Cullen Bohannon
Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2018
- Messages
- 12
on gunbroker and such many are wanting $300 to $400 for one now but factor in shipping and transfer fees on top that adds up to another $75 to $100
Okay, so...you have a really nice, good looking, refurb Izhevsk rifle, refurbished by 7th GRAU Arsenal at Riga. Izhevsk stopped producing hex receivers in 1935, since your rifle is dated 1935, yours is likely an earlier receiver, and not a replacement.
Your rifle is most likely either an arsenal forced matched, or a non numbers matching rifle, it is definitely not factory matching. One of the big clues is that the stock that's currently on it is post war. You can tell by looking at the sling escutcheons, which are pressed into the stock on your rifle, rather than held in by screws or lined with sheet metal. If the numbers on the butt plate, bolt, and magazine floor plate all match the serial number on the barrel, then this is likely an arsenal force matched rifle, and the numbers were scribed back on there with an electro pencil tool after the rifle was rebuilt. If any of those numbers don't match, then this a non-matching rifle.
For some crazy reason people tend to favor the Tula over the Izhevsk. There are no major differences between the two. Also, the Century import mark directly on the receiver of your rifle is hurting you as well. There were a few importers who put their stamp in a more discreet location than Century, and these tend to sell a little quicker.
All in all, $250 today is not a bad price at all from a buyer's perspective for an arsenal force matched M91/30. If it is non matching, and you don't have the bayonet, cleaning rod, sling etc, then the price is definitely more than I would pay. There are some variations that could make it more valuable, but without seeing the gun, or closer pictures of the sights, bolt, etc, then I can't say either way for sure.
I've also heard it claimed that the quality from Tula was better, but I haven't been able to compare by year. I've seen some rough Izhevsk rifles and some very fine ones--particularly pre-war, and my 1944 M44 is nice--and I haven't had my hands on many Tulas.
Got a question , if you shot corrosive ammo in it did you clean it the bore and bolt with hot soapy water or windex after? If not I would otherwise you'll mess up the bore. Anyway if you were local I would meet you half way on the price , on gunbroker and such many are wanting $300 to $400 for one now but factor in shipping and transfer fees on top that adds up to another $75 to $100 which is why I'm just not buying anymore Mosin over the net. Not that gunshow prices are much better.
If a run of the mill Mosin is gonna push $500 I' rather just spend the extra coin on a Finland M39 mosin that I KNOW will shoot tight groups.
-What about "snipers"?
I was looking at a dealer-assembled rig with what looked almost like a standard side-mount except it had one-inch rings. It included what was probably a repro scope and a Simmons variable-power. Import marked, of course. The shop wants $699 for this assemblage.
I would have laughed myself sick if I'd been offered this rig a few years ago.
Now?
I just did another quick search on gunbroker with "Mosin hex". I like Mosin, but what they are asking and expecting to fetch now, I just say no. I have a few Mosin already, only way I'll get another is if I get a deal and that means $300.00 or under AFTER shipping because even though they are not coming over (right now) most Mosin are not a unicorn. Other than that, plenty of of other kinds of guns to quest for instead.
That's pretty much what I was basing my sale off, I saw them going for 350 plus. I figured what I wanted with 500 rounds was a deal. Buds and other places cant keep them in stock so it's not affecting sales any