Hey guys. Just curious what your takes are on original war time non-arsenal refurbished Mosin 1891/30's and their worth compared to the refurbs. Lets also say it's all original stamped matching and in great shape with no capture marks or extra marks.
Non-refurbed Mosin 91/30. What's it worth?
- Thread starter Frosst
- Start date
Thats the real problem, there is no hard & fast way to tell if its been refurbed or not. All the parts should date from the what ever era it was made in but the soviets reused old parts in new manufacture too. Most "experts" would say a non refurb would be impossible due to post war make work refurb programs but I have owned a 1944 tula sniper & other than the scope it was as built in 1944. Check out the 44 dated stock & wartime only stamped floorplate.
So if all the parts are matching (original stamps) and the stock is stamped and date matching, odds are it wasn't refurbished? Did they ever just take apart Mosins, clean them up, and put all the original pieces back together in the refurbishment programs?
You will also see a "refurb stamp" on many Mosins. Some look like a box with a line, others a diamond shape (very similar to the SKS). Other things like post war stocks and parts that look brand new mixed in with worn looking parts on the same rifle are tell-tale signs. Counterboring is another good sign
Don't know if it will help but a few things I learned from reading up on my SKS is what the Soviets did when they refurbished them. Some of the signs are x'd out numbers and numbers restamped, blued or painted parts that should be in the white, electropenciled force matchs (but very hard to tell with this as some of my SKS parts are EP because the serial number was not stamped on these parts), and refinishing of the stock.
There may be some other signs that I am missing but those are some that come to mind when I look over my SKS. Only her stock and possibly the hand guard has been refurbished but everything else still has the original serials in the white.
There may be some other signs that I am missing but those are some that come to mind when I look over my SKS. Only her stock and possibly the hand guard has been refurbished but everything else still has the original serials in the white.
Oh I forgot to mention. Usually, on the receiver, there is a box with a diagonal line through it that is stamped between the manufacturer logo and the date. This indicates refurbishment but it was not always stamped on refurbished rifles and carbines.
Here are some pics of ALL ORIGINAL AND NON-REFURBED 1941 Izhevsk 91/30 (This is NOT a Finn capture). As of what it's worth: to me it's priceless and not for sale. My apologies for crappy pics.
Look for refurb marks, original stamped numbers, matching arsenal stamps. Also look for transverse pins in the rear sight base. Prior to LATE 1941 Izhevsk made rifles didn't have these pins, ALL Tula rifles with pins ARE refurbs. Also, look for the crown: original crowns are blued(as shown)....
Look for refurb marks, original stamped numbers, matching arsenal stamps. Also look for transverse pins in the rear sight base. Prior to LATE 1941 Izhevsk made rifles didn't have these pins, ALL Tula rifles with pins ARE refurbs. Also, look for the crown: original crowns are blued(as shown)....
Pull out the band springs & have a look at the back side, you will probably find blue. I have seen several rifles where it looks like the whole guns matches & is original except for the stock. If I saw a rifle that had no wear on anything(firing pin hole, bolt face, no witness marks on the trigger or extractor etc), matching parts with no evidence of renumber, good stock stamps, I would call it unissued.
VERY nice rifle. We don't see many like this nowadays. I also have a nice non-refurbed 1943 Izhevsk 91/30 that is totally matching right down to the bayonet. Some doughhead scratched the shellac off the stock taking the bands off, I assume to check ID markings inside the stock. Is there any way to touch that type of damage up to the finish? It's my only new 91/30 and I sure would like to fix that blemish correctly. I'll snap some pics and post them later on today if I get chance. It has nasty crude machining compared to my other Mosins but is still a fine rifle.
Al
Al
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