this because of their mass fire/area fire doctrine (except on their
snipers). However, the Americans, Finns, Swedes, and Swiss (and perhaps others)
did their best to alleviate this problem. These problems can often be eliminated
today by a modern shooter who knows how to properly inlet a rifle stock.
Trigger Design: The M91
trigger functions perfectly but it detracts from accuracy because of it's
long-grinding-pull. The Finns rectified this problem by modifying most of their
rifles into a distinct two-stage military design (you can do this too with a little bit
of grinding & honing on the trigger bearing surface...but you better know
what you're doing!). Most other period military rifles have a two-stage design
that is a little more crisp, but the M91 is simply a booger...you never quite
know when the damn thing will go off. However, it's clear that the Russians
& Soviets didn't care about this situation because they went on to design
other military weapons with exactly the same drawbacks (the Soviet SKS45 being the absolute worst trigger pull of any military firearm ever
made...second only to the AK-47!). Once you fix your M91 with a crisp two-stage
trigger job, you'll shoot much better.
This section is listed
alphabetically by subject. M91's can be confusing at times. Here are a few
things you may wish to know:
Ammunition:
More about this is written in a separate paragraph below. However, the Russians
& Soviets did a pretty bad job overall when it came to ammunition standards.
Even long after The Great Patriotic War (WWII), the USSR and it's allies were
manufacturing junk. Very little was consistent. One of the saving graces of the
rimed cartridge (which most countries had stopped using by 1891) was that it
fared better with regard to headspacing problems (because a rimed cartridge
headspaces on the thickness of the rim rather than on the case shoulder length).
Another problem was that the Soviets & their allies kept using corrosive
primers until the 1980s (most countries transitioned during WWII). Another huge
problem was the fact that the Soviets (& buddies) often used a steel core
bullet. Although these are good for armor penetration, the ballistic coefficient
is terrible and they tend to erode the bore's lands quite rapidly (because the
steel doesn't give way like a lead core bullet). To compensate for all these
ills, the Soviets (and others) built-in tolerances that were so loose that just
about anything could be fired. The downside to all this was (usually) sloppy
accuracy. The Finns were more finicky (and you should be too when reloading).
Barrel Contours:
Most M91's are noted for having long and spindly barrels (except for the Finnish
rifles and other carbines). This was done primarily to save weight. Another
advantage was it's savings in precious steel. Still another benefit was to
take advantage of the newly-developed smokeless powder so that velocities would
be acceptable (about 20 feet per second are gained with each additional inch of
barrel length). What this also did was to make these M91's into (usually)
terrible shooters. Basically, the longer & thinner the barrel, the more
wobbling & warping. This is due to heat, poor stock fitting, and harmonics.
During the developmental era, many countries used long and thin barrels, but the
worst combination of these characteristics show up in the early M91's.
Barrel-Thread Grease Hole
(BTGH): From 1891 through 1893, all pattern rifles (from Tula and Izhevsk)
and production rifles (from Chatellerault) had a tapped grease hole used
to grease the barrel threads for ease of removal (supposedly). Since I've not
been able to find an official Russian translation of this feature, I shall call
it as above (or BTGH) Yes, it was understood from the beginning that the M91's
would probably be rebarreled during their lifetime. This feature was later found
to be a waste of time, but the Russians, Soviets, and (especially) the Finns
still rebarreled M91's on a frequent basis.
Bayonets: Most Russian
& Soviet M91's (up through the M1891/1930) were designed to have a bayonet
attached at almost-all times, The rear sights were even graduated to take this
into effect. Alas, as bad as the rifle often shoots, its accuracy is totally
unacceptable with an attached bayonet.
Headspace: Once a receiver
is mated with a barrel, the standard procedure is to run a finishing chamber
reamer inside the breech of the barrel. M91's used this standard procedure like
everyone else. However, the bolt head was also made in slightly different
lengths so that headspace could be precise. I've heard some folks claim that
these bolt heads are numbered from 1 to 3 and correspond with different
headspace lengths. I've never been able to find a number on these bolt heads but
they are surely made that way (either incidentally or on purpose). This is one
beneficial situation that the designers got right.
Groove Diameters: More
about this is mentioned elsewhere, but the Soviets manufactured groove diameters
from about .311" to .315" from the factory. Obviously, a .310"
bullet fired from a .315" barrel is like throwing rocks through a garbage
can. It appears that the Soviets did most of this sloppy work due to economy and
wartime expedience. Basically, they knowingly started with an oversized bore
reamer & rifling tool so that these could be resharpened several times in
order to produce many more barrels than usual. Once everything reached about .311",
they were forced to throw the tooling away. Except for perhaps the Japanese
during WWII, I'm not aware of any country who purposely degraded accuracy such
as this.
Marksmanship: The Russians
and Soviets didn't expect much from their rifles and soldiers. Basically, the
M91 was designed for area fire using mass troop formations (with bayonets
attached). The original features of this rifle facilitate this practice.
However, the Finns were achieving phenomenal accuracy as early as the 1920's due
to their heavier barrels, ammunition, stock fitting, etc. The Soviets also
realized by the late 1930s that the M1891/1930 was capable of excellent accuracy
when attention to detail was exercised and when the rifles were fitted with
telescopic sights. In fact, the Soviets employed more snipers during The Great
Patriotic War than any other country.
M44 Stocks on M38 Carbines:
Some people think that when the Soviets rearsenaled all their rifles in the
1950's, that some M1891/1944 Carbine (M44) stocks (with the bayonet cutout) were
mistakenly used for M1891/1938 Carbine (M38) carbines. Not so! Both carbines
were made at the same factories at the same time. By about 1942 or 1943, the
Soviets started making & using only M44 stocks as a way to standardize
things. Yes, an older M38 stock may be worth more but the original stocks on all
M38's after 1942 or so were M44 types.
Milling & Finishing:
During the Great Patriotic War, most countries employed a lot of manufacturing
shortcuts. The Soviets were king! Milling & finishing of the metal gun parts
look simply awful...but the guns functioned just fine.
Receiver changes: The
design and shape of the receiver did not stay the same over the years. There are
high walls, low walls, various cutouts & relief's, grease holes, round &
hex receivers, etc. These changes were purely cosmetic (or temporary flukes) and made the receiver
easier to produce. A receiver from the 1890s works just fine on a rebarreled
M44. And what about metal integrity? All M91 receivers since 1891 were made from
the highest quality steel and were expertly heat treated to withstand modern
pressures. Even U.S. M1903 Springfields can't say this.
Short Barrels: The Soviets
were one of the first countries to use ultra-short barrels on their
rifles/carbines. This seems like a good idea when arming rear-echelon or special
duty troops due to the ease of wielding such a weapon. For the most part, they produced
the M38 & M44 carbines with 20.34" barrels (and a folding bayonet on
the M44). The reality is that these two carbines were probably the most inaccurate
weapon ever fielded by any army during that period. Actually, they are worse
than bad! Muzzle flash was scary, the recoil was abusive, and the groove
diameters seem to be even more sloppy than on the standard M1891/1930. These
carbines are cute but they're nothing more than wall hangers (in most cases).
Stock Patching & Repairs:
As a matter of economy, the Soviets (as well as others on a limited basis) fixed
and repaired the wooden stocks on their M91's as necessary. The Soviets became
masters at this with the most perfectly fitted plugs, splices, and patches
imaginable. What's more important, they worked (and lasted). Many of these fixes
were on new stocks...original factory equipment...while others were done to
repair damaged stocks on existing rifles. Its not uncommon to see a patched
stock on a new wartime rifle...right from the factory.
Wartime Expedience: Yes,
the Soviets made a lot of shortcuts during The Great Patriotic War. This included
shortcuts with stock escutcheons, milling & finishing, bore
diameters, stock fixes, bedding problems, etc. However, all these wartime
weapons are safe to fire (unless something adverse happened since manufacture).
From time to time, various gunsmiths, tinkerers, traders, brokers, etc, have fabricated common variety models into (what appears to be) more expensive (or rare) models. These are called Fakes (if they don't tell you what they've done) and Reproductions (if they do). Unfortunately, the Reproductions are often later passed off as original, thus turning them into Fakes as well. This has been going on for a long time and will not likely end. This situation also has the effect of either greatly suppressing the value of an original (since nobody knows for sure if it is or isn't) or greatly increasing the value of a genuine original (if authenticity can be proved). There's probably a 99.9% chance that your rare Enfield Mk.5 Jungle Carbine or your U.S. Springfield Sniper started out their lives as reproductions but are now being passed off as originals. While some fakes are obvious hack jobs, others scare the borscht right out of me...even me and my husband can't tell the difference in many cases. For all the above reasons, I absolutely loathe fakes and reproductions! They are a scourge to legitimate firearms collecting and both should be treated with utmost contempt! As far as M91-type firearms are concerned, one does not have to look very far. The jury is still out on the so-called M1891/59 carbines, double-dates, and other unique markings such as "MO". While some of these anomalies may be original (but probably not very rare after all), some may be the work of counterfeiters who wish to make something rare out of something that is not. I believe that most of these problems originate from within the various arsenals and warehouses in Russia. Indeed, the Ruskies are deliberately sticking it to the rest of the world. Clearly the most worrisome scam right now are the reproduction & fake M1891/1930 Snipers (with PU scopes, mounts, bolt handles, etc.). These (usually Russian) scammers often go to the trouble of stamping the correct markings on the barrel (which signifies a true sniper rifle...or they use original sniper rifles but add-on reproduced components). However, they usually use new scopes & mounts, new bolt handles (welded on an old bolt body), etc. Their workmanship is usually excellent and often indistinguishable from an original. Why do they do this? More Yankee dollars!. Most of these fakes will be passed off in a few years as originals even if the original seller identified them as reproductions. Unfortunately, after a little more tinkering and the passing of time, many of these will end up looking like the real deal. Most of these are coming from Russia in this condition and it's got the importers worried because they don't really know what they have. The honest importers/wholesalers will tell you that these guns are reproductions (or are at least questionable using post war scopes, etc.). However, most dealers simply remain silent about the matter while some sellers purposely pass these off as the original item. As I write, most importers & wholesalers are selling these snipers for about $330. This is down form a recent high of about $600 (when they thought they were originals). As a comparison, German 98K snipers that are clearly advertised as reproductions (with obviously-new scopes) are wholesaling for $1350 each. It's my guess that if you could truly verify an M1891/1930 Sniper as being original, it would be worth considerably more than a German repro. The fact is that these recent Soviet snipers have utterly clouded the issue of authenticity. In light of this, I would never pay more than the price of a current reproduction (even if you think you're an expert and can tell the difference). A sad commentary on our hobby, indeed!
The type of wood and the finish varied a great deal depending upon what was handy at the time. On all M91 variants, the Russians mainly used Birch covered in shellac. During the Soviet's great rehabilitation/rearsenaling of the 1950's they also started using a wood-laminated stock (assumed to be in Birch as well), stained red, and covered in shellac. Laminated-wood stocks are not original wartime equipment (they came after the war). The early M91's manufactured at Chatellerault in France used European Walnut (some say French Walnut) and presumably finished with shellac. The two American manufacturers used American Walnut covered with (presumably) shellac. The Finns mostly used Arctic Birch (which is probably the same as the Russians/Soviets used but some sources make a distinction) but seldom used shellac. Instead, they seem to have primarily used a mixture of linseed oil and beeswax (but probably used other finishes as they found necessary). Little is know about Soviet-allied M91's except that the Poles, Hungarians, and Romanians mainly used Beech while the Chinese mostly used Catalpa (the finishing compound is unknown on each of these).
This is my own year identification
guide for original Russian, Soviet, American, French, and some Finnish M91-type
stocks (not for Polish, Chinese, etc.). For additional information, see
Escutcheon Types below. Be advised that most stocks have been refinished,
repaired, altered, and/or up-arsenaled over the years. They were also not
entirely standardized between arsenals (and even within their own arsenal).
Therefore, it is often impossible to ascertain the original year of manufacture
(although some so-called experts think they can). I've purposely tried to make
this information (and the following section concerning escutcheon types) as
vague & generalized as possible since there are many inconsistencies
involved. Again, don't get too caught up with minutia. Here is the
best I can come up with:
ST1: Made 1891 to appx.
1908. 1-piece stocks (no handguards on early stocks). For all models. Usually
Birch but also European Walnut (especially Chatellerault arsenal).
Finished with shellac. No stock-fitted sling escutcheons or holes on these early
stocks.
ST2: Made appx. 1894 to
appx. 1920 (but mostly after 1904 - 1908). For most Russian, Soviet, and
American models. 1-piece stocks (handguards started appearing these years). Most
Russian stocks from Birch and all American stocks from American Walnut. Finished
with shellac. ET1 escutcheons.
ST3: Made appx. 1920 to
appx. 1941 (some sources say as late as 1943 but this is doubtful). For all
Soviet models. Usually 1-piece stocks. Made from Birch and usually finished with
shellac. With or without Barrel Band Finger Grooves. With or without toe and
forend splices. May or may not have countersunk screw holes for buttplate
(depending upon buttplate type). ET2 escutcheons.
ST4: Made 1918 through
appx. 1928 by the Finns for the FINN M91. Looks very similar to the standard
Russian M1891/1910 stock but made from Arctic Birch, often 2-piece, and finished
with linseed oil & bees wax. Probably uses ET1 or ET5 escutcheons.
ST5a: Made appx. 1924 to
1928 by the Finns for the Finn M24. Looks similar to the Russian M1891/1910
stock but has a larger barrel channel than ST4 above (for the heavy Finn barrel)
and may have a slightly-more pot belly stock just behind the rear barrel band
(but otherwise similar to ST4).
ST5b: Made appx. 1924 to
1928. For the Finn M24. Just like ST5a above but with ET6 (hybrid) escutcheons.
ST6: Made appx. 1941 to
through 1943. For all Soviet models. 1-piece, 2-piece, or sometimes 3-piece
stocks. Often with arsenal patches & repairs. With or without Barrel Band
Finger Grooves. With or without toe and forend splices. Usually finished with
shellac. May or may not have countersunk screw holes for buttplate (depending
upon the buttplate type). ET3 or ET3a escutcheons.
ST7: Made after 1943. For
all Soviet models. 1-piece, 2-piece, or sometimes 3-piece stocks. Often with
patches & repairs. Usually finished with shellac but other varnishes used.
With or without Barrel Band Finger Grooves. With or without toe and forend
splices. May or may not have countersunk screw holes for buttplate. This stock
was mfgd. from 1943 through 1948 (when the M91/44 ceased production). However,
it was also probably made again in the 1950s when Soviet arsenals refurbished
existing stockpiles of M91-types for wartime reserve. ET4 escutcheons.
ST7a: Similar to ST7 above
with ET4 escutcheons but with laminated birch stocks. These laminated stocks are
postwar, probably being manufactured in the early 1950's and appear on many
rearsenaled guns.
Important Notes: Some say
that laminated stocks start showing up on M38's in 1943 (but I strongly believe
these to be retrofitted in the 1950's). Other than this slight controversy, all
laminated stocks were made after WWII (see ST7a above). Stocks with original
Barrel Band Finger Grooves (BBFG's) are only found on stocks with Escutcheon
Types ET3, ET3a, and ET4 (WWII and postwar stocks). However, stocks without
BBFG's were also made during the war (and perhaps after). Additionally, many
stocks made before WWII had BBFG's sanded-in (retrofitted) at a later time.
Therefore, it is impossible to tell the age by the BBFG's except that all
laminated stocks (which are post-war) have BBFG's and ET4. There is also a great
deal of confusion/controversy about toe and forend splices (on wartime Soviet
rifles). There are those who believe they can date a stock by these features
while I insist that this is pure foolishness.
Escutcheons (in case you didn't know)
are those little plates or fittings that cover the holes where the sling goes
through the stock. This is my escutcheon identification guide for Russian,
Soviet, American, French, and some Finnish M91-type stock/sling escutcheons (but
not for Polish, Chinese, etc.). For additional information, see Stock Types
above. Be advised that many weapons have been altered and/or up-arsenaled over
the years, and there are so many other weird/temporary anomalies that it's quite
difficult to spot an actual trend.
ET1: Russian/Soviet. Fully
inletted, front & back, early elongated-oval, very similar to ET2 (and will
often interchange) but is typically a tiny bit longer. Slotted metal plates, 2
attaching screws each. For Dog-Collar sling. Installed appx. 1908 (and
retrofitted to earlier models) until appx. 1920 on all models/variants.
ET2: Soviet Union. Fully
inletted, front & back, late rounded-oval, slotted metal plates, 2 attaching
screws each. For Dog-Collar sling. Installed appx. 1920-43 (but I believe this
ended about 1941) on all models.
ET3: Soviet Union,
Non-inletted, front only (rear cutout had no escutcheon and was bare wood),
inserted metal tabs with strap guide, bent down on each side of stock, no
attaching screws. For Dog-Collar sling. Installed appx. 1941 through 1943.
ET3a: Same as ET3 above
except some stocks also had an additional inserted metal tab in the rear slot
(but of slightly different external appearance). Probably installed in late 1943
or possibly a retrofit to ST6 during the 1950's.
ET4: Soviet Union. Fully
inletted, front & back, semi-round, slotted sheet metal units pressed into
both sides of cutout, no attaching screws. For Dog-Collar sling. Installed from
1943 until 1948 (and possibly through the 1950s when many weapons were
arsenal-rehabilitated by the Soviets). Retrofitted rifles using replacement
laminated stocks all use this type of escutcheon (see ST7a above).
ET5: Finnish. Fully
inletted, front & back, rounded-oval, so called "rope hole" metal
plates so that "hangers" (differing front & back lengths) can be
attached. For conventional sling. Installed or replaced on existing Russian or
new Finn stocks from appx. 1918 until 1928 on FINN M91s and FINN M24s.
ET6: Finnish hybrid. Fully
inletted, front & back, uses ET1 or ET2 slotted escutcheons but incorporates
the same "hangers" as ET5 escutcheons (or just a simple bent rod
inserted into the slotted escutcheon plate). For conventional sling. Installed
appx. 1918 until 1928 on FINN M91's and FINN M24's.
Rebarreling the basic M91 receiver is a daunting task. About the only reasons for doing so would be to fake a valuable model (which can't be done...see below) or to add a modern barrel for hunting or marksmanship purposes (a waste of money). First of all, the threads are just plain weird and the bore specifications are nothing that we use here in America (.311" groove dia.), and no gunsmith in America (that we're aware of) has an extractor groove cutter and a chamber reamer. Indeed, rebarreling the M91 was and is an arsenal function that requires specialized tools & jigs to accomplish. It is possible, however, to use an existing barrel (from another receiver) and place this on any M91 receiver. I've seen this done, but the end result is unprofessional-looking. First of all, the original markings on the replaced barrel will never line up (at 12 o'clock) with the receiver. Secondly, the front & rear sight bases on earlier models were cut away (relieved) from the barrel after the barrel was installed. The pre-installed barrel had a much higher relief at these points so that the two sight bases could be aligned and milled at the 12 o'clock position. This required very specialized alignment jigs and milling processes, not to mention an original pre-installed barrel that looks nothing like the finished product. Therefore, unless you're able to acquire an original/pre-installed barrel, it would be absolutely impossible to build a fake since a used barrel will never screw in and line up properly! If this weren't enough, the replaced barrel will need to be removed and installed (usually more than twice) in order to mark & cut the necessary extractor groove in the barrel breech (unless you have original tools & jigs). Thirdly, the new extractor cut will be obvious because there will also be an older cut visible (arsenals would have never done this because it weakens the web/head area of the cartridge/case). Finally, you better hope everything matches up perfectly because there is little you can do (except for using different bolt heads or refacing the barrel or receiver ends) to rectify headspace issues since there are no reamers available. Basically, if there is a barrel on your M91 receiver, it was professionally installed by an arsenal (or it would be extremely noticeable that it wasn't). This is just one of those things that can't be faked (unless, perhaps you're the only person in the world who has managed to find an original/uncut barrel with original tools, jigs, etc.). However, faking or replacing barrels on other guns like a Mauser 98' is relatively easy (according to our gunsmith sources).
Official Arsenal Cutdown Models (OACM)
For lack of a better name "Official Arsenal Cutdown Models" (OACM's) are officially-mandated arsenal reworks that have had their barrels (and often stocks) cut down to produce a shorter model of the existing/original base model. OACM's are not rebarreled actions. They are official arsenal reworks which utilize existing barreled actions & stocks that have been shortened/hacked off/cut back. Perhaps the best example of OACM's are the Austrian-Hungarian M.95 Mannlicher Carbines which are cutdown (and rechambered) from original M.95 infantry rifles. There are some who believe that the Soviet Union also produced OACM's utilizing M1891/1910's to produce M1891/1930's, and later M1891/1930's to produce various carbines. It is also reported that the Czech's Poles, Chinese, (and possibly other nations like the Bulgarians) produced OACM's this same way. These M91 OACM's can easily be spotted by close examination of the stock forend (where original cuts for the sling show up), on the front sight base (which must often be welded, slipped-on, or screwed-on instead of milled-on), and the re-bluing job (especially where the rear sight was shortened). The really difficult job is trying to tell if someone in Moscow, Idaho or Москва, Россия did this or if it was officially mandated & accomplished in a government arsenal. If proven to be genuine, these Soviet M91 OACM's would indeed be worth more because of their relative rarity. In reality, this sort of hack job is a fairly easy thing to do and it may be impossible to tell a genuine arsenal cutdown from a recent fake. I'm inclined to believe that M91 OACM's exist as far as the so-called Czech M91/38's are concerned. However, many would argue that the so-called Soviet M1891/1959 carbines are recent Russian inventions in order to capture an extra buck from gullible American collectors. To my knowledge, only Century International Arms Inc. currently imports them. They have not caught on because they cost twice as much as an M1891/1930 and because most serious collectors suspect they are fairly recent Russian fakes since there is no historical evidence to prove otherwise. Even if they aren't fake, they easily could be. It has also been reported (with photographs) that the Soviets made many (or all) of their first M38 carbines (and possibly M44 carbines) from cutdown M1891/1930's. Basically, the photographs, speculation, hearsay, and guns coming out of Russia mean nothing until (and unless) there is substantiating documentation from Soviet archives (in Russian/Cyrillic) that this sort of thing was officially done. As of this date, no compelling evidence has surfaced except for the word of the Russian gun brokers and those who import them. Knowing the Russians (because I am one), I seriously doubt that these weapons are OACM's of the specific era. Additionally, collectors have long been famous for trying to make an extra buck by duping their fellow collectors. The importers perpetuate this confusion because they're happy to buy whatever the Ruskies are willing to sell. Especially if they think they're getting something rare and can turn an extra buck. The importers also seem overly eager to believe what the gun brokers in Russia are feeding them...without historical substantiation and documented proof. However, it seems like only a few attention-seeking collectors have posted photos of these so-called "rare" guns (on only one website as far as I can tell). As I mentioned earlier, I read & write Russian/Cyrillic fluently...it's my native language! Therefore, until I see something from Russia (in Cyrillic) that convinces me otherwise, I'm inclined not to believe there were Soviet M91 OACM's made in any great number (except maybe for patterns or trials). There's an old Russian saying that says something like this: "Beware of strangers bearing rare pearls."
Surplus & Commercial Ammunition
Ammunition is plentiful. However, accuracy can prove to be troublesome. As mentioned earlier, bullet diameters and bore/groove diameters tend to fluctuate wildly. If you want fodder just to blow through the barrel, then cheap military surplus ammunition is the best bet. If you're searching for something that is non-corrosive, with soft point bullets (for hunting), and is reloadable (boxer primers), then try one of the inexpensive brands coming from Europe such as Sellier & Bellot, Wolf, and Barnaul. All the aforementioned sources are made to function in all M91's but frequently lack extreme accuracy and power. However, if you're searching for an optimum load, then you'll need to produce (reload) your own ammunition. A note should also be made here about most surplus ammunition. Basically, it's not worth the trouble to reload due to it being berdan primed. Additionally, almost all of it is primed with corrosive primers. Shooting corrosive primers is not a problem if you take special cleaning precautions (click here to learn more). Basically, you must immediately scrub the barrel (and bolt face) with an ammonia/soap-based neutralizing formula then clean as you normally would thereafter. Failure to do so will result in a ruined barrel within a few hours. Modern commercial ammunition is not corrosively primed and most of it is boxer (reloadable) primed.
This section is listed alphabetically
by subject. Since each rifle has it's own unique characteristics, its imperative
to reload for each specific gun. Basically, one cartridge rarely fires well (or
as safely) in all guns. First of all, inspect your firearm to make sure its safe
and to determine all the factors listed below. It's always best to visit a
gunsmith when in doubt. I've found that the most important factors relating to
accuracy are the following (not listed by importance, but
alphabetically):
Bore Condition: The
condition of your bore will always affect accuracy, but not as much as you might
expect unless it's in terribly bad shape. In fact, an average-quality well-used
bore is capable of excellent accuracy (assuming all the below criteria are met).
Bullets: Modern bullets
from reputable sources are a must because their standards are constant! Do not
reload with surplus (or "pulled" bullets) because consistency is
usually lousy. Again, make sure your bullet diameter approximates (but is never
larger than) your groove diameter (click here
for bore slugging procedures). Another consideration is bullet weight. Since
the M91 rifle barrel has been optimized for 148 gr. military bullets (due to the
pitch of it's rifling), this general vicinity of weight would be best. Bullets
weighing over 220 gr. or so will rarely do well because the rifling cannot
stabilize the bullet. Bullets weighing less than 125 gr. tend to deform rapidly
due to their soft jacket. Only bullets with a soft copper jacket and a lead core
should be used.
Bullet Diameter: Bullet
Diameter cannot be larger than the groove diameter, and should ideally be the
same (so slug your barrel to measure it's exact groove diameter!). Bullets
should not be more than .002" smaller than the groove diameter or accuracy
will deteriorate. Since M91's often have groove diameters much larger than
available bullets, it would be wishful thinking to expect acceptable accuracy
when groove diameters are larger than about .314" (but miracles happen).
Also be aware that if you've reloaded ammunition with a .312" diameter
bullet and you try to shoot this in a Finnish barrel with a .308" or
.310" groove diameter, you would probably be creating a dangerous
situation.
Consistency: Everything
must be consistent such as primer seating, resizing, cartridge length, powder
charge, bullet weight, bullet seating depth, etc.
Deviation:
Once you've done everything above & below, load no less than 11 rounds of a
particular load. With the first round, strap your gun to an old tire and tie a
long string on the trigger (and hide!). After firing this round, check for ease
of extraction and signs of high pressure (split stock, case deformity, primer
deformity, etc.). If this first round appears entirely safe, then shoot the
other 10 rounds through a chronograph. Average this string and compare the
fastest & slowest round to this average. The highest number will be your
"maximum deviation from average" (or just "Deviation"). If
this deviation is 25 fps or less then you'll probably have a tack driver and if it's
greater than 50 fps then you'll need to start all over again. For accuracy
purposes, I believe this to be the most important factor!
Freebore & Throat Erosion
vs. Bullet Seating: Freebore is where the reamed cartridge chamber stops and
the bore begins. Throat erosion occurs from extensive use and is apparent immediately
in front of the case...and also increases distance from the bullet to the bore's
lands. Bullets should be seated to within .010" of where the ogive of the
bullet touches the lands (some reloaders like to have the bullet barely touching
the lands but this is risky due to added chamber pressure). When the throat erosion
of a chamber is so great that the bullet can never be seated to within this
specification, then accuracy will probably be abysmal. As a rule of thumb, too
much freebore & throat erosion decreases pressure & velocity while too
little freebore and no throat erosion increases pressure & velocity. It is
safe to say that most military rifles are rebarreled by their arsenals due to
excessive throat erosion than for any other reason (including corroded/eroded
bores). Basically, you can't buy a new barrel for these M91's but you can
usually compensate for freebore and throat erosion by seating the bullet (within
the case) further out.
Human Factors: The human
factor is truly important. If you've never learned how to shoot properly then
you don't stand a chance of producing good target groups. Know the ballistics
& trajectories of your particular load and practice, practice, practice.
Powders: Ball-type powders and large extruded
powders all seem to work fine if you work them up slowly.
Powder Loading Density: You
must choose a powder that consumes at least 75% of the case capacity (80% - 100%
is ideal).
Pressure: Always
"work up" your load using reliable/published sources! High & low
pressures can be dangerous and they show up in many manifested ways so read your
published sources and know how to spot this situation.
Rifle Factors: M91's have
thin/lightweight barrels and are often not bedded/fitted to the stock properly
(except for most Finnish rifles). Vibrations (harmonics) and warping or bending
(due to improper bedding and heat factors) are always a consideration.
Realistically, the Russians and Soviets never really expected much accuracy from
these rifles or from the average conscript soldier (except their sniper rifles).
They were originally designed (and the sights graduated) to be fired with the
bayonets attached. The Soviets also didn't care too much about groove diameters
because these clearly varied greatly from the factory. Basically these M91's
were designed for mass/area fire. A cold barrel almost never fired in the same
place as a hot barrel and the same held true with & without the bayonet
attached. Also, the M38's & M44's are universally noted as producing the
absolute worst accuracy of any military firearm...ever! The Finns rectified
these problems somewhat by making the barrels heavier, fitting the stocks to
reduce unwanted pressure on the barrel, and paying closer attention to
ammunition quality. You can also improve your favorite M91 by refitting the
stock and reloading your own ammunition. However, a junker rifle with a shot out
bore of gigantic groove proportions using military ammunition will never be
anything more than a noise maker.
Sources for Ammunition & Components: Here are a few reliable
sources (other than your local gun shop): http://www.huntingtons.com,
http://www.grafs.com, http://www.midwayusa.com.
Also see the Wholesale Gun Dealers below for great deals on modern and surplus
ammunition.
This section is listed alphabetically
by subject. The question often arises, "What's this damn thing worth,
anyway?" There are those who believe they can give you a definitive dollar
amount! Rubbish! In spite of all the charts, factors, appraisals by
self-appointed experts, hype, and other rhetoric, the value of just about any
item is subject to interpretation and untold factors. Even so, there are a few
fundamental considerations that are worth evaluating.
Appraisals: In my experience, appraisals are
laughable! There is always a vested interest or hidden agenda involved. Also,
the appraiser probably doesn't know as much about the firearm as you do.
Appraisals are often inflated values that bear little resemblance to a real
value. Don't waste your money on appraisals unless you want to have an inflated
amount for insurance purposes.
Collector's Appeal:
Collector's Appeal often has little to do with rarity and/or availability. For
example, most Americans cherish Springfield 1903's because they're...well...
American. Other specific firearms such as German Lugers also have significant
collector's appeal. As time goes on and as certain firearms start to diminish or
become older, then collector's appeal increases exponentially. Twenty years ago,
no one looked close at the manufacturers' markings (codes) on Mauser
98's. Nowadays, collecting specific Mauser codes has won great
collector's appeal. Quite often, this appeal is misguided (as with Tula
manufactured firearms being better or more rare than those from Izhevsk
). Like it or not, collector's appeal influences the value and must be taken
into consideration.
Condition: What's the
difference between an all-matching original-finished M1891/1930 with an original
stock (with ET2 escutcheons) and without importers markings...as compared to the
recent hack jobs (aka: rearsenaled) guns that are now flooding the market?
HUGE!!! The stuff coming into America today, even though they look pretty, are
worth far less than something original. Some unscrupulous traders will buff off
the new blue job, remove the recent importer's markings, and distress the stock
to make it look original. I know this for a fact because I've just dealt with
one of these idiots. I'm sure there are many more like him so beware.
Fakes & Reproductions:
Fakes and reproductions have so clouded the authenticity issue (especially
regarding the M1891/1930 Snipers) that it has degraded the value of original
snipers to that of a repro. Read more about this below.
Inflation & Market
Adjustments: It may sound like a bargain when your uncle Joe purchased a
six-pack of M44's a decade ago for $60 each (plus shipping). However, that $60
may be equivalent to $80 in today's money (in which case, your uncle Joe's
investment didn't keep pace with inflation). And how about that M38 that he
picked up for $150 fifteen years ago (before the flood)...its now worth about
$80. Basically, real value has nothing to do with the amount someone paid in the
past. Real vale is what a specific gun is worth today. Having said all of this,
it's clear that the overall value of firearms has outpaced inflation. Generally,
they've been a good long-term investment (if you bought it at a good price to
begin with). It also seems that the better (and more expensive) it is, the more
it increases in value. It's analogous to buying a cheap Japanese automobile in
1970 vs. an Italian sports car...the Italian car certainly increased in value
while the Japanese car can't be given away. My advice is to purchase the most
rare/best condition M91 you can find at the cheapest price you can get it for.
Misrepresentations: As in
most situations where money is involved, the firearms industry is rife with
hoodlums who will try to cheat you at every turn (especially if they think you
know nothing about a particular item). Actually, there are so many crooks
involved with firearms trading that you will likely be stung a time or two. The
large wholesalers (who deal with FFL & C&R license holders) all seem to
be quite honest and adhere to a higher degree of ethics. However, the smaller
dealers (and those doing business at gun shows) should be suspect. In most
cases, your knowledge about a specific firearm will save you a lot of headaches.
Still, in most transactions, there is always a certain degree of trust. If
you've become a victim of misrepresentation or fraud, don't be afraid to report
these rascals. If they have an FFL or C&R license, report them to the BATF
and your local police! If the gun was misrepresented, return it (and demand full
payment including shipping)! If you paid with a credit card, seek a charge back!
If you got it through the Internet, expose them through blogs & discussion
boards! If you used an Internet auction site, report them to the operator and
give negative feedback! Quite often, these firearms bandits misrepresent their
product through exaggeration or outright lies. In many cases, you will have paid
for something rare, only to discover that it's not. A high price accompanied by
a lot of hype is an indicator that something is not quite right. And remember,
if you end up paying $100 for a $50 gun, your gun is still only worth $50.
Price vs. Real Value: This
is the crux of this entire section! Price is a precise amount for a
precise model at a precise moment in time. It is established when money has
changed hands. It is usually not a good indicator of what a firearm is
really worth. Real Value is an averaged amount for all similar
transactions (as delineated above). It may be easy to determine a Price
since your (hypothetical) uncle Joe just sold a Finn M24 for a couple hundred
bucks last weekend. Finding what a dozen Finn M24's recently sold for may be a
difficult task. Still, if you're a savvy buyer/seller, you need to know what the
Real Value of a particular gun before you start haggling. This can only
be accomplished through experience, caution, and diligence. A smart collector
goes to gun shows, checks out the adds in The Shotgun News (and other
trade flyers), has a Curio & Relic Firearms License, frequently visits the
local gun shops, has educated himself/herself about the specific make &
model, pays little attention to advertising hype, is respectful yet firm, is a
good haggler (but is fair), is a good listener (but disbelieves most of the
self-serving rhetoric he/she hears), pays absolutely no attention to appraisal
values, disregards Internet charts & recommendations, pays little attention
to tag-prices, and communicates with his trusted friends before the sale. By
doing all these things, you'll likely acquire a firearm for considerably less
(or sell one for considerably more) than it's Real Value. Remember, Real
Value is an average for all similar transactions. Some collectors will buy a
gun for less (hopefully, you) while some poor suckers will pay too much.
Rarity vs. Availability:
The term Rarity usually relates to the actual number that a particular
model was produced. Availability often refers to the frequency that one
may expect to encounter a particular model. Let us assume that 50,000 1943-dated
M1891/1944 Carbines were produced. Thus, 50,000 would represent their level (or
degree) of Rarity. Let us also assume that you're able to account for
5,000 of this particular carbine in America, and also assume that 1,000 of these
guns could possibly be located. Out of these 1,000 M44's, lets assume that 250
would normally be expected to be for sale. Of course, all of this is
hypothetical and unrealistic. In fact, to be able to track down these rifles and
place a number on them would be impossible. If we could, however, the 250 M44's
would represent the Availability of this particular model. Availability
is often gauged by a particular surge of importation for that particular model.
As I write, M1891/1930's, M38's, and M44's are flooding the market. Availability
is just one more factor that helps to determine the real value of a particular
gun because if there aren't many of them to be had; the price will usually go
up. The opposite is true if the market is flooded with a particular model.
Often, such factors as collector's appeal and condition will supersede the
availability factor. But not always. Right now, the market is awash with certain
models which clearly drives the price lower in spite of how rare or available a
particular model really is. I suggest buying the rarest model you can afford
when the market is flooded with them. Those collectors who purchased all those
ugly Finn M91's, Finn M24's, Finn M27's, etc. two decades ago are now sitting on
a gold mine. There are some notable exceptions, that being the M1895 Nagant
revolver. Two decades ago, these were selling for $500 and now the importers
can't give them away. The rarity & availability factors on these M95's are
impressive but nobody wants them because they're basically a cheap/junky gun
(and ammunition is still expensive). You should also tend to disregard the hype
that some wholesalers affix to certain guns. As an example, right now, there are
double-dated M1891/1930's being represented as being rare (and they sell for
well over $200 each). My guess is that there are tens of thousands of these
double-dated rifles waiting to be exported. Just because some gun broker in
Russia accidentally to pull a few of these from crates in the back of the
warehouse doesn't necessarily make them rare. Two years ago, M1891/1930 snipers
were being sold as rare items at over $1500 each...the same gun (which may in
fact be a fake) is being sold today for $330. Use your common sense and wait
awhile before snapping up all the so-called rare models in a wholesalers
warehouse. Here's another consideration. Most foreign gun brokers (and American
importers) release a certain gun/model based upon it's condition. They often
(but not always) start off by releasing the crummy-condition guns first and then
attempt to keep the price high by releasing better-condition guns. As the supply
dwindles (and scarcity sets in), they follow all this up by releasing more
crummy guns at the same price as the good ones. Since there's an unending supply
of M30's, M38's, and M44's out there, continue to expect good quality guns for
several decades (but cyclical). Gauging when to release a gun (and in what
condition) are market strategies that brokers and importers use to make a gun
seem more rare. They control the availability which affects perceived rarity.
Reputation: The real
values of some firearms defy logic. Take for example the M1895 Nagant revolver
mentioned above. They're relatively rare (as far as production numbers are
concerned) but nobody seems to want them because they're a junky little pistol.
Let me remind you that many years ago, the Italian Carcano and the
Japanese Arisaka were also considered junk. OK, so they still are junk,
but the sources have dried up and the availability is now quite low. I'm also
told that after WWII, Mauser 98's were also considered to be junk. Always
keep in mind that what may be a sow's ear today may end up being a string of pearls
tomorrow.
Sentimental Value: If your
grandfather Ivan used a cherished M1891/1930 to kill hundreds of Nazi bastards
at Stalingrad, then your rifle is priceless no matter what condition its in.
However, to someone else, this same rifle may not be worth anything more than
its parts value. I'm a firm believer in sentimental value, and also believe that
these sorts of weapons should be documented as best as possible and remain
within the family! They're priceless!!!
With over 37 million being made by
just the Russians/Soviets, there are probably millions of M91 variants still being
stored in dark & damp warehouses throughout Eastern Europe and Asia.
What's Really Available: Some speculate that the Finns & Poles
have just about exhausted their stockpiles but the Russians and Chinese probably
have millions more (unless they have been destroyed and/or melted down which is
highly unlikely). The fact is, I really don't know what's out there, but I do
have a pretty good ballpark figure. My guess is that the M91 will continue to
pop up for several more decades. Even so, they seem to come in runs of specific
models & levels of condition. Ten years ago (appx. 1997), importers were
telling us that they had imported the last of the M39's, M38's, and M44's. Duh!
In fact, better-condition M38's & M44's are now being imported. In 1990, you
couldn't get your hands on a nice M1891/1930 (or any arsenal refinished gun),
but you could get original M1891/1910's, Remingtons, Westinghouses, Chatelleraults,
and the early Finnish models. Everything has reversed itself.
Manipulation: What appears to
be happening is that the Russians are closely manipulating their stockpiles in
order to fetch the best price while the Finns are simply anxious to sell
everything they've got. I suspect that the next huge run will be Chinese T53's,
with possibly a few Romanian, Hungarian, and Czech guns filtering through in
addition to modern snipers like the Finn M85. However, this could take a decade
or two before we end up seeing these. Until then, The Russians will continue to
trickle out what they think they can make a ruble on. I believe they have millions
left! The Russians will also continue faking M1891/1930 snipers (with fake PU
scopes). I also suspect that the Russians will come out with an entire warehouse
of rare/never-before-heard-of models. But will they actually be rare or just a
recent hack job (like the M59's may be)?
Importation Concerns: Basically, as long as M91 variants are
allowed to be imported, we will probably see cheap
rifles. It was President Regan (a Republican) who reinstated the importation of
foreign military guns in the 1980's. If the Democrats have their way, this would
end. Just remember who you're voting for and what their stand is on firearms.
Other Russian & Soviet Guns: While were on the subject of Soviet guns, what about the future
availability of SVT38's & SVT40's? In the late 1990's we were told that the
warehouses were empty of these models (we were also told that there were no
M1895 & Tokarev pistols, M38's, M44's, M39's, etc.). I believe we haven't
seen the last of these! One thing is almost certain...when an
importer/wholesaler says something like: "When these are gone, there will
be no more.", they're lying (or brain dead)! Simply put, there were just
too many made to have been swallowed up by Zeus.
Wholesale Sources: I've
dealt with several sources but I would like to recommend my two favorite
wholesalers of M91 variants and other military firearms (you'll need an FFL or
C&R to order). They will be glad to search their inventory for something
special. Unlike some wholesalers, these first two sources really do give you a
handpicked service for that extra $10. They will also make things right if
there's a problem...with absolutely no hassles! Oh yes, and they like us small
guys (with our C&R license). OK, so the men like chatting with me because I
have a cute Russian accent, but I suspect that these first two dealers are
treating everyone else the same way. They are http://www.jgsales.com
and http://www.southernohiogun.com
. Other wholesale sources that I haven't had sufficient time to evaluate (but
seem to be very honest & reliable) are http://www.aimsurplus.com,
http://www.centerfiresystems.com,
http://www.centuryarms.com, http://www.ioinc.us,
http://www.rguns.net, http://www.coledistributing.com,
http://www.samcoglobal.com, http://www.lewhorton.com,
http://www.sarcoinc.com, http://www.fgsinc.8m.com,
http://www.ohiorapidfire.com, etc. In
fact, the Shotgun News @ http://www.shotgunnews.com
is a wonderful resource to locate many more wholesalers. I would, however, be leery
of those who sell their guns through certain auction websites. I've not dealt
directly with these websites but I did find a notorious crook doing business
there. For the most part, the established business are quite concerned about
their reputations while the little guys often come and go in the middle of the
night.
The following English & Russian resources should not be taken
as entirely factual (however, the Russian/Cyrillic sources seem to a little
closer to the truth). I wish to acknowledge all these entities for their
important work (and chastise those who have simply repeated rubbish). While most of the following seems to be accurate, I've spotted
many serious errors (especially from English sources who think they can identify
something through minutia). Enjoy the nice photos, dialog, charts, and data but
be careful about what you accept as fact. Heck, even the stuff I've written
above should be questioned.
English language sources [En]: http://www.mosinnagant.net,
http://www.7.62x54r.net, http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com,
http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/, http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl03-e.htm,
http://www.everything2.org/index.pl?node_id=1761364,
http://www.angelfire.com/az/nagant/,
http://www.snipercentral.com/mosin.htm,
http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/mnsniper.html,
http://dblomq.tripod.com/html/mosin39.htm,
http://ww1remembered.org/imperial_russian_ww1slings.htm,
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~ejuhola/7.62/boltaction.html,
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/4064/PersCollection/Finnishpage.html,
http://militaryhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/stalin_s_sharpshooter_s_tool,
http://www.wfyi.org/fireandice/history/weaponry_finnish_sa.htm,
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20russe/a%20mossin%20nagant%20gb.htm,
http://www.kevos4.com/approved_weapons.htm,
http://www.ruswave.com/articles/weapons/mosin-rifle/,
Источники
на русском
языке [Ru]: http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl03-r.htm,
http://ww1.iatp.org.ua/mosinrifle91.htm,
http://pobeda.rambler.ru/weapons.html?id=86,
http://handgun.kapyar.ru/page.php?pg=204,
http://www.weaponplace.ru/vintmos.php,
http://encycl.atsar.ru/guns/mosinsniper/,
http://www.weltkrieg.ru/weapons/mosin/,
http://www.legendary-arms.ru/rifles/mosin,
http://www.sniper.nnov.ru/mmg_mosinv.php,
http://www.muzeyuvd.narod.ru/vm.htm,
http://bibliotekar.ru/encOruzh/147.htm,
http://www.sportway.ru/index.php?smid=1001&scid=161&sgid=2475&orderby=gturn,
http://tounb.tula.net/Tula/Sobitiya/sobitiya34.htm,
http://www.firstwar.info/weapons/index.shtml?9,
http://www.museum.ru/C1608, http://www.soverkon.ru/2006/19/6.php,
http://ww1.iatp.org.ua/mosinrifle91_10.htm,
http://bratkoff-errero.com/docs.php?action=docdet&dd=41,
http://mobidic.ru/gpage8.html, http://www.psj.ru/saver_magazins/detail.php?ID=5278,
http://clicknews.ru/e-books-news-4143.html,
http://ptales.holdgold.ru/page.php?id=165,
http://www.izhmash.ru/rus/news/250406.shtml,
http://www.weaponplace.ru/mosin.php,
http://www.ng.ru/ngregions/2007-06-25/23_duby.html,
http://ref.net.ua/work/det-10373.html,
http://www.oruzhenosez.ru/46mosin.html,
http://encycl.atsar.ru/guns/mosin1891/,
http://hunter.ucoz.ru/news/2007-09-25-85,
http://commi.narod.ru/txt/markev/442.htm,
http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp?pr_sign=archive.2004.18.articles.chronicle_02,
http://www.nagan.kiev.ua/shop/prodview.php?idProduct=2,
http://tools-of-death.ru/hot/ho01/ho01/ho02/ho0001.html,
http://www.arms-museum.tula.ru/exposition_new/4.html,
http://www.gusa.ru/1914c.html, http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/guns/article//guns/guns-042.htm,
http://karel-val.narod.ru/spravochnik/gilzi_tabl.htm,
http://guns2.narod.ru/weapons/s10.html,
http://www.arsenalnoe.ru/s/34/tula.html,
http://www.rusderjavnaya.info/2005/04/a_050087.htm,
http://handgun.kapyar.ru/page.php?pg=207,
http://www.hronos.km.ru/biograf/bio_m/mosin_si.html,
http://www.tulatoz.ru/history.html,
http://www.army.lv/?s=551&id=349,
http://www.sportway.ru/index.php?smid=1001&scid=161&sgid=2475&orderby=gfid,
http://www.legendary-arms.ru/rifles/mosin,
http://www.5ka.ru/32/5812/1.html,
http://www.izhmash.ru/rus/news/250406.shtml,
http://www.muzeyuvd.narod.ru/vm.htm,
http://www.samostrel.h15.ru/mosina.html,
http://www.old-soldier.ru/oruzhie/vintovka/,
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B0_%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0,
http://www.weltkrieg.ru/weapons/mosin/,
http://www.bergenschild.narod.ru/Reconstruction/archive/mosina_vintovka/Index.htm,
http://www.weaponplace.ru/vintmos.php,
http://ww1.iatp.org.ua/mosinrifle91.htm,
http://battlefront.ru/rk10.htm, http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/guns/article/guns/guns-042.htm,
http://www.tula-oblast.ru/greatpeople/inventors/inventors22.php,
http://www.permian.ru/invent/inventions/invention-mosin.htm,
http://www.prodiz.ru/katalog/NEW/maketi.html,
http://www.prodiz.ru/katalog/NEW/maketi.html, http://www.baikalinc.ru,
http://www.rusarm.ru/roe_ru/news/roe_ru_news.html,
http://www.arms-museum.tula.ru/,
Millions and millions of M1891's were made. The exact number is unknown but it has been reported that the Russians/Soviets alone made over 37 million. The design of the M91 has surpassed all expectations and will likely be a viable design long after the cockroaches have taken over civilization. The model 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle is a testament to "Getting-It-Right", and is the ultimate survival story of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
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