Today's score- 1898 Tula M91 SA no import marks

[81turbota]

Hey all,
I picked up an SMLE from my local FFL today, and he mentioned that he brought something for me. This is what he brought out...
a 1898 Tula M91 SA marked with NO import markings!!! The Imperial eagle on the receiver is intact. He let it go for a steal of a price, and I HAD to have it!! Plus, pre 1898 in CA is cash and carry.

It has definitely been there done that. The stock is scorched in places, has numerous dings and dents. It has a 4" crack on the hand guard, as visible in the pictures. It is counterbored approx 2" and has strong rifling with pitted grooves. I am still in awe I own such a piece of history. I thought my bringback K98 Mauser had a story to tell, let me tell you its nowhere near as long as the novel this rifle could write. This rifle most likely saw action in FOUR (WWI, Russian revolution, winter war and WWII) wars!!!



I will post more pictures as I carefully take it apart for cleaning and preservation. I'm not sure if I intend to fire this rifle, but if I do it won't be much.

Here are the pictures:

[Titanium Hammer]

Congrats on the nice addition to the collection!

[Longcolt44]

You did very, very good on this one. I would clean it up with nothing more than a patch or 2 down the pipe, some gun oil to wipe on a little and some lemon oil to the wood. Then I would make a special rack for it and let lay in peace. It has seen too much in it's life to be bangng out bullets just for fun.

[81turbota]

You did very, very good on this one. I would clean it up with nothing more than a patch or 2 down the pipe, some gun oil to wipe on a little and some lemon oil to the wood. Then I would make a special rack for it and let lay in peace. It has seen too much in it's life to be bangng out bullets just for fun.

I agree 100%. I have plenty of great shooters, no need to add stress to this rifle's overly stressed life. I just want to press pause on the aging process and let it be, just like you suggested.

Titaniumhammer- Thanks!

[clayshooter2]

Sweet! I would just do a quick breakdown to check for any active rust under the wood, oil her up, and put her back together; Then leave her exactly how she is. I agree with you. No need to make her a shooter, if you already have enough shooters.

[vtxmosin]

Very nice.

[neal45]

That is a great Mosin with honest wear.

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Rongo]

You did very, very good on this one. I would clean it up with nothing more than a patch or 2 down the pipe, some gun oil to wipe on a little and some lemon oil to the wood. Then I would make a special rack for it and let lay in peace. It has seen too much in it's life to be bangng out bullets just for fun.

I agree 100%. I have plenty of great shooters, no need to add stress to this rifle's overly stressed life. I just want to press pause on the aging process and let it be, just like you suggested.

Titaniumhammer- Thanks!

I don't know... If it looks as sound as you say it is a range trip with a few light loads wouldn't be out of the question. Even rare relics need to take a leasurly spin around the block now & again.

By the way; Great Find!!

[zeebill]

Very nice addition indeed! The date of the tang will be interesting if it is still there too. If it matches that baby has some stories to tell. I shoot them all including my old ones too so you know what I would be doing with her. They were built to shoot and that is just what they do at my house. It knocks the loose rust off and cleans the bore to a nice shine like she should have on her. I frankly feel it makes them look better and have more value as a result. Congrats on a nice pickup! Bill

[81turbota]

Zeebill- the tang date matches the barrel, Tula 1898. My LGS just wanted to verify before he released the rifle as an antique, so we pulled it apart in store and put it back together to get it home. Sorry no pictures of the quick tear down, as I'm saving that for when I have more time.

Thanks guys, definitely proud of this one.

[docbob]

A great find. Really been there, done that rifle. If she could talk it'd be a l o n g story for sure! I bet a few cast bullet rounds fired in her would help shine her bore and not hurt a thing. Wonder when this rifle was last fired!?!!
Congratulations!

[MarksmanTim]

Look at that long serial number on the bolt! Don't see that too often.

[zeebill]

She's just crying for something to run down that barrel besides a cleaning rod! I mean like a bullet of any kind. See if there is any sign of an old serial on the flat back of the butt plate. With a rifle that old it could have been stamped there originally. I have several older rifles with either remnants of older serials and matching active serials on the top near the screw for the Butt plate. When they get over a 100 years old they can have lived several different lives as different rifles in there entire life. Enjoy her and live her history through your ownership and reading about the times she lived through. Bill

[martin08]

Look at that long serial number on the bolt! Don't see that too often.

Like.... never? I wonder what the story could be behind the 3-million serial?

[catcracker]

[align=center]SCORE[/align]

Very nice is an understatement. These are my favorite types of collectables.
If the stock can take the recoil, I would definitely take it out to the range. That doesn't make it a shooter per say. But I would have to say I have shot it at least a few times.
Like Zeebill said, that is what they are for, and I believe they can take the stress with little effort.
Enjoy.

[81turbota]

Thanks guys!!
I'll get more pictures during tear down tomorrow. You guys have pressured me into it...might pull the trigger a few times.

I have this weird hunch that it's a T53 bolt.....I can't see any way it was put there by the Finns and looking it over I see no Russian markings on it. T53's sometimes have that very long serial number.

I'll include detailed bolt pictures when I post them tomorrow.

[bunkysdad]

T53's came along over 50 years after this one was seeing action. Who would have put a Chinese bolt in it? I love the "feel" of the history on these old rifles. Very nice find. Remember those barrel bands have reverse threads and all you do is loosen them enough to expand them enough to slide off the stock.

[desdem12]

[81turbota]

Zeebill- I think I will run a few down the pipe when I get her cleaned up The butt plate has a Tula hammer on it, and the SN is rather crudely ground off, very rough tool marks. It is an early butt plate with the SN in the pocket.

Maybe we can figure out my bolt mystery. Here's what I know:
1. The rifle is not import marked, it may have been here in the states for a very long time. I am not discounting the possibility bubba threw an oddball bolt in it. However-the patina and sticky old grease matches the rest of the rifle. That bolt has been there for a VERY long time.

2. There are NO Russian stampings on any part of this bolt. All I have found are numbers, along with the letter A (or backwards 4) on every piece minus the connector bar. The 7 digit serial number is odd. I have included pics of every visible and recognizable stampings of all bolt components.

3. The stamping font and the cocking piece knurling looks ALOT like a T53.

What do you guys think? Where did this bolt come from?