Antique Finn cap M91, what else can you tell me?

[89 Vision]

Hi guys, I'm new here but have been collecting Mosin's for a few years now. My most recent is this 1894 Chatellerault SA marked. It is now my earliest Mosin ( next being a 1906 Tula Finned m91), but unfortunately I'm not particularly well versed in antique Mosin lore, I just knew I had to have this one! The obvious; barrel and receiver are matching, butt plate does not, but has an old Tula hammer mark. Floorplate is not numbered, and has a mark I haven't seen before. Bolt has Tula and Izhevsk stamps. Barrel bands also seem to be of Russian origin. There are some stamps on the barrel shank I was hoping someone can tell me more about as well.

Condition of the rifle is NRA good, for an antique I'd say very good. Bore is dark with strong rifling. Buttplate has some patina but no active rust. Stock has some handling marks and gashes, but pretty normal for a rifle that may have seen action for 50 years. I paid $500 cash and carry, do you guys think I got a fair price? Anything else you guys can tell me about it would be great! Thank you all

[89 Vision]

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Here's a pic of the barrel shank with lots of markings I'm hoping someone can identify

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[89 Vision]

Sorry guys having problems uploading pics, I'll keep working on it

[Fledge]

Looking forward to more pictures. Chatelleraults don't show up everyday, so you definitely got one of the more rare manufacturers.

[Junk Yard Dog]

You did Ok considering it's three things in one that collectors look for. Chatellerault, Finn marked, and it's an M91

[89 Vision]

Can anyone identify these marks?

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I keep getting HTTP error while trying to upload, any advice for what I'm doing wrong?

[ffuries]

The stock cartouche is most likely the Soviet CCCP mark. See the following link for a better view of the cartouche it's about 12 pics from the bottom.

http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/mis ... index.html

If you are talking about the divot in the right side of the floorplate just before the release pin it's actually a hole. Puspose, drain hole? I just don't remember.

[89 Vision]

^^^interesting! I thought this rifle was out of Russian hands before CCCP was even a thing.
I'm still trying to get pics to upload. This rifle has no upper handguard, but from what I've read, this is normal on earlier rifles. The rear sling swivel is missing too, in place there is a buckle which looks Finnish to me, leading me to believe it's been that way for a long time. I haven't confirmed yet, but the rifle does not seem to be counter bored either.

[Lotema]

The bottom of the barrel shank has the JSE in an oval stamp, which is an Austrian capture stamp (Johann Springers Erben). Nice Chatellerault. Do you have some pics of the full rifle? Would love to see some more of it.

[89 Vision]

^^^awesome! I was hoping someone could identify that mark. Any idea about the "JH"? Does that mean it was captured in WWI by the Austrians? Does that mean it was sold to the Finns and not "captured"?

I do have a lot more pics, having a hard time adding them though, these are the pics that uploaded fine.

[Longcolt44]

If you can resize your pictures to under 640X800 you can load them direct here. Click on the "attachments" bar then the "add files" bar then load from your computer. A nice rifle like that deserves to be seen. Do the above, if that won't work you can always send it to me and I'll post them. Don't forget to send ammo.

[Lotema]

^^^awesome! I was hoping someone could identify that mark. Any idea about the "JH"? Does that mean it was captured in WWI by the Austrians? Does that mean it was sold to the Finns and not "captured"?

I do have a lot more pics, having a hard time adding them though, these are the pics that uploaded fine.

If I remember correctly, the JH was stamped on by Chatellerault. I forget off hand what it was for (or whether it's completely known). I've had a few beers tonight, so I could be wrong on that one

Yes, odds would be pretty good that it would have been captured by the Austrians during WWI and then later sold to the Finns. Of course it could have gone through the Germans, made its way through Austria etc but I doubt there's enough documentation around to really say for sure. Austrian capture and then sold to the Finns would be the most likely.

[neal45]

The JH was a Chatellerault stamp but I am puzzled by the oval with the letters under the serial number on the barrel shank. I have never seen that before.

Can anyone ID that one?

[Lotema]

The JH was a Chatellerault stamp but I am puzzled by the oval with the letters under the serial number on the barrel shank. I have never seen that before.

Can anyone ID that one?

Couple posts up Johann Springers Erben, Austrian capture stamp. I have a PTG in the show case with the same stamp. Not terribly common from what I've seen.

[Darryl]

Uploaded for member

[89 Vision]

^^^^big thank you for posting my pics! I appreciate the assist.

Didn't even notice the German Reich mark until I saw it in the sun. I love this rifle even more now!

[Teleoceras]

You did great! She is a real beauty! Thanks for sharing!

[89 Vision]

^^^thank you! She's quickly become one of my favorite Mosins.

Now for the most greedy question in the English language; what do you guys think she's worth? I have no plans on selling her, however I do log all my transactions with it's current market value, that way I can look at it in the future like an investment portfolio.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Most things do have a price if they aren't family heirlooms, or stuff tied to events the owner experienced while using the item. Any of my M91's are for sale but at $50,000 each I am unlikely to have to part with them anytime soon, my rifle, my price, money talks and bullshit walks. Not homeless, hungry, or needing a fix so there is little incentive to get someone like me to sell. Prices on gunbroker can run $250 to over $600 depending on how much of a feeding frenzy the seller can drum up.

[djbuck1]

Chatellerault M91s have been bringing $800+, but that's certainly no guarantee. There may have been several people looking at the same time who bid one another up. Still, a Chatellerault will be on the high end of M91 prices.

The Deutsches Reich capture stamp on the stock doesn't hurt it's value, either.