Neat old M91 pics

Nice. Wood seems to be in good shape. How is the bore? Was this part of the recent influx of Mosins or did you have it for a while?
 
Wood is okay. Finn refurb, so sanding and spliced stock evident, but is part of the rifle's trip. Bore is good. I bought this rifle as part of an estate from an old friend's widow. He owned the rifle for a few years, so it has been around here for some time. Rifle is special to me, as the fellow who owned it and I were kindred souls in our successful battle with alcohol. We had many a good time together shooting these old relics and discussing our deeper thoughts on various topics.
 
Nice! The rifle itself is a wonder, being made in America, sent to Russia during the Great War and then being used in WWII before ending
up back here in North America. As well as being from a friend. Thanks for showing it to us.
 
Congrats on maintaining your battle with alcohol. Been there done that. Used to wake up in the morning with an 8 ounce glass of Rye on the night table to keep me even in the morning. That went on for a couple of years and I went to the case of whiskey in the cupboard by the sink and poured the last five in it down the sink. Never had a drink after that for six years. The first couple of months were pretty harsh. After that things slowly got better. Every once in a while the craving returns. After close to thirty years I can still smell a bottle of Rye being opened in the far upstairs room from the opposite side of the house. I kid you not. Keep the faith unto yourself and all will be well.

That Remington Armory SA build is unique in that it retains the original barrel. Most Finn captures have been re barreled at some point in their history and the only thing that signifies who first owned them will be the Czarist crest on the receiver ring if it hasn't been ground off.

There is a lot of information on the Finn Mosins. They didn't capture all of them though. They bought a bunch from nations that fought the Russians during WWI and early WWII that captured them. I read an article on one shipment they received from Germany that was in such poor condition it was all stripped down for components and spare parts. That was a very interesting War the Finns had going on after breaking away from Russia.

I have a Westinghouse marked Mosin. It has an 80% bore which saved the makers markings. The stock is as yours but retained the original section from the finger joints to the butt. The rear portion of the stock is walnut and the front is birch. I heard the only reason they replaced the fore end was because it was damaged beyond repair or it had warped against the barrel causing inaccuracy. Whatever both of my Finn captures shoot very well. I will admit the rifle with the new Tikka barrel on it shoots better than I can.
 
1. Don't forget that Finland was part of Russia and had army and army supplies. They were happy to be part of the Russian Empire, but didn't want to join the new Communist USSR.
2. After WW1 they bought lots of old stock Mosins from around the world, e.g. Poland (large amounts, who was also part of Russian Empire + had lots of fighting during WW1), Germany, Austria, US (as the majority of the shipment never made it before 1917 Russian civil war).

Interesting fact, Finland never produced a single receiver for its Mosins.

3. The number of captured rifles was not that great. Even in the Winter war (despite all propaganda on this side for the last 75 years), the real fact is that Finns lost it.
 
Fins did manufacture their own mosin receivers. M39 comes to mind. Finland didn't lose winter war, nor won it. It was stale mate. They fought continuation war until 1944, then when soviets started pushing west and north and Fins saw the writing on the wall, they sued for peace and release all territories that soviets wanted during winter war.
 
Great input. This rifle is actually on a Russian receiver. I have another Remington barrelled rifle on a Russian receiver as well. I call the SA rifles Finn capture for convenience. I am well aware that a great many M91's were purchased. Finn rifles display some great history. I never turn down a Finn at a reasonable price.
 
kjohn said:
Great input. This rifle is actually on a Russian receiver. I have another Remington barrelled rifle on a Russian receiver as well. I call the SA rifles Finn capture for convenience. I am well aware that a great many M91's were purchased. Finn rifles display some great history. I never turn down a Finn at a reasonable price.
Click to expand...

Maybe I am misreading what you printed. I won't say it didn't happen but the manufacturers were printed over the chamber on the barrels on most 91s and 91/30s. All of the 91s I have seen always had the Czarist crest stamped into the top of the receiver that were built exclusively for Russia. I can see it being confusing but IMHO your barreled receiver was US built and if the parts weren't changed out maybe even the whole rifle. The likelihood of a Remington bbl being put on another receiver is pretty low. Although the Finns recycled everything useable to their standards which may have been lowered out of necessity during times of shortage.

I read an article that Remington sub contracted barrels that were destined to be used as spares. Supposedly they were to be shipped in the white and unmarked. Finland could very easily have picked up many of those bbls. I don't know though. Anything is possible when it comes to milsurps. Especially those put back into service during stressful times.
 
Im not sure about imperial era receivers, but the underside of the tang usually has a factory stamp on soviet rifles. It would be worth a check to see if my remington has its original reciever.

And indeed they did mark them! An R in a circle!

ht tp://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinMarks01.htm
 
gewehr76 said:
Fins did manufacture their own mosin receivers. M39 comes to mind. Finland didn't lose winter war, nor won it. It was stale mate. They fought continuation war until 1944, then when soviets started pushing west and north and Fins saw the writing on the wall, they sued for peace and release all territories that soviets wanted during winter war.
Click to expand...

The M39s were built on recycled receivers not new manufacture ones.
 
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