Which Finn?

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cracked butt

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I looked at AIM today and they seem to have a pretty good selection of Finnish MNs,

If you could only buy 1 right now, which would you get- the M91 or M39?



~#Channeling Cosmoline#~:)
 
That's a tricky question

The M39's in shooter grade are probably close to the going rate now. Maybe a good price even. Just kind of a big percentage increase from what I bought mine for a few years ago. The other's I would pass on as being a bit much even for now.

Incidentally "M91" is considered the orginal long rifle version of Nagant. Everything else is really a M91/ something. That's true for the M39's as well.
 
Here's the relative rareity chart from 7.62x54R

In general the Finnish M-91's are actually less common than the M-39's


Finnish M24
Bohler-Stahl NA 8
SIG NA 8
SIG "straight barrel" NA 9
M24rv carbine NA 10

Finnish P-Series (barrel marking)
M91 length NA 9
Dragoon length NA 10

Finnish M91
SAT (picture courtesy of Steve K.) All 10+
Tikka 1925-1927 7
Tikka "stepped barrel" 1927 9
Tikka 1940s 6
VKT All 6
VKT/B All 7
B All 6
B/Belgian proofed All 9
round receiver All 9
Polustuslaitos marked All 8

Finnish M27
Tikka 1927 9
Tikka 1929 9
Tikka 1936 10
Tikka All other years 7
VKT 1932 8
VKT 1935 10
M27rv carbine All 10

Finnish M28
SIG NA 7
Tikka NA 8
Sako NA 10
Updated to M28/30 sights NA 10

Finnish M28/30
Sk.Y All 8
No maker, late date All 10
No maker, no date NA 10
Civilian sales All 10

Finnish M39
VKT 1940 or 1943 9
VKT All other dates 4
Sako 1940 8
Sako 1945 7
Sako All other dates 4
Sako straight stock 1941 6
Sk.Y All 6
Tikka All 8
B All 5
No maker, late date All 7
No maker, no date NA 8
No maker, "48" NA 8
round receiver All 10
Polustuslaitos marked All 8

Finnish M91/30
Tikka hex receiver All 5
Tikka round receiver All 7

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRarity.htm
 
The Finn M91's would be harder to find since I am unaware of any being imported or in stock in large numbers. Right now, Wholesale Guns and Ammo is sitting on approximately 10,000 M39's - they have some licensing problems right now but will probably have them resolved this spring. Currently, you can get some antique receiver M39's from them.
I have no trouble finding M39's at gunshows but Finn M91's, captures, Tikkas, VKTs, B-barrels and all the other models are very hard to find. Fortunately, I started collecting Finns about 5-6 years ago and have all the major models. Every one of them is an outstanding shooter.
If I were starting now, I would get any M91 model that came my way. They are only going to raise greatly in price.
 
Ditto GD's comment. The Finnish M-91's are seriously underrated. The ones I've had over the years have shot as good or better than the average M-39. They also balance better IMHO and have fewer stock interference problems. it's easy enough to loosen up the front bands and let the barrel float to tighten the group up. But with the M-39 you're fighting about two pounds of solid birchwood out there.
 
Since we've had alot of Mosin and 7.54x54R talk here as of late, I'm starting to get real interested in these rifles. Still haven't shot either of mine yet, but really looking forward to it.
I have been really checking out the M39s the last couple of weeks. Today I did a little research on the Winter War. Before that I got my tax refund. Do you see a M39 in my future?
But now all this talk of the long rifles has me thinking about one of those as well. If you could walk into AIM on Monday what would ask for? A M39 is almost a given, but what about markings, maker, etc.? Which other Finn?
Everybody can see the "one of a kinds" on the website. Plus there is a forty dollar hand pick option on the M39. So, which two would you choose if you had about 400.00 to spend? Input would be very much appreciated.
-jagdpanzer.
 
cracked butt said:
I guess to clarify, I was really looking for someone to talk me out of a M91, as its the rifle that I really want, wanted one for a long time for that matter. Seems like people have a lot of praise for the finn 91s. What do you guys think of these: http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_Finnish_1939_Mosin_Nagant_7.62x54R_Rifles.html
Click to expand...

I hate AIM's limited descriptions. My question would be, are these Finnish M-91's or just [SA] stamped captures? There's a really big difference performance wise.
 
jagdpanzer347 said:
But now all this talk of the long rifles has me thinking about one of those as well. If you could walk into AIM on Monday what would ask for? A M39 is almost a given, but what about markings, maker, etc.? Which other Finn?
Everybody can see the "one of a kinds" on the website. Plus there is a forty dollar hand pick option on the M39. So, which two would you choose if you had about 400.00 to spend? Input would be very much appreciated.
-jagdpanzer.
Click to expand...

As you can see from 54R's chart, the rarity and value issues are variable and complex. As a general matter, the rifles assembled during the Continuation War including the M-39's, the Tikka 91/30's and the late model M-91's are worth the least right now, but I'd say all are quite collectible. I'd grab up every Finnish 91/30 or M-91 I find, since most still go for $200 or so but each is a little different from the others and collectability is very high.

If you could find any of the Winter War era Finns for under $250 that's a real steal. Their value has been going up and up and up. This includes the early "Lotta" M-91's and the M27's, M28's and M28/30's. These will always remain the prime collectible Mosins, other than the *extremely* rare variations and subtypes we mere mortals are unlikely to ever see in our lifetime.
 
Cosmoline, really appreciate your input. I could very well be making this overly
complicated for myself. Compared to most surplus rifle types, the Mosin family seems to have a HUGE degree of variations. I'm more familiar with, say M1 Garands, where four US companies built more or less the same rifle.
By "Finnish" you mean a Soviet receiver built with a Finnish barrel and assembley job, correct? If so, how can a Mosin neophyte tell the difference?
Thanks in advance-jagdpanzer.
 
There's no easy answer, which is why I've found Finns marked as Soviets and 28/30's marked as M-39's by sellers. The www.7.62x54R.net site is extremely useful and explains all the variations. The main way to tell a finn is the [SA] stamp, but of course this also includes a lot of Soviet firearms that were just captured, stamped, and tossed in a heap. You just have to learn to read the arsenal stamps. Typically, the [SA] stamp and a two-piece birch stock is a good indication you have a Finnish assembled rifle.
 
I hate AIM's limited descriptions. My question would be, are these Finnish M-91's or just [SA] stamped captures? There's a really big difference performance wise.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that warning, you might have saved me some grief. I think I might just go with a shooter grade M39 instead.
 
Man, I have really gone to school on this exchange about M39's. Thanks.

Hoping to contibute something:

The import mark, just under the barrel, on both of mine reads "Knox, TN."

One's from AIM, one's from G&A in NY. Wonder who actually imports them...
 
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