The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Hi all, was just wondering if any of you knew what this marking was or what it meant. It is the number 11 inside a circle. This marking is on the barrel right next to the hammer russian crest on my 1936 91/30. Looks almost exactly like the polish circle 11 marking but a little larger than the russian crest, maybe smaller than the polish would be? Rifle has Izhevsk triangle and arrow also. I have seen a marking on some of the forums that look like an 11 but the lines are connected at the top. This is not what I am taking about, as these are two individual lines like an 11 would be. Any ideas as to what this marking is? Thanks, Don

Photos might help huh?

One of the many unknown markings on the Mosin, the Russians do not share information with us about these.

Ok, thanks. Wasn't sure, so I thought i'd ask. Thanks again!

I can't tell for sure but that may be a lightly stamped Cyrillic "U"

Dayton. I'm not too far from there. How is the hunting for Mosin Nagants there? Gun stores, Pawn shops, etc?
And if you haven't been welcomed yet, welcome.
Cat

It is a Provisional black powder proof.

I have heard that mark referred to as that before, but do we have confirmation on this, or is it another educated guess?

I'm going off of what I know from other well known sources/links.

They did continue to use blackpowder for proof loads. The idea behind a proof load is to generate pressure a fixed amount above normal and if the rifle holds together then it's good to go. It's my understanding that black powder will generate higher pressures quicker (faster burn rate I suppose) for the same amount of powder by volume. (That's why pipe bombs are made with black powder, not smokeless powder. Since the 7.62x54r case is pretty well full with a typical smokeless load it's easy to just use black powder to generate the higher pressure.

The provisional proof was before the rifle was completed, although I don't know exactly what stage of production it was done at. The final proof was after it was completed. I'm guessing that they did the first one so that they wouldn't waste time and material completing a rifle that's going to fail anyway and the last one was just because the proof is the "final word" on a firearm's safety.

It would be interesting to know what the fail rate was for the Mosin receivers. Somebody over there probably knows, but isn't likely to share.

I would think it has to be low except for maybe in the begining. MN's are indeed very well built. I only know of one failure, maybe two.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_14/339567_.html

Yikes and wow, what happened to that poor rifle?

So much for hexes being stronger then rounds.

That repair would require two bottles of Super Glue.

Gsragtop wrote:Yikes and wow, what happened to that poor rifle?

So much for hexes being stronger then rounds.

I don't believe there is any difference in strength when it comes to round vs. hex receivers.

I remember that one.

SA1911a1 wrote:That repair would require two bottles of Super Glue.

That's gonna need JB Weld!

Super Duper Glue

Interesting information! I've never seen a receiver cracked like that before!

Was that the one that a certain poster on another board pushed till it failed? I remember quite awhile ago that being a hot subject over there and caused him to be more or less banned? Bill