91/30 Sniper Rifle - Scrubbed for Clandestine Aid? *pics*

[skirsons]

I just got around to photographing this 91/30 I got off a fellow CGNer. It is an original 91/30 sniper rifle that has had most of its markings scrubbed including the cyrrilic prefix of the serial number. The Izshevsk triangle is still visible but all other markings that would indicate a Soviet made rifle have been obliterated. All numbers are refurb stamped matching. The scope is an NOS piece and did not come with the rifle. Mount is an Izshevsk.

I was wondering why all the markings indicating country of manufacture were scrubbed? Part of clandestine aid to a pro-communist movement??

Perhaps a more mundane reason?

 

[John Sukey]

Probably because it was overhauled and reblued. It's not like you could mistake it for anything else no matter who wa using it.

 

[desporterizer]

I think not, I used to own said rifle & the grinding was very deliberate. Maybe it was some country that hated all things Russian, like the Czecks with peening swasticas.

 

[skirsons]

Probably because it was overhauled and reblued. It's not like you could mistake it for anything else no matter who wa using it.

True but like desporterizer said it was deliberate and they made sure all the cyrillic prefixes were ground off the receiver and bolt. The year was ground off, the Soviet crest..all markings except for the faint Izshevsk marking.

The Hungarians also made the 91/30 sniper and I wonder if at the time anyone knew for sure whether the Chinese were making them or not.

 

[ArtyMan]

A lot of rifles were "scrubbed" or "sanitzed" in the balkans

 

[eos]

What markings are on the receiver tang?

 

[desporterizer]

What markings are on the receiver tang?

A lightly stamped 1944. I can't remember if the Izhevsk mark is there.

 

[cyclone]

A lightly stamped 1944. I can't remember if the Izhevsk mark is there.

Still might not rule-out "sanitizing" of Czarist markings , it being a 91/30.....

 

[skirsons]

Still might not rule-out "sanitizing" of Czarist markings , it being a 91/30.....

The receiver is 1944 manufacture, some 27 years after the last Czsar. No Czarist markings here.

 

[5440fight]

Refurb. I've seen Lee enfields with a lot scrubed off, particularily no1mk3's.
Probably a victim of mean refurb, rust on the receiver etc.

 

[Lee Enfield]

Seen a VZ54 captured in Vietnam which had all of the coded markings rudely ground off with a grinder.

The scope & action inspector markings were all gone ~ kind of a distinctive gun however...

 

[bigedp51]

A lot of rifles were "scrubbed" or "sanitzed" in the balkans

I second ArtyMan's comments, why would the Russians want to advertise it country's weapons in wars of genocide in the Balkans.

They also may have been scrubbed in the past and never delivered to the requesting country.

Removing serial numbers is not part of a overhaul process if the weapon is not re-serialised, these rifles were "off the books".

 

[sergey96]

I don't why would anyone erase markings. As to scope I am 99.999 % sure that it is reproduction made in Ukraine at Izume factory it is not original. I have replicas for sale from 3 factories. I never say that it is original I just hate when people say original scope.

I will post some pictures of repo and original tomorrow.

 

[skirsons]

I don't why would anyone erase markings. As to scope I am 99.999 % sure that it is reproduction made in Ukraine at Izume factory it is not original. I have replicas for sale from 3 factories. I never say that it is original I just hate when people say original scope.

I will post some pictures of repo and original tomorrow.

And I am 100% sure because I bought it from the Ukraine. I never said original scope. In fact, I went out of my way to say it was a new old stock scope. I'm not sure when they were manufactured but it wasn't WWII.

 

[bluey]

I think not, I used to own said rifle & the grinding was very deliberate. Maybe it was some country that hated all things Russian, like the Czecks with peening swasticas.

some of the 91/30s we found in Nam had been "cleaned" up......Guess the Russies wanted to keep their aid to the VC secert.................

 

[ArtyMan]

some of the 91/30s we found in Nam had been "cleaned" up......Guess the Russies wanted to keep their aid to the VC secert.................

From what Ive seen a good bulk of the Mosins that ended up in Vietnam were Chinese, with the Russian ones being less common. Typically rifles that came out of Vietnam look like they came out of Vietnam. Many documented bring backs have jungle rot, rust, moisture damage etc... This to me looks like a standard refurb.

 

[5440fight]

From what Ive seen a good bulk of the Mosins that ended up in Vietnam were Chinese, with the Russian ones being less common. Typically rifles that came out of Vietnam look like they came out of Vietnam. Many documented bring backs have jungle rot, rust, moisture damage etc... This to me looks like a standard refurb.

I agree. My guess is if there was any rust on the exterior, they would just buzz it off and reblue. Easier when you're dealing with massive numbers in varied condition.

 

[desporterizer]

Well, they only buzzed off the wreath & prefix(on all parts, floor plate etc.) so the rust must have been fairly selective.

 

[ArtyMan]

I didnt say markings were ground off due to rust, they could have been taken off for any reason

 

[skirsons]

Well, they only buzzed off the wreath & prefix(on all parts, floor plate etc.) so the rust must have been fairly selective.

Ideological rust.