The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I came across a Mosin M38 1937 Finn capture with D marking. It had both forced matched parts and mismatched parts. The stock was in fair condition. The seller at the show wanted $200 for it and I told him I would think about it because it was literally the first rifle I walked up to. I even went back to look at it 1 more time. As I was leaving, I was decided I wanted to purchase it but it had been sold. Now I'm kicking myself in the butt. This is one rifle I probably shouldn't have walked away from, right?

hmm....yeah. I think ANY m38 in decent condition would be a steal at that price in the current market.

Finn captured M38 is a desirable rifle. Depending on year and condition to some extend, this is likely worth $600- $800. Someone scored a great deal.

Edit: just reread the OP. 1937? No M38s made in that year so what was this rifle? a m91/59 or a bubba job?

KevHernandez wrote:I came across a Mosin M38 1937 Finn capture with D marking. It had both forced matched parts and mismatched parts. The stock was in fair condition. The seller at the show wanted $200 for it and I told him I would think about it because it was literally the first rifle I walked up to. I even went back to look at it 1 more time. As I was leaving, I was decided I wanted to purchase it but it had been sold. Now I'm kicking myself in the butt. This is one rifle I probably shouldn't have walked away from, right?

The M38 wasn't introduced until 1939 so something isn't right.

It sounds like a cut-down sporter 91/30. Did it have a handguard?

You know it's funny, I just thought of that (about the year of manufacturing) and I was going to ask if the M38 had a production in 37. I do remember another stamp saying "42" but that was not in the classic manufacturing date spot. Sure did look like a m38 though non sporter. Maybe it was a bubba special (cut down of a 91/30) and placed on a shorter stock. I do also remember an electro grave of 91/30 on the barrel but it didn't raise a flag at that time. It did have the Finnish front sight. (Did the Finns cut down 91/30's?). Well either way it had some awesome markings on it and if it was cut down to be a 38 clone - that's a shame. (And kinda glad I kept hesitating)

Kev

racerguy00 wrote:It sounds like a cut-down sporter 91/30. Did it have a handguard?

It had the exact same stock as a beat up m38

We are going to need some good detailed pictures on this one to figure out what you have. Markings, sights, stock front end and rear, barrel crown, and action out of the wood.

As I stated before, I didn't buy the rifle, I saw it, inspected it, and told him I would think about it. When I went back to look at it again, it was sold. But I do know that all of the info I gave you is accurate. But I don't have pictures to back it up. And the info doesn't add up. On the M38's did they stamp them with electro pencil with 91/30? I'm not sure about that. But to me it's another indicator of a bubba special

Electro pencil was used by the communists during the refurbishment process, not always, and probably in the later days of the operation.

And I didn't know they put "91/30" on the guns they refurbished. All I've seen ep'd is serial numbers.

You are not describing the import mark, are you?

It did have an import mark on the receiver, though I don't remember exactly where from. The mark I'm speaking of was on the end of the barrel, to the right of the front sight post if I remember correctly.

Hummm, based on what I have read, you are smart to have walked away to think about it. But, next time, take some pics...

If you didn't buy a rifle and didn't take pictures (if they are allowed as many gun shows don't allow them) then that rifle truly doesn't exist. Anything you say or we guess at is merely conjecture on both of our parts. Bill

KevHernandez wrote:It did have an import mark on the receiver, though I don't remember exactly where from. The mark I'm speaking of was on the end of the barrel, to the right of the front sight post if I remember correctly.

The end of the barrel placement is where many earlier imports were marked. And it was not really unusual for them to be marked with the wrong designation.

Your guardian mosin angel steered you in the right direction. There are too many crooks getting busy on the Finn scam lately.

I know we've gone over different possibilities, but for the interest of learning. Would a 91/59 rifle still have an electro pencil of 91/30 on the barrel by he front sight post? Wouldn't it be labeled as a 91/59? Also, if it was a 91/59 - there would be a stamp on the receiver right? According to the web, it seems so.

I read somewhere that the Finns did cut some 91/30's on their own for various reasons though not common. Is it possible for the Finns making those modifications mentioned before but the weapon still labeled as a 91/30 on a cut barrel at a later time?

I know it seems like I'm reaching here, but after doing research on Finn captures, 91/59's and m38's I couldn't find these answers. This is purely for learning purposes, I want to make sure I don't run into a bubba special and buy it under false pretense.

That particular EP marking sounds like the import mark, the importers sometimes screw this up. Finn M39's marked as Mauser's, 91/59's as 91/30's, it's been known to happen.