M91/38 Came In Yesterday

[martin08]

My first topic since I stumbled on to this forum might as well be my latest find.

1899 Izhevsk M91/38. Just the right amount of character. Enjoy the pics.

[Rongo]

That is a beauty!

[millman]

[Junk Yard Dog]

Nice find, and the first 91/38 or 59 I have seen were they didn't use a cut down rifle stock, this stock is off an M44 carbine, you can see the cutout for the bayonet on the right side of the stock just below the rear sight.

[desdem12]

Sweeeett

[Longcolt44]

Sweeeett

Very sweet.

[martin08]

Thanks, gents. Just a variant that I couldn't pass up, refurb or not. These just don't surface often at all.

The M-44 stock is actually most common, though a good number of them also were fitted from cut down M91 stocks. Some of the cut down stocks also had the bayonet relief slot added. As these M91/38's were post war builds for sale to the Czechs, these reserve M-44 styled stocks were installed for the fitting quality, even though the 91/38 didn't have the folding bayonet.

http://mosinnagant.net/global%20mosin%2 ... arbine.asp

[Noble Sniper]

Very nice find ;) Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bunkysdad]

Welcome Martin. Glad to have you with us. I must say, not only is this a historical homerun of a cold war relic, but it is just plain gorgeous too. You are obviously a serious collector, so I can only imagine what else you might be able to share. Just wanted to say hello and hope you'll find the time and interest to stop in often. Regards, Russell

[martin08]

Thanks for the welcome, Russel et al.

As I can see that this forum is a small community to start, it does appear to have some seasoned members transferring from the unfortunate circumstances at another community. And yes, if at one post per week, it would take a couple of years to "reintroduce" the collection to The Russian Mosin-Nagant Forum. A little history, research and colorful commentary might also be interjected from time to time. Best of luck to the owners and organization.

On the gun in the OP, another note of interest is the finish on the metal. The nice, even patina on the barreled action is a bit unusual. The bulk of the conversions also included a re-bluing, so it is a rather pleasant feature to have the original finish to accent the historical experience of a firearm that spanned three major wars and a revolution.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Here is a question, how did it keep that original finish through a barrel cut down and the addition of the front sight. Note the front sight has the same even worn patina as the rest of the barreled action. This rifle looks to have been issued rather than refurbished and stored away in a box.

[martin08]

I agree, it does exhibit the appearance of significant use, much like an issued firearm.

And your question does give pause for reflection on the earlier statement I made for original bluing. It's more likely that the prep or the application for the re-bluing just didn't take well and is largely absent on the visible metal. The machining of the last 2-1/2" of the barrel can be seen in pics above, and even the newly exposed surface shows very thin bluing. And though there is no significant pitting to examine below the woodline, there are multiple divots from inspector stamps on the underside of the shank, and these show deep bluing in the cavities.

[revolverguy]

Welcome, and nice looking rifle, like all opf us, would sure like the rifles to be able to talk and tell there story. Allne

[Longcolt44]

Cuold the loss of bluing be due to during/after the cut-down process it never made it back to the bluing tank?

[bunkysdad]

I imagine that if our rifles could talk, we might begin to lose sleep at night.

[martin08]

Cuold the loss of bluing be due to during/after the cut-down process it never made it back to the bluing tank?

Unsure, but doubtful. In observing what would have been a newly installed rear sight, one would expect to see a rich, dark and consistent bluing. But even the finish on the rear sight is somewhat thin, and the edge wear is very distinct. It genuinely appears that this 91/38 saw some considerable handling after initial reconstruction. It just looks like some of my other pre-WWI specimens. Plain old worn away finish with light patina.

[Jumperwire]

That thing is nice. I guess I need to read more on them. Maybe I will "stumble" across one Probably will the same time I run in to that Finnish M38 I have been so anxiously awaiting to drop in to my hands. Thanks for sharing

[millman]

I have seen exactly one of these in the wild. It was a Sestroryestsk(sp?) but I don't know any more details about it because they were covered by the Wally world scope that had been mounted on it. The muzzle brake that had been welded to it just added insult to injury. Damn bubba. :evil: It wasn't worth $300 to me to take it home and pull the scope off to see the rest.

[bunkysdad]

Millman that story brings tears to my eyes! :(

[martin08]

Your spelling looks OK to me, Millman. Much better than the hack job you have described!