Mosin Nagant 91/30 question
- Thread starter Machete
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
There are so many Millions of these guns around that there really isn't a historical value to them. If it's really that bad go ahead and re-finish the stock and enjoy shooting your rifle. I sanded down my son's M44, rubbed in some stain and put several coats of Tung Oil on and it was done.
Here is a photo of the M44 after it was done.
(sorry I didn't take a shot of it before I started!)
Here is a photo of the M44 after it was done.
(sorry I didn't take a shot of it before I started!)
Given the conditions they were made under, and used in, I kind of lean towards letting it alone. Let it keep its battle scars, even if the only "combat" the rifle saw was the time Ivan got mad at his mule and gave it a swat with the stock to get it moving again.
Patina=character!
Patina=character!
Cosmoline
Member
I've never been a fan of preserving dirt per se, esp. if the stock is covered in cosmoline and the wood is soft and getting ruined. The good news is most soviets are covered with shellac which keeps the cosmoline from damaging the wood. A good cleaning and some fresh shellac will work fine. Exceptions would be rare models or rifles with battle wounds such as shrapnel.
Remember though a lot of Mosins that look black and dirty are Finn captures covered with pine tar.
Remember though a lot of Mosins that look black and dirty are Finn captures covered with pine tar.
Hey it's a $79 rifle. Do what you want with it cause it will be pretty hard to drop the value of it. I refinished the stock on my 91/30 and after all the crude was gone I actually found some stampings on the stock I didn't know were there. Some say you shouldn't deface a piece of history. I agree if it is something rare and nice like an old Colt peacemaker or a nice Springfield 03 but come on Mosin Nagants that sell for less than $100 don't quite fit in that catagory. I'm hapy with the way mine came out.
Dunhams really has some nice Mosin rifles. I picked up a 91/30 and an M-44 today. The 91/30 was a little more rough compared to the M-44, but then, the M-44 looked fresh-from-the-factory new! I can't believe these cost a mere $79.00! And they came with the accessory pack at that cost. Now, I need the ammo. They were out. Off to the gun show tomorrow!
chris in va
Member
Yes, just bang the front sight over a hair. You should see what my Russian friend does to his Mosin! He doesn't play around. These things were built to take it.
Doc...if you pay more than $80 for two tins of 54R, you're getting ripped off.
Doc...if you pay more than $80 for two tins of 54R, you're getting ripped off.
Cosmoline
Member
Brass punches work fine. I have a set that's been pounded almost flat from work on Mosins.
Absolutely. Like the Tom Waits song, you gotta slap that hog and flip it over twice. Delicate is not the word for it. For example, when cycling don't use your finger and thumb, use your palm and arm muscles.
The Deer Hunter
Member
ArchAngelCD, there have been no truer words spoken about refinishing a MN.
If anything, refinishing will give it more value. If you bought all the parts to a MN and built one it would cost more than what you paid for a rifle.
B Yond, thats a nice M44
I'm thinking of buying a stock like that.
If anything, refinishing will give it more value. If you bought all the parts to a MN and built one it would cost more than what you paid for a rifle.
B Yond, thats a nice M44
I'm thinking of buying a stock like that.Dunham had some that was unlabeled ammo, but we were not certain of the caliber. better safe than sorry. When they do have ammo for it in stock, it runs $9.00/20 rounds?!?!?! IMHO that is a rip-off!
I have seen it on-line for as low as $140.00/1,200 rounds. Even with shipping, I come out far, far ahead. Let's see the math...(pause)...$360.00/800 at Dunhams and $140.00/1,200 on-line. No way shipping could ever cost that difference.
Thanks all,
Doc2005
Had to edit: I had the wrong price listed...way wrong! Now it's correct.
I have seen it on-line for as low as $140.00/1,200 rounds. Even with shipping, I come out far, far ahead. Let's see the math...(pause)...$360.00/800 at Dunhams and $140.00/1,200 on-line. No way shipping could ever cost that difference.
Thanks all,
Doc2005
Had to edit: I had the wrong price listed...way wrong! Now it's correct.
Last edited:
The Deer Hunter
Member
Online has like 300 rds for $30. Froogle it.
GarandOwner
Member
Im a big WWII buff, so I like to preserve the condition of these rifles, while refinishing it might be nice, "sporterizing" is what irks me. Its "just a $100 rifle" now because of the supply, there was a time when you could get M1 Garands and 1903's for $100 (60's & 70's) just because they aren't worth much now doesnt mean they wont down the road......though they did make a @#$# load more Mosin Nagants than Garands or 1903's
Exactly.
How many Enfields, K98s, M1 garands, 1903s, what have you, were cut down in sporterizations or bubbaizations (there is a difference), and are worth so much less than an unaltered version now? You're correct that they're dirt cheap now, and that it is hard to de-value a $75 rifle that goes bang. The problem is in 40 years, when your sporterized $75 rifle is still worth $75, and the one pulled out of the same crate by someone else is worth $750 because it was not cut up.
Certainly it is your property, and you can do with it what you want. Just realize that they are not making any more.
Mike
How many Enfields, K98s, M1 garands, 1903s, what have you, were cut down in sporterizations or bubbaizations (there is a difference), and are worth so much less than an unaltered version now? You're correct that they're dirt cheap now, and that it is hard to de-value a $75 rifle that goes bang. The problem is in 40 years, when your sporterized $75 rifle is still worth $75, and the one pulled out of the same crate by someone else is worth $750 because it was not cut up.
Certainly it is your property, and you can do with it what you want. Just realize that they are not making any more.
Mike
<SLV>
Member
Machete,
Go ahead and pick up another one, and then keep one original and refinish the other. That ought to make everyone happy.
Personally I don't own guns for their collectible value. But that's just me.
Go ahead and pick up another one, and then keep one original and refinish the other. That ought to make everyone happy.
Personally I don't own guns for their collectible value. But that's just me.
The Deer Hunter
Member
true, but you could just buy another one. I wont permanently bubba mine unless i get another one. And i still probably wont bubba it.
I plan to leave both my Mosins the 91/30 and the M-44, as well as both of my two SKSs (59/66s) absolutely original...as produced. I agree. Down the road, they will be worth something. Oddly enough, my wife likes that idea. She has even come to the computer from-time-to-time to witness the increasing worth of nice SKSs. Wow! I guess she gets it too. And her favorite rifle: my K-31, also all original.
Edit to add: Has anyone ever seen a bolt-action rifle with a more robust receiver than a Mosin? My M-44 is just shockingly heavy...even thicker than the SKS receiver, and those are massive!
And her favorite rifle: my K-31, also all original. Edit to add: Has anyone ever seen a bolt-action rifle with a more robust receiver than a Mosin? My M-44 is just shockingly heavy...even thicker than the SKS receiver, and those are massive!
its not for the collectible value. its for prosperity. its because the mosin is what it is. a battle rifle. we dont try to pretend its anything else. its not a sporter, its not a hunting rifle.
we dont want people to keep it original for our resale values. these guns arnt "investments". simple supply and demand would drop the price on our guns if everyone else kept thier rifles unmodified.
this is for a reason. the more unmodified rifles, the lower the price for an unmodified rifle. this isnt to benefit me in my rifles "Collectible value" its to benefit all those that will come after me who want Milsurp.
the milsurp market has been eating up the worlds supply of various rifles. and as the last of the bolt action and semi guns are imported, there is nothing to take thier place in line since the majority of military rifles that have been in use for the past few decades have been automatics.
and in a future where 2nd A is in serious trouble, bolt action "relics" stand a chance of being the last gun standing, if you know what i mean. and they are only 'Relics' if they are in original condition.
dig me? i hate to say it... but "Its for the children"
Hoppy590:
Point well made! These all become my 12-year-old daughter's on her 18th birthday. She likes the "...old bolt-action rifles with bayonets."
I buy these for her now, because with the current and past 2nd amendment attacks, she may not be able to do so 10 years from now. She "owns" them now, she simply can't take possession yet. She is very proud that she has the nicest firearm collection of any kid at her school.
Doc2005
Point well made! These all become my 12-year-old daughter's on her 18th birthday. She likes the "...old bolt-action rifles with bayonets."
I buy these for her now, because with the current and past 2nd amendment attacks, she may not be able to do so 10 years from now. She "owns" them now, she simply can't take possession yet. She is very proud that she has the nicest firearm collection of any kid at her school.
Doc2005
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