I just purchased a M38 mosin. I know milsurp is a gamble so I know what to expect. But this time I am at a loss. I disasembled the M38 the stock is in excellent condition. I am thinking that this has seen little use. The bolt was the smoothest working bolt for any mosin in my collection. The barrel was counterbored but I expected that. When I cleaned the cosmoline out of the barrel the barrel looked to be in very good condition. But there is a 6 inch section at the reciever end of the barrel that has pitting. It is confined to the bottom of the barrel and goes halfway up the barrel and there it stops. How in the world did that happen. I have seen old rifles with pitting. But the barrel had been neglected and the pitting was everywhere. Can anyone figure this one out.