Help me identify this Finn rifle

Skippy

Skippy

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 97.4%
110   3   1
Location
Ontario
A friend of mine has this finn rifle that his uncle bought for him on the day he was born. THe wood is butchered all to hell but the metal is great looking and it shoots like a dream.

My digital camera wouldn't pick them up, so I did my best to copy down the pig-latin markings on the reciever. Can anyone tell me what model this rifle is and where it's from?

finnmosin4ff.jpg
 
Phonetically it reads:

Izhevskiye Orrojeniye Zavod, 1915 year.

Or, in English, Izhevsk Arms (or rifle) Factory. Made in 1915. 57890 is the serial number. The charachter under the eagle is actually II. It's a Czarist ownership stamp. The other marks are inspector's proofs.

Hope that helps?
 
It would either have been captured when Finland delcared independence or during the Winter War, IF it was a capture. Also, IF it was a capture, Independence is more likely as during the Winter War, most captures were 91/30's.

What is FAR more likely is that it was bought on the international arms market immediately after WW1. Germany and austria captured massive quantities of M91 in WW1 and provided those rifles to many nations as part of war reparations. Finland then bought tens of thousands of M91 from those receipient nations to supplement their aging supply and for raw material to build M24,M27,M28,M39, etc.

For a better explanation, read Terrence Lapin's "The Mosin Nagant Rifle", or "Rifle of the White Death" by Doug Bowser. Both are excellent resources for the Mosin affectionado.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom