Not a M/39 Perhaps a M/28?

[Todd1700]

I'm the guy who posted that I saw what I thought was a M/39 hanging in a local gun store for 90 bucks. Even though it's in rough condition everyone here advised that I jump all over it for that price. Well I went back and apon a closer 2nd inspection it is not a M/39 but something older still. Here's a description followed by pics. A M/28 perhaps? Or some Finn conversion rifle?

Anyway here is what I can see. The base of the barrel has the following marking on top. SY is stamped there which is a civil guard mark right?. There is also a T inside a triangle (Tikka symbol I think). On the right side of the barrel base there are 2 serial numbers both lined through and an =S= which I think is another civil guard mark. On the left side of the barrel there is a S with 3 lines over it inside a nobby circle (Sako symbol). The boxed letters [SA] is there as well which is a Finn army mark. A finnish inspectors stamp like this (KE) and a serial number 30211. There is nothing on the top of reciever but apon removing it from the stock the date 1914 is at the very rear underside of the tang. Above it is a bow and arrow symbol which is the pre 1928 Izhevsk symbol. It has a dog collar sling attachment on the forearm but a swivel sling attachment on the buttstock. There is a circle within a circle mark on the right side of the buttstock. Pictures below. What do you think? Worth 90 bucks?

 

[Cosmoline]

YOU DOG!! That does indeed look to be the true rifle of white death--the M28. It has the old sight and everything. $90 is a score and a half, even with the rust. It's more than a score. It's one of the most famous military rifles ever made, the pride of the elite Civil Guard.

http://mosinnagant.net/finland/M28-Rifle.asp

One caveat on this, these rifles saw the rough end of one of the roughest chapters of the WWII era. I have run into headspace problems with them before . Give the bore and chamber a good cleaning and check your spacing before using. It's an easy enough procedure and any smith will have the 54r gauge. It's also a good idea to remove the barrel and receiver prior to intensive bore cleaning as the solvents can bleach the stock. Just make sure when taking it apart for inspection to use the proper size gunsmithing screw heads. Try not to scratch the patina around the screws (I always seem to anyway).

Also, remember that these pre-war Finns were bored tight at around .3085 to .309. They do best with handloads using .308 boattails. If it has a "D" stamp on it it will be ok with D166 heavy ball. Midway sells the bullets from Lapua. If the bore is in good shape you can get sub-moa groups from these rifles. Simho Hayha used one just like it.

The stock looks to be fine and given that this is a much more significant rifle than the M39 I would advise against even cleaning it. Just leave it. Check and clean the bore though. It's possible some dinglefool after import stateside shot corrosive through it and never cleaned it. For the light pitting on the receiver and other spots, use a gentle cleaner such as CLP and rags to pick off any residual rust without harming the patina. Avoid harsher cleaners, steel wool and the like.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

I'll give you $100 for it!

Could you give us a range report if/when you shoot it? I'm really interested.

 

[Gord]

$110!

Seconding a range report. Remember to clean the barrel immediately when done!

 

[Todd1700]

Rest assured that it will be left as is. All I did was clean the bore which looks surprizingly nice and shiney with good rifling. All in all not a bad pick up for only the 4th military surplus rifle I have purchased since I started collecting them less than 6 months ago. I will give a range report when I am able to.

I don't mean to sound like too much of a babe in the woods. I could tell this rifle was a Finnish MN and therefore worth more than a standard Russian MN but I had no real idea of how much more. Anyone care to hazzard a guess to what you might normally pay for a M/28 in this admittedly rough condition?

 

[DrLaw]

$120.00 But I will outdo the others and offer you $130.00 on it and you cover the shipping.

The Doc is out now.

PS. nice catch, keep it as the value, whatever it may be, only increases.

 

[TehK1w1]

I'd almost call that 'stealing' rather than buying. I'm envious...as for condition, that looks better than many 19/30s and M44s I've seen.

 

[GD]

In the condition you described and with the pictures, I would have no problem in paying $200. On auction sites, it would probably make $300.

 

[Cosmoline]

Anyone care to hazzard a guess to what you might normally pay for a M/28 in this admittedly rough condition?

They run upwards of $350, but the prices are heading north. The only reason they're not selling for $1,000 is that most folks have no idea what they're looking at when it comes to Mosins, and are conviced all of them are Russian "junkers." You got the benefit of that ignorance.

 

[Ash]

Yeah, considering Izhvesk made more 91/30's in a month in 1942 than the entire production of M28's, all makers, combined!

Ash

 

[shevrock]

where do you live. i have to stalk you house and try to steal it. [joking] Sweat deal.

 

[AmishFury]

Yeah, considering Izhvesk made more 91/30's in a month in 1942 than the entire production of M28's, all makers, combined!

Izhevsk production for 1942 is higher than the entire production totals for Finnish mosins of all models/makers

 

[Cosmoline]

Not to mention how many 91/30 PU snipers the USSR churned out! It amazes me how much their value has gone up due to EATG being so cheap on DVD. We need Christian Bale to star in a film about Simho Hayha. ... or maybe not

 

[Ash]

The sum total of all Finnish Mosins is very small, as mentioned. As I said, Izhevsk made more 91/30's in a month than Finland made M28's - total. Ditto for M28/30's, M39's, M27's, etc, all of which were much better made rifles and demonstrated that the Mosin could indeed compete toe-to-toe with Mausers and Enfields.

Ash

 

[308sc]

Lucky

 

[cleardiddion]

Good find, though admitedly I'm rather jealous!