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Firstly, I'd like to thank racecarguy Dave for the beautiful specimen of a 91/30 that now towers over my Swede as the largest bolt gun in my cabinet. I wanted to keep the bayo fixed to it, but unless I drill a hole in the top of the cabinet I don't see it happening any time soon! Thankfully, I had a sling and some pouches/ oilers and tools already from a previous purchase which of course went together perfectly. Firstly does anyone here have a tried and true method to attach their pouches/ bayonet to the butt stock or sling, or what's the most functional way to do it? Simple as getting a belt?
Secondly, what are the thoughts and feelings concerning barrel covers? I've seen some made with different materials and camo patterns which look like mostly cold war era reproductions, but the simple burlap cover speaks to me the most. I asked this question on the Gunboards Mosin HQ forum and was met with complete silence, not even so much as a single cricket chirped. You'd think that I was asking about attaching one of those tacti-cool tri-rail kits so I could mount a scope, flashlight, and laser to it. I fear that either they're afraid to hurt my feelings or I've violated some kind of sacred code and I've been shunned as a result.
No matter which of the two it is, I look forward to your replies. Thanks!
-Duck
I never used any sort of barrel cover on my rifles, something to remember is that 91/30's get hot around the forend during prolonged range sessions. ten rounds and it's hot, 20 and the oil starts boiling out of the forend wood. For display white or brown burlap with twine wrap would do for Finn, or Soviet camouflage. The pouches were worn on the belt, there is really no other convenient way to wear them, they don't hang well from the weapon, or the sling.
Unlikely that you hurt feelings asking about covers, or broke rules as these are not permanent alterations. More likely like me most people just haven't done that with their rifles and therefore have no good suggestions.
To keep the bayonet on the rifle during upright storage just reverse it, it won't slide all the way onto the barrel that way, but should go on enough to hold it in place.
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
Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:05 pm
I never used any sort of barrel cover on my rifles, something to remember is that 91/30's get hot around the forend during prolonged range sessions. ten rounds and it's hot, 20 and the oil starts boiling out of the forend wood. For display white or brown burlap with twine wrap would do for Finn, or Soviet camouflage. The pouches were worn on the belt, there is really no other convenient way to wear them, they don't hang well from the weapon, or the sling.
Unlikely that you hurt feelings asking about covers, or broke rules as these are not permanent alterations. More likely like me most people just haven't done that with their rifles and therefore have no good suggestions.
To keep the bayonet on the rifle during upright storage just reverse it, it won't slide all the way onto the barrel that way, but should go on enough to hold it in place.
"More likely like me most people just haven't done that with their rifles and therefore have no good suggestions." plus from my experience, especially being in Louisiana where it's humid as hell, covering firearms with cloth tends to promote rust. Cloth tends to attract moisture and hold it and can cause rust if it's touching any metal parts. Same thing that the salts from shooting corrosive ammo does. I had a Buck 110FG in it's leather sheath sitting a draw and the brass started to turn green. I cleaned the brass ends and soaked them on gun oil, put it in a ziplock bag and put it in one of the safes and it still did it. I eventually removed it from the sheath, cleaned it again, covered it in oil and put the knife and sheath separate from each other in a plastic bag. No more problem.
Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:05 pm
I never used any sort of barrel cover on my rifles, something to remember is that 91/30's get hot around the forend during prolonged range sessions. ten rounds and it's hot, 20 and the oil starts boiling out of the forend wood. For display white or brown burlap with twine wrap would do for Finn, or Soviet camouflage. The pouches were worn on the belt, there is really no other convenient way to wear them, they don't hang well from the weapon, or the sling.
Unlikely that you hurt feelings asking about covers, or broke rules as these are not permanent alterations. More likely like me most people just haven't done that with their rifles and therefore have no good suggestions.
To keep the bayonet on the rifle during upright storage just reverse it, it won't slide all the way onto the barrel that way, but should go on enough to hold it in place.
"More likely like me most people just haven't done that with their rifles and therefore have no good suggestions." plus from my experience, especially being in Louisiana where it's humid as hell, covering firearms with cloth tends to promote rust. Cloth tends to attract moisture and hold it and can cause rust if it's touching any metal parts. Same thing that the salts from shooting corrosive ammo does. I had a Buck 110FG in it's leather sheath sitting a draw and the brass started to turn green. I cleaned the brass ends and soaked them on gun oil, put it in a ziplock bag and put it in one of the safes and it still did it. I eventually removed it from the sheath, cleaned it again, covered it in oil and put the knife and sheath separate from each other in a plastic bag. No more problem.
Tannic acid from the leather will react with brass no matter the environment. I have this problem with the brass mounted US M1907 leather slings, and leather slings on British Enfield rifles with the brass barrel band. It's why you see nickel plated cartridge cases, so they won't react with leather cartridge belts. This was a big issue with early gun belts, and police issue gear in the age of revolvers. Once contained in a magazine separated from the leather by the steel it wasn't a problem. My Buck has it's handle aluminum mounted to avoid the problems with brass.
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
If you are looking for displaying the accessories together with the rifle, buy a Soviet era gun belt to hang the pouches on. I haven't checked for them on eBay lately, but they used to be a common item. As far as a muzzle cover, I don't recall the Soviets using them. Nor have I ever seen a photo of a Soviet trooper with his or her rifle in any kind of rifle sock. You can always reverse mount your bayonet, for display, which I believe the way the Soviets used them during motor or rail transport.
Americans used condoms for muzzle covers to keep snow and mud out of their Garands. There were a lot more condoms available than opportunity to use them for their intend purpose. With the condom, you didn't have to take time to remove it if you needed to shoot in a hurry.
I do have a Russian made canvas rifle bag, with cloth ties, that I bought sometime back that I keep my SVT-40 in, but I have never had any belief in it being an authentic wartime item.
