Mosin-Nagant Market

[Phaethon]

I've bought two of the guns myself and paid somewhat of a premium on each (though I prefer to think it's well deserved), but I know that quality Mosin-Nagant's can be obtained for as little as 70$ - perhaps less if bought in bulk.

I have to wonder; are people scrambling to buy this massive surplus of rifles? Why does it seem like these guns weren't quite as popular up until recently? I don't have a lot of money right now, but I want to buy more of these in the future. Do you guys think these will start to shoot up to the regular military surplus prices, like 300$ and above, anytime soon?

For instance, it seems like these days I can't find any German production Mauser 98 platforms - be it the Gewehr or the Karabiner. Back when I was younger I vaguely remember it and rifles like it flooded the tables at local gunshows.

 

[KodiakBeer]

These things come in waves. No doubt, at some point the warehouses will be empty and the prices will begin to rise. A dozen years ago you could buy Mak's for less than $100. Now the prices have doubled or even tripled.

The MN's will dry up also.

If you're thinking of it as an investment then you'd best choose carefully (while they're available) and get the rarer versions - pre-war, matching numbers, condition, condition, condition.

What's really interesting (and I've wondered about this for years) is that Russia bought S&W Model 3 revolvers (think Schofield) in the 1870's/1880's. They then manufactured their own copy under license to S&W. I keep wondering when some Russian warehouse will open up and flood the market with these guns.

 

[stchman]

Eventually the supply of surplus MNs will dry up. When this happens prices will also go up. When? Who knows. There were a lot of MNs made.

Right now the M38s and M44s are more valuable since less were made. THe 91/30s were made by the tens of millions.

What I have done is to get a Mosin with good metal and a decent bore and re-finish the stock. You will be surprised how good the rifle looks after you show the stock some TLC. Be careful not to sand off any arsenal marks.

 

[Phaethon]

But given that the Mosin-Nagant is one of the most massively-manufactured weapons in history, do you guys think the time that it will dry up will be anytime soon? And surely given their condition and quantity, the prices will probably never go above around 600$ or something, would they?

 

[writerinmo]

By the end of World War II, over 17,000,000 1891/30 Mosin Nagant rifles were manufactured. I think we are probably good for quite some time, as a LOT of people buy one, nearly dislocate their shoulder (or do!) and put them right back into the market.

 

[Russ Jackson]

At $79 for a great shooting rifle with a bayonet, cleaning rod, pouch magazine holder, and a sling it can't go any lower. Especially if ammo stays cheap. I think its usage on the show Top Shot is helping also. Amazing they can actually import them and deliver them to a gun store and still make a profit at that price. They are really beautiful rifles that have quite a specific look. The stories they could tell. How far they were carried, how many men, was the bayonet ever used, how many rounds were shot etc... Every young and old shooter should own one at that price. ...Russ

Someone should write a book from the sights of a Mosin-Nagant.

 

[Dionysusigma]

At $79 for a great shooting rifle with a couple magazines. bayonet, cleaning rod, pouch magazine holder, and a sling it can't go any lower.

Uh... what?

 

[M-Cameron]

im guessing he meant Clips......

 

[merlinfire]

ok now i'm waiting for someone to post a pic of a bubba'd MN that takes a drum mag

 

[nathan]

One of the most underrated rifles of all time but to those who owns one and have shot them, its a different story. Ive filed the trigger sear on mine and it breaks like glass. I compared it to my Finn M 39 that had a trigger job done by Finn armorers and its quite simple .
I second the prear years, they are way nicer than the war time production runs. Always get one with tight bore and not counterbored,

 

[Hatterasguy]

The Russians made so many I don't see the prices going up much anytime soon for a basic 91/30. The more collectible variants are already inching up.

 

[mgkdrgn]

They are, without a doubt, the center fire rifle deal of the decade, if not the century.

I've sold ~75 or so so far, with no end in sight. Last batch of 10 I received was by far the nicest. All but 1 pre-war, 2 hex receivers, 8 with brass bands on the uppers (not black), 2 with red lettering in the sights (had never seen that before), ALL had matching numbers and the furniture was just beautiful.

 

[murdoc rose]

There great rifles at a great price but slowing raising in price. Lots of places around here are asking 125-150. It will take a long time before they hit 300$ but you cant go wrong with buying one.

 

[zhyla]

The reason the prices for the Mosins won't go up like the SKS, MAK's, etc, is this: they are still legal to import. Not so for the Russian and Chinese semi-auto surplus, unfortunately. Look at SVT-40 prices in Canada some time, it's hilarious how cheap those things are.

I did some rough math a while back. There were enough of these manufactured for every gun owner in the USA to have one.