The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Hoo Haw! Now I can talk to the big boys. I joined this site a while back, just after I had ventured into foreign territory with the purchase of two other Russian made pieces. I just wasn't legal and needed a Mosin. Now I are legal!

She came to me, one out of a crate of a bunch. I don't yet know what she is but with your help and all the links to knowledge about these rifles I'll find out. I will have a question later about her looks and for now just say 4.00 can of Krylon paint might make her presentable enough for a Del Rio, Tx.Javalina hunt.

You may need to know before hand there is a brand on her indicating she came through a PW Arms in Redmond Va. before she came to me. It's a 91/30 made in 1942 the serial number is 096967. The numbers on the butt plate, bolt, barrel and receiver and all the same the same(9370) number is also on the hinged plate under the ammo Clip(?) but there is also another number with a single straight line stamped through it. Fishy? I field stripped this rifle today and stamped numbers within designs are all over the thing.

Truthfully this thing is a great looking piece. It's the cosmoline that has me gritting my teeth. I've removed it from all metal parts but the stock is the hair in the butter. I don't know if I'm looking at a cheap dark amber varnish job or if the cosmoline has hardened forming a varnish like finish. Anyhow a light trip across the stock with a dull finger nail leaves a scratch uncovering a much lighter wood. If this is the original finish as intended I probably won't let that stand.

Sounds like a normal refurb that has been the norm lately. Don't paint it... Don't refinish her from her arsenal finish that has been there for so long.

Match numbers is common on there all arsenal done at refurb. The mag floor line out is normal since ya can't really grind the numbers out like the rest of the gun.

How about some photos???

The finish on the stock is shellac, wipe it down with a soft rag and it should be fine. Paint? That should put paid to any historical value.

If you read on this forum for any time at all you will learn how refinishing the stock will ruin any collector value of your rifle. It can retain it's original finish as long as you allow it to, and any removal of the finish will be done only after it retained it stored away safely in the crate for many decades.

Congratulations on your purchase. Now start reading. The more you read about these wonderful rifles, the more you will learn. These rifles need nothing but a gentle cleaning and a diet of Russian ammo. You will be surprised what a dry rag or some lemon oil will do for the stock. No paint, no heat, no harsh chemicals.

Welcome aboard

Thanks for the info on the finish. I have been into Lionel electric trains for about 50 years and antique radios even longer so I know about what paint does to the value. I just thought maybe what I was seeing was in fact cosmoline. So your words did save it. I'll try to do a little more research on it, find out where it was produced and it's condition and get back, maybe even with a picture.

What is it when you get one you want another?

mojotrain1 wrote:What is it when you get one you want another?

Mosinitis.

It can be just as deadly as Ebola, depending on whether you have a significant other and how tolerable she happens to be.

Grab some ammo and hit the range. You'll love your Mosin. And we'd love to see some pics!

Remember rhat the cheapest ammo in 7.62x54r is soviet surplus. This means cirrus e primers. Which means you ness a slightly different cleaning regime than when firing commercial non-corrosive ammo.

As posted elsewhere on this site, run hot water through the barrel after you shoot corrosive ammo, within a day of the firing. This removes the salts left behind. Normal cleaning can them be done to remove the other contaminants left behind from the powder. A light oiling will make it and you feel better.

mojotrain1 wrote:Thanks for the info on the finish. I have been into Lionel electric trains for about 50 years and antique radios even longer so I know about what paint does to the value. I just thought maybe what I was seeing was in fact cosmoline. So your words did save it. I'll try to do a little more research on it, find out where it was produced and it's condition and get back, maybe even with a picture.

What is it when you get one you want another?

Cosmoline is our stuff, the commies used cheap grease. Radios? How old is antique? I have a huge wood box radio looking for a new home, something out of the late 20's. Victor Victrola collector myself, always buying and selling machines.

For weeping the cosmoline out of the stock, I wrapped the bare stock in paper towels then tightly in a black trash bag. Back window of my car on a hot summer day, wipe and repeat.
It weeps the stock nicely.

Prof

Junk Yard Dog wrote:

mojotrain1 wrote:Thanks for the info on the finish. I have been into Lionel electric trains for about 50 years and antique radios even longer so I know about what paint does to the value. I just thought maybe what I was seeing was in fact cosmoline. So your words did save it. I'll try to do a little more research on it, find out where it was produced and it's condition and get back, maybe even with a picture.

What is it when you get one you want another?

Cosmoline is our stuff, the commies used cheap grease. Radios? How old is antique? I have a huge wood box radio looking for a new home, something out of the late 20's. Victor Victrola collector myself, always buying and selling machines.

My crown jewel is a working 1938(older than my Mosin) Zenith Model 12-S-265 with a shutter dial. For the time being I plan on getting a little more fire arm and electric train poor before I think of more Radios. My problem is I won't trade or sell anything.

mojotrain1 wrote:What is it when you get one you want another?

The only way to avoid Mosin Nagant #2 is not to get Mosin Nagant #1. It's too late, you are already infected with Mosinitis. Now you must spread the wonderfulness it to others.

Part of spreading the wonderfulness of Mosin Nagants requires you to enthrall your family and friends with the meaning of every little marking and stamp on the rifle: when you can do this for about three hours, you are ready for the next level (Nagant revolvers, SKS, Mausers, Swiss K31, Lee-Enfield...). The only other requirement is applying for your C&R, when you get that piece of paper there is no going back. Milsups will spread like rabbits, or maybe a fungus, I haven't figured out which yet.

And don't forget ammo! You can't have too much ammo. You'll buy it by the crate, and justify the purchase with the knowledge that the price will go up. Then you'll start reloading (saving money while going broke!) even "cheap" calibers which will make your friends shake their heads. Then another panic will come, and you'll look like a genius.

When you can arm and supply a small army, you will feel the satisfaction of a job nearly completed.

Your true happiness will come when you can arm your neighbors during a Zombie apocalypse and stave off the brain-eating hordes.

amx4080 wrote:

mojotrain1 wrote:What is it when you get one you want another?

The only way to avoid Mosin Nagant #2 is not to get Mosin Nagant #1. It's too late, you are already infected with Mosinitis. Now you must spread the wonderfulness it to others.

Part of spreading the wonderfulness of Mosin Nagants requires you to enthrall your family and friends with the meaning of every little marking and stamp on the rifle: when you can do this for about three hours, you are ready for the next level (Nagant revolvers, SKS, Mausers, Swiss K31, Lee-Enfield...). The only other requirement is applying for your C&R, when you get that piece of paper there is no going back. Milsups will spread like rabbits, or maybe a fungus, I haven't figured out which yet.

And don't forget ammo! You can't have too much ammo. You'll buy it by the crate, and justify the purchase with the knowledge that the price will go up. Then you'll start reloading (saving money while going broke!) even "cheap" calibers which will make your friends shake their heads. Then another panic will come, and you'll look like a genius.

I guess I started backwards. I bought a TOK first then a beautiful Nagant revolver both of those came after the mule like M95 Styer carbine. Am I allowed to mention that on this topic. I bought a partnership a crate(?) 880 rounds of ammo with this piece. That's a story I'll save for later as for now I'd like to keep my post's serious. Because you guys will be giving it this

Congrats on your first Mosin. Lot's of history behind these old rifles for sure. The part you are thinking of under the magazine is called the magazine floor plate. The number that has been lined out was the serial number to the previous rifle the floor plate belonged to. After the war, these rifles were stripped down and put back together with functioning replacement parts from a pile of parts stripped from other rifles. The old number was ground off, or sometimes, as is the case with yours, the old serial number was lined out and the new one stamped on. So it's not fishy at all, and your rifle is still correct. The original wood stock and shellac, even if it is peeling would look 1,000 times better than any cheap can of paint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh, the paint comment was just a little West Texas Humor. I know from my Lionel Train Collection that compromising any original part or paint scheme will turn a 100 year old 1000.00 dollar steamer into a 60.00 runner. I have done some bluing and stock refinishes just for fun and only on newer non- military rifles and shotguns. All probably 100.00 dollar pieces before and after my work.

Thanks for the information. Hopefully I'll become more efficient in navigating this site to find answers without bothering you guys so much. I'm confident mine is a 91/30 from the Izhevsk arsenal and it has a square box with a slash across it that I know it was refurbished someplace once upon a time. I'd like to know more, a problem I also have with my old trains.


As you have assumed by now this won't be my last one.

Don't worry Mojotrain, They don't mind being "bothered", it is what they do. This is a haven of very knowledgeable collectors and they are willing to help and inform us newbies. I know, I have been driving them crazy with questions and comments for 9 months now!!!!

oldmanshootin wrote:Don't worry Mojotrain, They don't mind being "bothered", it is what they do. This is a haven of very knowledgeable collectors and they are willing to help and inform us newbies. I know, I have been driving them crazy with questions and comments for 9 months now!!!!

That's why this forum rocks. You can ask anything and get intelligent, insightful and precise answers. You never hear "That question has been asked a hundred of time before. Use the search function..." that you see on other sites. When there is good information available from the past, a link is usually provided. Go for it! :-)

Ok As mentioned my rifle came from a crate of 20, so I was told. My grandson was the connection to the fellow that ordered the crate. I took the last one. With the crate they ordered two crates of 880 each, rounds of ammo. My grandson brought one case over when he brought my rifle over. I wanted 100 rounds so I opened up the crate and found the tins of ammo. We laughed about the thought of being in a fire fight and trying to open one of the cans. I determined it would take a hammer and a cold chisel to cut the inner side of the rim and bend the lid outwards to reach the ammo. We under took this task on the tail gate of my pickup with neighbors looking on. I had a phone call from my grandson later on and he told me he had found the can opener. You should know the rest of the story