Mosin Warhorses

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GunnyUSMC

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I have never been a big fan of refurbed Mosins. The pretty bluing, flaking shellac and forced matched numbers. I feel that they had so much history scrubed off of them.
I really like the Warhorses that have that BTDT (Been There, Done That) look.
Everytime I come across one I try to buy it, or tread a nice looking refurb of the same make and year for it.
Here are a few that I have in my collection.


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I have five Mosins and thought I had a lot. You put me to shame. I see you have five with the old scalloped receivers, I have one. But I didn't detect any of yours as the model M-42, the carbine length with the attached swivel bayonet and not too long ago they were very plentiful. I like your idea of taking close up pictures of the receivers, I think I will do that too. Here's an existing picture of my Mosins.
I'm new to this forum and therefore hope the picture got attached. I doesn't seem as though i get to see the complete reply before it gets posted.
 

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That would be the M44 Carbine, not M-42.
You have a nice start.

I do have a few carbines too.
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From left to right:
#1 1941 Izhevsk 91/59
#2 1942 Izhevsk 91/59
#3 1943 Izhevsk 91/59
#4 1943 Izhevsk M38 (Beech stock)
#5 1943 Izhevsk M38
#6 1952 Hungarian M44 in Romanian stock
#7 1953 Hungarian M44
#8 1953 Romanian M44
#9 1943 Izhevsk M44
#10 1944 Tula M44
#11 1946 Izhevsk M44 (light color stock)
#12 1946 Izhevsk M44
#13 1952 Polish M44
#14 1954.9 Chinese Type 53
#15 1954.12 Chinese Type 53
 
Now a pretty Mosin is a pretty Mosin, but not a Warhorses.
A Warhorse is one that has that well used look. It still weas some of it's battle scars.
Let's see the Warhorses in your collection.
 
I don't have any pics available at the moment, but I've got 7 mosins, 4 of which are war-horses.

1933 Finn-captured Tula M91/30. The rear half of the stock (typical spliced Finn stock) is from an Austrian mosin. It's got several arsenal repairs. The bore looks like a sewer pipe, but it shoots quite well.
1941 (I think. going off the top of my head here) Finn-captured Izhevsk M91/30. It's wearing a pot-belly stock and has an M39 trigger.
1952 Hungarian M44. It looks like it was used to single-handedly fight the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Stock looks beat to heck, metal is missing most of the bluing but it shoots well.
1941 Tikka M91. It doesn't look like the standard old war-horse, but the Finns didn't have the luxury of holding on to "pretty" rifles. It was definitely used in the war. I've only put about 5 rounds through it. It's on the list to go out this weekend for some fun.

The other 3 are a Russian M44 that someone over-sanded the stock, an M38, and another Hun M44 that is just too dang purty to have been used. The stock is pristine as is the metal.

I'll post pics when I get home.

Matt
 
Now a pretty Mosin is a pretty Mosin, but not a Warhorses.
A Warhorse is one that has that well used look. It still weas some of it's battle scars.
Let's see the Warhorses in your collection.
These are some of the few in my vast Mosin Nagant collection, which puts yours to shame.

Trust me, I have dozens of "warhorses" as you call them, but I don't deem you worthy to even post them.

Juet kidding, those are my only five. The M39 Finn does have some battle wear on it though! :p
 
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If you all were like me and late to the Mosin crowd (and should have bought one when they were cheap, but did not), which one would you go after and where are the places you would buy it from?

I am currently deployed active duty military, but I know an FFL where it can sit until I get home in 11 months...
 
When they first hit the market I bought 2 91-30's and a M44. They had barrels that looked new. They all shot well and ammo was cheap. Note the WAS.
 
If you all were like me and late to the Mosin crowd (and should have bought one when they were cheap, but did not), which one would you go after and where are the places you would buy it from?

I am currently deployed active duty military, but I know an FFL where it can sit until I get home in 11 months...
Sadly, the best deals are going to be in the LGS and pawn shop, and by private sale. About all the big distributors have left are 1942 Ishevsk M91/30's and they want $2-300 for them.
 
Sadly, the best deals are going to be in the LGS and pawn shop, and by private sale. About all the big distributors have left are 1942 Ishevsk M91/30's and they want $2-300 for them.



Which type or manufacture would you look for?


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Which type or manufacture would you look for?


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Well, what I'd look for and what I think you should look for are two different things....at the LGS, I just found a Finnish M91 with a '42 VKT (Tikka) barrel on a 1914 Ishevsk receiver. I recommend educating yourself on the history of the Mosin Nagant, and the various markings. Knowing how to read Russian helps, too. It helped me find a 1916 Sestroryetsk M91 for practically nothing because the seller had it labelled as an M44.

Terrance Lapin's book, The Mosin Nagant Rifle, 6th Edition is a great place to start learning about Mosin Nagants.

If you can read German, Drei Leinen: die Gwerhe Mosin-Nagant by Karl-Heinz Wrobel is an invaluable read for the serious Mosin collector.

Alexander Yuschenko's Book on Soviet Mosin Nagants during WWII looks good also, I haven't read it yet, unfortunately.
 
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Just trying to buy a few last things before I get home many months from now and might be unable to get just about anything. A few specific suggestions would be great--no real purpose, just enjoying a good and unique rifle.


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Not saying you'll find them, but I recommend looking for: Finns-any Finn. M39, M91, M27 or 8, 28/30, anything.

Hex receivers; Usually 1936 and before, some later refurbs and Finns will have them also.

Any Setroryetsk M91. They were only made from 1894-1918. That's the one where it helps to read Russian or learn to recognize the markings.

M38 Carbines. Once common, they are harder to find. Same for the M91/59 carbines. Even M44's are getting scarcer.

Dragoons and ex-Dragoons. They will be shorter than M91's, the ex-Dragoons will be M91/30's with hex receivers and pre-1930 dates.

And hex receiver 91/30's dated 1930-1936 or 7.
 
Just bought a M39 Finnish SAKO from Classic Firearms--really looking forward to shooting it! While the hand selected options are exhausted, there seems to be plenty of 'service grade' rifles left. Sure do wish I had bought this years ago when the prices were under $100 rather than the $428 shipped with a leather sling that I just paid.

The advice (Thank You) above plus a few YouTube videos helped me narrow down the choices. Plus, my wife's ancestry is Finnish, so this rifle became a *necessity*, not a want (right?).

So, are there any must-have or advisable add-ons that I should get with it? Recoil pad? Aftermarket trigger? Or, just leave it the heck alone and shoot it?
 
Wow. Gunny that is quite impressive. I certainly appreciate keeping milsurp firearms in original condition. However, if the milsurp were already modified I consider it fair game. My Mosin is highly modified and does not resemble the original in anyway. I have an Arisaka 7.7 that someone sporterized that i am in the process of returning to original. Its mum-less but if I could find complete original furniture I would feel I did the rifle some justice.
My thought process in the complete and total modification of my mosin was that I would finish what someone else started, maybe make it a little more accurate, possibly make it more fun to shoot. (They are already super fun) I wish I had a picture on my phone to upload. I cannot believe i bought 3 91-30's for 60$ each in 2004, now i cant find them for under 200$. Ugh, Democrats
 
two war mosins. and i also like the BTDT in my milsurps. eastbank.
 

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not a russian-finn war carbine, but a chinese 1955 carbine with all matching numbers and a ex bore. it could pass for a vietnam bringback, but is a early navy arms import. who ever was issued this carbine know how to clean the bore. if they all could talk. eastbank.
 

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Just bought a M39 Finnish SAKO from Classic Firearms--really looking forward to shooting it! While the hand selected options are exhausted, there seems to be plenty of 'service grade' rifles left. Sure do wish I had bought this years ago when the prices were under $100 rather than the $428 shipped with a leather sling that I just paid.

The advice (Thank You) above plus a few YouTube videos helped me narrow down the choices. Plus, my wife's ancestry is Finnish, so this rifle became a *necessity*, not a want (right?).

So, are there any must-have or advisable add-ons that I should get with it? Recoil pad? Aftermarket trigger? Or, just leave it the heck alone and shoot it?
Nice choice! :cool:

You've already got the best version of the Mosin-now just leave it as is and shoot it. ;)
 
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