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Well, here is the new family member. She is still in cosmo, and needs a bath but wow does she look like she has some stories to tell.
Every part that I have seen so far is Tula marked including barrel bands and retaining springs as well as every bolt component. It has
an odd shorter cleaning rod, but I think this girl has some real history to her.
Anything unique/special about it I might be missing?
Last edited by ParrotHead on Thu Sep 04, 2014 6:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
Interesting. Seems to have retained the Tula bolt. Be interested to know if the internals are Tula as well. Something funny about the barrel. Maybe it's my eyes or the perception from the small (could be original short M-91 rod) cleaning rod. Seems a little long for the stock or the stock a little short for the rifle.
The barrel is normal, I think it's just the shorter cleaning rod. It's definitely not your normal refurb 91/30 rod. Looks like the knurling is different.
That's going to clean up really nice. Heck, even with all of that grease on it she's still a gorgeous rifle! Does the serial number on the bolt body match as well? I saw they stamped the last three on the ball but couldn't see the bolt body. Very nice addition to the collection!
Lotema Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours. -- Richard Bach
No numbers on the bolt other than the last 3 digits on the handle. Is that what's called Finn matched? Could the bolt be original still with the numbers ground off and restamped on the handle?
That's one way they did it. Most of the time they would scrub the old number and restamp a new one over the old one. Some times they just crossed it out and restamped the barrel s/n. Most of the M-39's had the last three stamped on the knob, sometimes last four. I think anything is possible. It probably comes down to where individual rifles were refurbished by the Finns. There is a good chance that this is the original bolt that was scrubbed and the bolt knob stamped per their procedure at that particular facility. Problem is, like with many, that you can't absolutely prove it. But if the bolt parts are all Tula (Tula star) which is what I see, it is likely the original. Actually, the only non Tula stuff I see are the rear barrel band spring. I believe the rear is Imperial Izhevsk but my eyes could be failing me. Looks like the original Russian stock. Is there a 1940 date under the cartouche? If so, there is a good chance that this is the original stock as well.
This is a pretty nice find. It reminds me of a Finn Dragoon I recently purchased with the only changes made by the Finns was the "SA" and "D" stamps on the shank and Izhevsk Dragoon barrel bands. The bolt was a replacement with all Izhevsk parts with a scrubbed and restamped s/n. The trigger guard and associated parts were a replacement as well. Will never know if that was done by the Russians or the Finns. Had the original butt plate though. As with yours, it appeared they needed to get these rifles out quickly.
Looks like the Finns didn't do too much on that one. I really like the sling How about a pitcher of the hole rifle (profile) It's always good to see what all the close up pics look like in one shot.
qz2026 wrote:Actually, the only non Tula stuff I see are the rear barrel band spring. I believe the rear is Imperial Izhevsk but my eyes could be failing me.
Rear barrel band spring is Tula also.
Will post a full length pic later. The sling has 2 SA stamps on it, one is more lightly struck above the main one.
redspoon wrote:Looks like the Finns didn't do too much on that one. I really like the sling How about a pitcher of the hole rifle (profile) It's always good to see what all the close up pics look like in one shot.
Full length pics after she has been all cleaned up