M1891 NE Westinghouse. Finnish captured/bought?

[EddieD25]

Hey guys! Been a while since I've posted but have been checking posts every once in a while. My Mosin addiction hasn't come to an end haha. I recently bought an M39 and yesterday picked up my 1915 Westinghouse. This is my oldest rifle as of now and my first M91. I know it has been "Finned" I guess would be the word. I don't know if it was captured or sold to Finland based off what I have read. I don't see any foreign markings other than Finnish or American. The receiver, barrel, and bolt all seem to be matching. Floor plate and butt plate(no serial number) do not. What I found really cool and interesting is that it was send to the Finnish Civil Guard from the Finnish Army since it has the SS75642 marking on the barrel shank which would make it the Savonlinna Civil Guard District. Correct me if I'm wrong. Other than that I'm pretty happy with it. It has the stock spice that I also have on my M39 that looks like its in the shape of fingers. A few things I'm curious about and don't understand is the "C" stamped on the bolt handle, which I always thought meant Serbia, along with a "B" right below it in the picture I will show below. Also there is a "1" stamped on the receiver. Anything you guys see and would like to explain to me I will really appreciate it! Here are some pics!

[millman]

Nice rifle.

[steelbuttplate]

Finnish bought?...post WW1., I'm guessing. Not many like that around. It's not even listed on the rarity list.

[EddieD25]

Thank you! And I'm not really sure. It has the Finnish Civil Guard District marked so I know for sure Finland had it last. I have no idea though if it was captured or bought. I'm definitely no where near an expert on these rifles, but did a little reading about Finland buying Mosins from Germany, Austria, Serbia, etc. I don't see any markings saying it was captured by any of those countries during WWI so I'm guessing it was captured by Finland sometime later?

[bunkysdad]

You found a very nice rifle. I like that one for sure. I am not sure about the C on the bolt knob, it escapes me at the moment. Congrats on a super cool rifle.

[Mangrove]

What I found really cool and interesting is that it was send to the Finnish Civil Guard from the Finnish Army since it has the SS75642 marking on the barrel shank which would make it the Savonlinna Civil Guard District. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Savonlinna Civil Guard District (Savonlinnan suojeluskuntapiiri) didn't exist before 1940. Before the end of the Winter War, the only Civil Guard district in the region was Mikkeli Civil Guard District (Mikkelin suojeluskuntapiiri). If this particular rifle took part of the Winter War, it is unlikely it ever served in the Savonlinna Civil Guard District, but was kept by the Finnish Defence Forces until the dissolution of the Civil Guard in November 1944.

There are usually quite detailed records of various individual rifles transferred from and into the Finnish Defence Forces at the National Archives of Finland.

[EddieD25]

You found a very nice rifle. I like that one for sure. I am not sure about the C on the bolt knob, it escapes me at the moment. Congrats on a super cool rifle.

Thank you! The C is quite the mystery haha. I've found nothing on it still.

[EddieD25]

What I found really cool and interesting is that it was send to the Finnish Civil Guard from the Finnish Army since it has the SS75642 marking on the barrel shank which would make it the Savonlinna Civil Guard District. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Savonlinna Civil Guard District (Savonlinnan suojeluskuntapiiri) didn't exist before 1940. Before the end of the Winter War, the only Civil Guard district in the region was Mikkeli Civil Guard District (Mikkelin suojeluskuntapiiri). If this particular rifle took part of the Winter War, it is unlikely it ever served in the Savonlinna Civil Guard District, but was kept by the Finnish Defence Forces until the dissolution of the Civil Guard in November 1944.

There are usually quite detailed records of various individual rifles transferred from and into the Finnish Defence Forces at the National Archives of Finland.

Thank you for clearing that up! I found out about someone who will go through the records and find the history of your Finnish Mosin's. Sends you copies of the records apparently and a Certificate of Authenticity. I might try that.

[B24]

That is a nice world traveler you have there, back home where she belongs!

[ffuries]

What I found really cool and interesting is that it was send to the Finnish Civil Guard from the Finnish Army since it has the SS75642 marking on the barrel shank which would make it the Savonlinna Civil Guard District. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Savonlinna Civil Guard District (Savonlinnan suojeluskuntapiiri) didn't exist before 1940. Before the end of the Winter War, the only Civil Guard district in the region was Mikkeli Civil Guard District (Mikkelin suojeluskuntapiiri). If this particular rifle took part of the Winter War, it is unlikely it ever served in the Savonlinna Civil Guard District, but was kept by the Finnish Defence Forces until the dissolution of the Civil Guard in November 1944.

There are usually quite detailed records of various individual rifles transferred from and into the Finnish Defence Forces at the National Archives of Finland.

Thank you for clearing that up! I found out about someone who will go through the records and find the history of your Finnish Mosin's. Sends you copies of the records apparently and a Certificate of Authenticity. I might try that.

The individual who made the post about the history and the one who does the research is one and the same. Mangrove is the one who does the research.

[EddieD25]

What I found really cool and interesting is that it was send to the Finnish Civil Guard from the Finnish Army since it has the SS75642 marking on the barrel shank which would make it the Savonlinna Civil Guard District. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Savonlinna Civil Guard District (Savonlinnan suojeluskuntapiiri) didn't exist before 1940. Before the end of the Winter War, the only Civil Guard district in the region was Mikkeli Civil Guard District (Mikkelin suojeluskuntapiiri). If this particular rifle took part of the Winter War, it is unlikely it ever served in the Savonlinna Civil Guard District, but was kept by the Finnish Defence Forces until the dissolution of the Civil Guard in November 1944.

There are usually quite detailed records of various individual rifles transferred from and into the Finnish Defence Forces at the National Archives of Finland.

Thank you for clearing that up! I found out about someone who will go through the records and find the history of your Finnish Mosin's. Sends you copies of the records apparently and a Certificate of Authenticity. I might try that.

The individual who made the post about the history and the one who does the research is one and the same. Mangrove is the one who does the research.

Yes it is hahaha. I just found that out after emailing him. Pretty funny.

[SA1911a1]

You found a very nice rifle. I like that one for sure. I am not sure about the C on the bolt knob, it escapes me at the moment. Congrats on a super cool rifle.

Thank you! The C is quite the mystery haha. I've found nothing on it still.

Serbia used a "C" for marking their property. But it may have nothing to do with that bolt. It could have taken the path: Us, Russia, Imperial Germany, Serbia, Finland, and returned home.

[cj1964]

Captured M91 rifles don't show up very often with Civil Guard numbers. I've seen a couple "in the wild" but I'd venture to say it's a bit uncommon.
Either way - it looks like a nice rifle. Congrats!

[Darryl]

Nice old war horse!! I like them best when they have not been touched after the wars.

If ...... it was never in a war, it had to see a Hell of a lot of guard service to look that way. Very nice!!
Dolk

[EddieD25]

Thank you guys! Really loving this rifle. Can't wait to see Mangrove's research too!