Finally found my '53

[qz2026]

Been looking and lusting for a 1953 T-53 for quite a while. Finally one showed up and just the kind of T-53 I like . I must be lucky or something. This is a 1953.9 out of Chongqing 296 and another import by Navy Arms. I said to myself, this should just about do it for T-53's until I saw that one on GB but bailed out at $400. This is numbers matching with the exception of the butt plate which has some off the wall serial number on it. Weird... Anyway, the bolt, barrel and magazine match. That's good enough for me. Enjoy...

[jdolinski]

Wow that is very nice, congrats Tom

[Grizzybear]

NIce stock and good looking to...grats. Now go shoot her and let us know how she does.

[jimpierce7]

thats a good looking gun!!

[sgtheindl]

I didn't know t53s could look so good.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Have you closely inspected that stock? I see dark staining in the hard to sand spots as well as the dings, this could indicate a refinishing job was done on the wood, it could also explain why the buttplate is not a matching number if the original stock was damaged and someone used a replacement stock and retained it's buttplate.

[qz2026]

I would be very surprised if this was refinished. Actually, there is virtually no finish on this rifle. What sheen that is there is Lemon Oil. Otherwise the finish is quite "dry" to the touch with very little natural sheen. If you closed your eyes and picked up this rifle it would feel like one of the post war stocked M-39's. I see no sanding marks on the rifle at all. I'll never know about the butt plate. That is, indeed, strange.

[InOmaha]

I saw a 91/30 with almost the exact same looking stock at a Cabelas. The stock didn't feel smooth either. But the bolt worked flawlessly and it didn't have any cosmoline that I could see, so I had assumed it was redone by someone and traded in.

Maybe they made some with different color stocks for presentation or guard purposes? I may need to take a closer look at it since they have another $129 sale running.

[TulaTom]

[qz2026]

I saw a 91/30 with almost the exact same looking stock at a Cabelas. The stock didn't feel smooth either. But the bolt worked flawlessly and it didn't have any cosmoline that I could see, so I had assumed it was redone by someone and traded in.

Maybe they made some with different color stocks for presentation or guard purposes? I may need to take a closer look at it since they have another $129 sale running.

You wouldn't see a 9130 in this type of stock. This is Manchurian Catalpa. Russians used Birch. The rifle you saw sounds strange. I didn't know that Cabela's took rifles in. If so, then what you saw was probably stripped and finished without a stain. I've never seen a real blond 9130. Have seen lots of carbines but not 9130's.

[mikeg1952]

1953.9 Dose the .9 represent the month....?
Is there such a thing as a 1952....?....That would be cool, the year I was born.

[InOmaha]

Cabelas won't give you good prices for your used guns, but I've seen several people sell stuff or trade things in with a new purchase. I would think their rule of thumb would be to offer 1/2 the price they could sell it on the floor. It's probably good for people who don't want to sell FTF in a parking lot somewhere.

[qz2026]

Yes, the ".9" represents the month. 1953 was the first year for the rifle, hence Type 53. I don't know of any 1952's although some testing units could have been produced in 1952. I just have never seen or heard of one. Maybe the experts have.

[desdem12]

No 52s at all. First "test" were from 53.

[Judi and her Mosins]

That is a very nice 53 there. looks like it was worth the wait. Judi and her Mosin's

[davesstuff1]

You did good... Several months ago I paid (GB) $600.00 for a t53 in this condition...

[Tcmosin]

Nice looking rifle there, find another one for me please.

[Miller Tyme]

Navy Arms sold thousands of T53's both in original condition, and for a little more "refurbed" models, this looks like one of there refurbs.

[graphic914]

Looks great

[Mike]

Have you closely inspected that stock? I see dark staining in the hard to sand spots as well as the dings, this could indicate a refinishing job was done on the wood, it could also explain why the buttplate is not a matching number if the original stock was damaged and someone used a replacement stock and retained it's buttplate.

That is a beautiful rifle but I have to agree with JYD. I would think that butt plates would stay with stocks, there would be no reason to remove a butt plate. If your butt plate does not match then the stock is probably not original to the rifle.