1942 Mosin value?

[CJW]

Hello everyone! I'm looking to get a little help with the value of my rifle. It's stamped 1942 and is very clean/refurbished with a mirror bore.

I'm debating selling it even though I have said many times that I would never sell a gun, but a pilot's license is expensive.

I tried getting a pic of the bore but it wouldn't work. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

[tjtM38]

You have a very nice rifle there; can't believe you want to get rid of it. It's a piece of history and the $300 or so you would get for it won't put a dent in the bill for a Private Pilot's Certificate (if that's what you are trying to achieve). Take some advice from an old retired USAF pilot. Don't sell it. You will regret it, just like I have for every nice piece I sold for the wrong reasons.

[CJW]

Thanks. I don't want to get rid of it but it is one among many things that I'm not using that when put together could put a dent in my endeavor. The other gun that I am debating selling is a Mossberg 44a. The rifle needs refinished and it has almost no bluing left, but the bore like the mosin is mirror. They may get put on the backburner while I wait for some other stuff to sell. I am just looking for an idea of present value ATM.

I have 22hrs. but want to get my commercial and have a place scoped out that I can do that at any speed I want in all tailwheel. They are affiliated with a crop dusting school and that is the end goal. The problem is as with any flying, money. Every bit counts.

What did you fly in the USAF? And thanks for your service.

Cameron

[tjtM38]

What did you fly in the USAF? And thanks for your service.

Cameron

I appreciate that. Your pursuit of a flying career is admirable. It is an exciting and rewarding profession. Most of my time is in C-130 variants; about 5000 hours worth. However, I do have significant time in other aircraft including T-37B, OV-10A, and the C-21A (Lear 35). I have flown light aircraft as well and got my private pilot certificate while in college (I won't say how long ago!) in the Cessna 150/152. Luckily for me, the Air Force paid for all of that. Later on in life I got my ATP (no type rating) in a Piper Seneca which was funded almost 100% by VA benefits. Just looking at what all that costs today scares me, so I know what you are up against. Good luck to you.

[racerguy00]

Very smooth receiver for a '42. Most are really roughly machined. Is it an ex sniper? You will see filled holes in the inside receiver wall when the bolt is open if it is.

Also what is the stamp above the date but below the crest on the barrel?

[Junk Yard Dog]

Them little bitty planes crash, saw a whole documentary series about that from Alaska. Keep the rifle, feet belong on the ground. That may be the cleanest '42 I have ever seen, this year most of all tends to be the least finished of any year Mosin from the war.

[millman]

I'll give you two hundred bucks for it.

[CJW]

Very smooth receiver for a '42. Most are really roughly machined. Is it an ex sniper? You will see filled holes in the inside receiver wall when the bolt is open if it is.

Also what is the stamp above the date but below the crest on the barrel?

No filled holes. The stamp believe you're looking for says CKO A.

[steelbuttplate]

If all that stuff comes with it, $300 +

[CJW]

Them little bitty planes crash, saw a whole documentary series about that from Alaska. Keep the rifle, feet belong on the ground. That may be the cleanest '42 I have ever seen, this year most of all tends to be the least finished of any year Mosin from the war.

Maybe your feet belong I'd rather mine be

[tjtM38]

If all that stuff comes with it, $300 +

That's what I was thinking, just looking at today's prices. I have seen some folks asking ridiculous prices on Gunbroker, but with these selling at places like AIM Surplus for the $300 price range, I don't see too many people biting on those listings on GB. Additionally, the surplus ammo is now twice what it was 6 or 7 years ago, so you pay $200 a spam can, if you can find it and get reasonable shipping.

[steelbuttplate]

If all that stuff comes with it, $300 +

That's what I was thinking, just looking at today's prices. I have seen some folks asking ridiculous prices on Gunbroker, but with these selling at places like AIM Surplus for the $300 price range, I don't see too many people biting on those listings on GB. Additionally, the surplus ammo is now twice what it was 6 or 7 years ago, so you pay $200 a spam can, if you can find it and get reasonable shipping.

Right, I bought spam crates for $182 I think, So sell em now for $91 per can ?? Don't sell unless you have to, but for sure don't give it away.

[AMCHornet]

That is a nice one, especially for 1942. They usually look rougher than that.

The wartime rifles are fun because they look rough and crude but sometimes have really good bores and shoot very well. It's amazing how the Russians could produce literally thousands of them every single day and still have them shoot as well as they do.

[CJW]

I should say I paid $100 for it about 8ish years ago. On sale from $130 at Gander. I should have bought more if I would have know that the price would more than double in that time.

[Longcolt44]

What you paid for it has no bearing on what prices are currently at. A lot of the members here paid under $60.00 when you could find them at the local hardware store, before Al Gore invented the internet.

[CJW]

I know. I just can't believe that the price has gone up so much on them.

[AMCHornet]

Prices have gone up a lot from what they were, but they are still in line with what other similar surplus rifles are selling for right now. It's hard to find any surplus rifle for under $300 now.

Blame demand. People want old surplus rifles. That's a good thing. It means more people like us who want to enjoy them.

I think that people are becoming more appriciative of long-barreled guns that fire full-power cartridges and are made of wood and blued steel in this day and age of black, parkerized, camo, or pink "tactical look" modular semi-automatic carbines. You walk into a gun store filled with AR-platform rifles all over the wall but there is a BSA Monarch Deluxe hiding out in the corner. Or it could be a Mauser, Mosin Nagant, or Enfield. What catches your attention? The wood stock and shiny blued steel. It's different and unusual. It sticks out. People are picking up on that I think.

I think it's the younger people too. They see something different from what they are used to seeing and are willing to pay for it. Think about somebody who has fired nothing but 10-22's and AR's then suddenly shoots a Mosin Nagant. The recoil, the noise, the working of the bolt, the way the bullet smacks the crap out of the target like they've never seen...it's all new and cool. The millennial generation is also very into "retro" stuff. They're also fascinated by "soviet" stuff after playing Fallout their whole lives and growing up after the disillusion of the USSR. They are the upcoming generation of new milsurp collectors, and they'll be very good I think.

I should know, because that's what I did. One of my friends in college bought a Mosin Nagant in 2017. The rest of us had no idea what it was until we saw it and shot it, then we all said, "Holy cow, this is awesome! I need to buy one for myself!". And we all did. That kick started my milsurp collecting.

[neal45]

Great overview AMCHornet; I enjoyed the read.

[Longcolt44]

My son went to a gun show in PA last week. He called me today and in formed me that all those old guns I collect have some impressive value, who would have thunk??

[AMCHornet]

My son went to a gun show in PA last week. He called me today and in formed me that all those old guns I collect have some impressive value, who would have thunk??

The enlightenment has begun. He has taken his first step to becoming a Jedi.