Unknown Mosin Nagant markings?

[TheHappyGunner]

Hi guys,

Was browsing a new local gunshop today, and they had a pair of Mosin Nagants; one 1940 Tula, and one 1943 Izzy. The Izzy's serial number had an odd precursor. The gun was all matching, and on every part the serial number read "ME 5839". I've browsed the internet, including 7.62x54r.net, and I haven't been able to find any information on the "ME" stamp. ME are my initials, and that's what caught my eye and it was priced at $149.99, still caked in cosmoline.

A Mosin was my first gun, but I have since moved on to other interests. But the stamps on this one has peaked my curiosity. So.. do any of you Mosin aficionados have any idea what the "ME" means? Thanks!

 

[morcey2]

Pics would help, but I think it's just the prefix of the serial number. From what I've heard, the prefixes were added as part of the serial number to make it very difficult for an enemy to determine how many guns had been made simply from a serial number.

Matt

 

[Ian]

Yep, that's just a part of the serial number.

 

[rust collector]

Cyrillic 101

Just for fun: http://62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinCyrillic.htm

What I thought to be A5 in my serial number prefix (39 Tula) turns out to be DB.

 

[22250Rem]

I've got a 1940 Tula with a "BO" prefix to the serial number. Of course, in Cyrillic that would be "VO" according to that Cyrillic chart. Very interesting.