Mosin Nagant 91/30 Bayonet problem

[Flyboy73]

had been looking a MS 91/30 at Dunhams, not a bad looking rifle. However at $109.99 too rich for me. However they had them on sale for $79.99 and I picked it up. Came with a bad of goodies including a spike bayonet. However the bayonet only goes on so far before it sticks and the only way to get on far enough to turn and latch requires some blow's with a dead blow. And taking it off requires some pounding too.

Anybody have idea what the problem is? I cleaned the inside of the bayonet and the barrel, but it didn't help.

What would be the easiest way to fix?


Brion

 

[Dionysusigma]

If I remember correctly, the bayonet (when these rifles were standard-issue) was to always be on the rifle--thus making ease of removal a moot issue.

From: http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl03-e.htm

"First of all, in all patterns prior to M1938 and except for Cossack rifles, all rifles were intended to be carried and shoot only with the bayonet attached. This caused the already long rifle to be almost as long as an average man's height, [and] awkward to maneuver and carry, especially in the woods and trenches. All rifles were zeroed in with the bayonet in place, so removal of the bayonet seriously affected the point of impact and effectively required the rifle to be re-zeroed. Original pattern bayonet mounts were prone to [become] loose during the time, decreasing the accuracy."

Hope this helps.

 

[cracked butt]

However the bayonet only goes on so far before it sticks and the only way to get on far enough to turn and latch requires some blow's with a dead blow. And taking it off requires some pounding too

Be thankful that you can get it on at all.

 

[Cosmoline]

I never bothered much with bayonets on the 91/30's. I have my doubts whether the WWII production models were really "zeroed" at all. If they shot minute of fascist, they went to the front Sometimes they're good shooters, sometimes not. The receiver/stock fit is far more important in accuracy than the mounting of a bayonet.

 

[pokey074]

You can take your handy, dandy Dremel tool (or file if you want to go real slow) and grind on the bayonet to get it to fit. On my 91/30, there was no way the bayonet would go on. Ground on it a little bit and now it fits. VERY snugly.

 

[Greg L]

My (then) 7 year old wanted to see what "that long rifle looks like with the long knife on it". Being the obliging parent I finally managed to get it on for him to see it that way. Now it was time to take it off & put the rifle back in the safe.... ....... ....... ...... ...... :banghead: .

Now let's watch Daddy hang this rifle on the wall as it will no longer fit in the safe.

These days only the bolt will fit in the safe as the "long knife" won't come off .

 

[armoredman]

Crocus cloth on the inside of the bayonet ring....

 

[George S.]

The bayonet on my 1931 Izzy 91/30 is a real snug fit. The Dremel suggestion is a good idea if you have to remove metal. I have seen pics of Russian troops carrying 91/30's in combat and some have a bayonet attached and some don't. I thought it was only the Japanese soldiers that always had bayonets affixed to their rifles.

My M44 tends to shoot better groups with the bayonet extended as having the bayonet out is supposed to help with barrel harmonics.

You might try to pic up another bayonet and see if it fits any better or just use it to practice your Dremel skills. My bayonet does not have a matching number so I didn't really have an isue with trying to smooth out the ring so it would fit better.

 

[jefnvk]

You could try ordering another one. They aren't much money at all, I've seen them for $3-4. There is one dealer at the local gunshows that usually has a bin of Russkie bayonets for a few bucks a piece, as well.

Mine goes on fine, comes off hard. Only goes on for decoration now.

 

[Ivy Mike]

dremel it, it will fit more easily.

If you want one that is near impossible to remove, I'll show you my M44.
Looks like somebody hit the edges of the screw (that secures it to the bayonet lug) with a punch, effectively locking it into place.
Really stink as now the only way to get the bayonet off is to remove the pins and take the whole mount off. :banghead:

Stupid C.A.I.