Got another 91/30 today...a Tula...I have a question for Mosin experts

[saturno_v]

Today I returned a couple of items I didn't need at GI Joe's.
Unfortunately I lost my receipts so they could only issue store credit...
I didn't really need anything so I strolled down the ammo section but their prices are higher than Wal-Mart.
So I thought, what the heck, let's get another Mosin 91/30
The supply dried up lately so I didn't bother to check regularly..I was looking for a Tula with dark wood, ideally pre-war production, in great shape to complement my 2 beautiful light color wood stock Izhevsk 91/30.
With no much hope, I run to the gun counter and I ask....they had one on the rack on sale for $89, I ask to see it...a Izhevsk not in a very good shape, rifling pitted and counterbored (I hate it) furniture so-so.
So I ask if they have some in the back storage...surprise!!! they have 9 of them!!! 9....I ask if i can see all of them and initially I meet stiff resistance..a bit of negotiating finally get all the Mosins out...some of them were absolutely gorgeaous....a big smile appeared in my face when I found a great Tula, 1938, dark wood, excellent conditions, action Mauser-like smooth and full accessory package as usual....it followed me home...
I wonder what discussion is having right now with his other 2 brothers in my safe....remembering past battles and wars...
In the pile of Mosins at the store, there was a 91/30 Tula 1932 dark wood with hex receiver in very good conditions....my question for the MN experts is...a hex 91/30 is it worth more than a regular rounded receiver Russian 91/30??? Should I get it from a collecting value standpoint??? For shooting purposes, I have enough Mosins already and the safe is getting crowded.
Aestetically, I like the rounded receiver better but, hey, if it is worth more than the $89 asking price, I may get it.
Thanks for your answers!!

Here are the pics of the new guy..I apologize for the set not being exactly photogenic ...I took few shots on the fly after cleaning it and waxing the wood...

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Any Mosin Nagant looking that good is worth 89.00 any day of the week. Good find. Go back and buy the store out. Just kidding. I have never run across any mosin retailing for that price. I suggest stripping down the wood and refinishing.

 

[KI.W.]

Some prices. http://www.williamsgunsight.com/gunsights/808usedrifles.htm

 

[AnaxImperator]

Early hex-receiver 91/30s are generally going to be a little more expensive (+$10-$20) in terms of retail sales, but for serious Mosin Nagant collectors the receiver being round or hex doesn't count for much extra resale value. Now if it was an wartime M38 or M44 with a hex-receiver, that'd be a little different.
All Russian Mosin Nagants have birch stocks (with rare exceptions), either hardwood or laminate, and are the dark-red color due to the shellac used. Yours is a standard, common Tula M91/30, and a nice specimen to boot. Has it been rearsenaled, and does it have matching, original serial-#'s?
With your 91/30 having such a good condition Soviet finish, I don't suggest stripping the stock & refinishing. You'll be hard-pressed in finding a collector who will pay your asking price for a "molested" Mosin Nagant.

I'd go back and check for any that are MO/double-date marked, SA-marked (Finnish), are ex-sniper or ex-Dragoons, or otherwise have a uncommon origin (Albanian, Polish, etc) or combination of manufacture date/arsenal/features.

If you haven't already, check out 7.62x54R for a rundown on all the common, rare, & unusual Mosin Nagant features.

 

[saturno_v]

AnaxImperator


All of my Nagants have matching numbers, actually if they don't I usually do not buy one

If all Russian 91/30 have dark red color, why my 2 1938 Izhevsk have the light color??

Like these (but not laminated)




I discovered yesterday, looking at the 7.62X54R web site that the sling slots with metal rings without screw are late-post WWII...my 2 1938 Izhevsk are like that....(accordingly with the site the sling slot rings should be with screws)...what that means?? That they changed the stock to the action??? They cannot be condidered original anymore??

Thanks!!!

 

[AmishFury]

Early hex-receiver 91/30s are generally going to be a little more expensive (+$10-$20) in terms of retail sales, but for serious Mosin Nagant collectors the receiver being round or hex doesn't count for much extra resale value

actually collectors will still pay a premium for a "hex" if they are specifically looking for one

All of my Nagants have matching numbers, actually if they don't I usually do not buy one

to be honest the only difference between non-matching and matching on 99.9% of russian mosins is that matching means the parts were renumbered during refurb and the rifle was never issued after that refurb... issued condition rifles almost always are mismatched

I discovered yesterday, looking at the 7.62X54R web site that the sling slots with metal rings without screw are late-post WWII...my 2 1938 Izhevsk are like that....(accordingly with the site the sling slot rings should be with screws)...what that means?? That they changed the stock to the action??? They cannot be condidered original anymore??

99.9% of russian mosins have gone through at least one refurb... the process involves the parts being tossed into a bunch of separate bins, cleaned, inspected, refinished, then the rifles were reassembled using whatever parts they grab out of the bins and finally the bolt, floorplate, and buttplate are renumbered to the rifle

to find original matching numbers is not easy... best bet is with finn captures that have not been rebuilt...

 

[AnaxImperator]

Early hex-receiver 91/30s are generally going to be a little more expensive (+$10-$20) in terms of retail sales, but for serious Mosin Nagant collectors the receiver being round or hex doesn't count for much extra resale value

actually collectors will still pay a premium for a "hex" if they are specifically looking for one

Right, I was speaking of comparisons between average hex/non-hex rifles.

If all Russian 91/30 have dark red color, why my 2 1938 Izhevsk have the light color??

I said all (with few exceptions) Russian Mosin Nagants have birch stocks.
I should've also said that a most have the standard dark shellac as well. Those M91/30s you pictured are post-war refurbished, and likely had the stocks refinished as well with a different shellac. My own Izhevsk M38 was also refinished, but retained the dark-red shellac. But I've never seen a non-refurb Mosin without the dark shellac.