Moisin Nagant Bayonet Question

[Hokkmike]

So on BLACK FRIDAY Gander Mountain had a sale on Moisin Nagant 91/30's. When I got there there was one left on the rack. I asked the salesman to see it and it was in so-so, average condition. I asked him of it was the last one and he said, "No, we've got others in the back." On request he went back to find me a "really nice one". That he did. The bluing is 99.5% and the wood over 95%.
I inspected it carefully. The only thing I couldn't be sure of totally was the rifling because the grease in the barrel obstructed my view. But considering the est of the rifle and what looked like distinct and clear rifling under the cosmoline I bought it - $129.00 after rebate (which I just sent in).

Very happy but I do have a question. The long spike bayonet fits neatly over the crown and muzzle of the rifle's barrel but there seems to be no way to "lock" it in place. It can be pretty easily pulled off by just grabbing the spike end and pulling away from the gun. Shouldn't there be a better was to secure it? I couldn't imagine a soldier fighting with a bayonet attached that way. Any insights on this matter are greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[J.R.W.]

After sliding it over it rotates around the front sight post to lock on. Be careful though, sometimes they decide to stay put and require some force for removal.

 

[caribou]

Most likely your bayonett lock is fouled with cosmo. Hit it with break cleaner and work it a bit till its loose, then try mount it again.

 

[Flyboy73]

A couple of my MN91/30 I’ve had to beat the bayonet off with a rubber mallet. Some fit better than others.

Brion

 

[tahunua001]

the bayos on mosins are a little stiff. the russians didn't issue their troops rifles, they issued pikes that also shot bullets.

they are a pain to get on all the way and an even bigger pain to get back off once properly locked into place.

 

[LAGS]

I just take a file and Fit the bayonet to an individual rifle.
You just file on the bayonet slot a little bit, or the end of the catch plunger.
It doesnt't take much effort.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Since the bayonet and rifle were never fitted to each other I have found a lot of them to be tight. I use a dowel in a drill with a piece of emery cloth wrapped around it (make a saw cut lengthwise in the end of the dowel to hold the emery cloth) to loosen up the bore of the bayonet. Once you get a good fit and clean the gunk out of the latching portion it will be easily removable but securely attached.

 

[mgkdrgn]

The Russian philosophy on the bayonet is that it was part of the rifle and should be mounted all the time unless you were being transported in a train or truck.

Hence, they mount HARD and the un-mount even harder. And you WILL screw up the finish on the end of the barrel. You push them DOWN, then turn so the cutout goes around the front sight.

The way around that tight fit is to find something metal that is a cone shape that will drop part way into the collar on the bayonet. Put the bayonet in a vice and get that collar hot hot hot with a blowtorch. The put that cone in and hammer on it a little to spread that collar a wee bit.

The rifle has also been sighted in with the bayonet attached, and your point of impact -vs- point of aim will be different with it off. You'll need to tap the front sight left/right to adjust.

 

[LAGS]

I guess I was lucky.
My Finn. 1891 has a bayonet that the number matches the barrel.
It goes on and off Snug, but is very easy to remove.
The whole gun has been re-armored in 1942, so the origin of all the parts is suspect, or restamping was done at that time.
And that is the rifle where the trigger is pinned to the sear and does not hinge on the receiver.

 

[Ash]

Finnish rifles and their bayonets are easy to work with. The Soviet refurbished rifles and bayonets are purposely tight so that they wouldn't be loose should NATO have invaded.

 

[Bill50]

I only own one Mosin. Its a workout to get the bayonet on or off.

I've tried different lubricants and nothing seems to make it easy. It should come with a small "multi-tool" that acts as a bayonet removed/screwdriver/bolt disassembler that makes it just easy enough to take the bayonet off that you don't have to hit it with a hammer.

They were meant to be issued with the bayonet in just one position.