An odd bird

[Fishslayer]

New to Mosins and the forums. Couldn't find this in any of the FAQ so here goes.

Was looking at a '42 Izhvesk 91/30 today at my LGS. A bit rough. The top of the receiver had been ground on & the importer marks pin punched, or whatever they call it. Till I got to the bore. The crown had a mirror polish and the rifling was deep & strong from crown to chamber. Bolt operated pretty darn smooth.

Here's the rub. The stock had three repairs. Two on the nosecap and a largish rectangular patch to the left side of the receiver. We suspected a scope had been mounted but could find no plugged holes and the bolt was a straight type & the numbers matched the rest.

Am I correct in assuming the stock was from a sniper rifle? Was it common to stick a regular barrelled action into a repaired sniper stock when refurbishing?

I'm VERY tempted to go back & have another look on the strength of the smooth action & beautiful bore. It will probably never have any collector value but I suspect it might be a really nice shooter, and that's what I get 'em for.

Sorry no pics, but I can take some if anybody's interested.

Thanks.

[Junk Yard Dog]

We always love pics. The stock could have once been on a sniper rifle, or it could just have had some damage. Stock repairs are very common with the refurbs, the commies tried to keep the stock in service if they could. There would have been Ex PU stocks in the parts mix, but it is unlikely to find such a stock still on an ex PU, you would have seen the welded over holes in the receiver.

[polymerase2]

This may just be me but I'm willing to pay a little more for a minty bore

[Longcolt44]

I have been known to buy rifles just because they had cool stock repairs. You just don't see workmanship like that anymore. That and the plastic melts.

[Fishslayer]

Thanks for the replies.

Think I'm gonna go down & buy it tomorrow. And yes, I think the repairs give that stock a lot of character. If I decide to put a mount & scope on it I'll probably put on a different stock & keep the repaired one intact. It IS some cool workmanship. If it's just a so-so shooter I'll keep it as is.

The receiver's already boogered but dang! That bore sure is purty. ;)

Does a repro mount & scope on a non collectable grade constitute a "Bubbafication?"

[Junk Yard Dog]

Yea, that's the new government mandated import mark required on every firearm brought into the US. In the old days we got away with a tint mark under the barrel.

[Rongo]

Thanks for the replies.

Think I'm gonna go down & buy it tomorrow. And yes, I think the repairs give that stock a lot of character. If I decide to put a mount & scope on it I'll probably put on a different stock & keep the repaired one intact. It IS some cool workmanship. If it's just a so-so shooter I'll keep it as is.

The receiver's already boogered but dang! That bore sure is purty. ;)

Does a repro mount & scope on a non collectable grade constitute a "Bubbafication?"

Are you talking about a PU scope configuration??? If so... I strongly urge you to reconsider & of course please re-read the rules regarding permanent modification. Forum Rules

[Junk Yard Dog]

I missed that line, I must be going f***in blind as well as stupid , yes it is considered Bubba to do such a thing. These rifles are all antiques, and collectible be they 1943 Izhevsk 91/30 refurbs or Finn M28's .

[Darryl]

I will also chime in about not altering a rifle. If you do the price when you go to sell it will be worth less than what you paid for it and the parts. The value unfortunately will go down.

The stock repair you are probably talking about on the left side of the rifle at the receiver is a common repair on Mosin. It is a weak spot on the stock and breaks often. The Russians would patch a piece back in there and continue to use it. Nothing wasted during the war. However, it is very unlikely that it ever was a sniper stock. Now having said that, It is possible, but just very remotely so. They did repair the sniper stocks the exact same way. You will never be able to tell one way or another. You will find that the guys here (preservationist and collectors) love stock patches. I know that seems different, but that is an OK thing when collecting.

As this is a collectors and preservation forum, we ask you to study the situation very carefully before altering a Military Surplus rifle. If you do decide to do it, please read our rules about posting anything about it here to avoid starting any kind of arguments. Your rifle, but after it's altered, it can't ever be restored back.

Good luck!

Dolk

[Fishslayer]

As this is a collectors and preservation forum, we ask you to study the situation very carefully before altering a Military Surplus rifle. Good luck!
Dolk

Thanks for all the information. Went down to buy it & was informed that it was not for sale! Something about taking time to decosmo it for display! If prospective buyer's gonna gripe about a little grease why are they handling a Mosin?

So the search continues. At least now I have a bit more knowlege on spotting the real thing when I see it. ;)

[desdem12]

Why do they need to display it if it is not for sale? Crazy. If you have a big 5 in your area they have them for sale with cosmo attached. Good luck.

[Jolly Green Chopper]

Yea, GoodLuck