An Oddball Finnish Mosin - Confirmed to be a M/24 Rifle, thanks to Finnish Archives!

[LottaMosins]

I won this rifle not too long ago on Gunbroker. It was more expensive than I had a originally hoped, but once I got it in my hands, I don't see myself ever letting it go.

In the listing, the pictures were just okay, but not great. Not a ton of detail, but enough to see this was definitely something interesting. From what I could see, this rifle had all of the primary features of a date stamped M/24 rifle, minus the CG crest and typical SIG barrel markings on their variants of M/24 rifles.

I got it in hand, found that it had the early steel crossbolt for securing the front band - an early CG M/91 and M/24 feature. The stock was light in color, but looked like a Russian M/91 stock with an early Finn refinish. The rear and front sights retained all of their original CG features, with the exception of the sight leaf. The barrel has the markings as shown in the pics.

I originally posted this over on Gunboards. Originally several people commented that the rifle was likely just a scrubbed M/91, not a M/24 because it was missing the SIG Neuhausen script on the right side of the barrel, had no CG crest, and had no production numbers/marks on the bottom of the barrel shank. With all the original CG features of the gun, I wasn't convinced. I couldn't possibly say with 100% certainty that the rifle was a M/24, but I was definitely leaning heavily that direction.

I had "Mangrove" of Gunboards, who now runs Mosin.fi, look into the rifle in the archives. He didn't find any service records showing details about who carried it, but he definitely did confirm one thing from the archive ledgers. The original early ledger for the rifle lists the manufacturer as "Neuhaus." Now, I don't know of any M/91 barrels being made by SIG, so I'd say that definitely confirms this as an original SIG "straight barrel" M/24 that at some point lost its original markings, or perhaps never had them. Either way, if one thing can be learned from this rifle, its that you never say never, nor always with Finnish guns.

Hope you enjoy the pics! I've included pics of the ledgers from the archives and the CoA that Mangrove made for me for the rifle.

*kind of a neat sidenote, the rifle CG/S# was eventually transferred to be used on a Sk.Y M/39 in 1943, as indicated by the red notes on the ledgers*

[Lotema]

That is one seriously cool rifle and it's great that you were able to get the history and confirm it's background!

[ffuries]

Wow cool, I saw a post yesterday on GB that showed he could research service histories of some of the Finnish rifles. My Tikkakoski stepped barrel M91 SN doesn't show up on his list, might have him check my M24.

[WWW]

Wow. Gorgeous rifle!

[steelbuttplate]

That's a dandy, Did SIG become Sako? Used the same Sako gear mark?

[ffuries]

The number on the barrel is it 981? seeing the 1 is upside down compared to the other markings on the barrel? My M24 is not marked in the same manner as this one. I have a SN on the top of the barrel and 3 Civil Guard districts stamped on the receiver side, one preceded by a S the other 2 not.

Also is the 118199 the SN, a rifle ID number, or a CG number?

[willyj73]

That's a dandy, Did SIG become Sako? Used the same Sako gear mark?

No. Two different companies. SIG was Swiss, SAKO is Finnish.

[Mangrove]

I had "Mangrove" of Gunboards, who now runs Mosin.fi, look into the rifle in the archives. He didn't find any service records showing details about who carried it, but he definitely did confirm one thing from the archive ledgers.

A small correction, there were two users according to the records, Gunnar Sovelius between unknown date and 25 August 1936 and Martti Muromaa between 4 February 1938 and unknown date.

The number on the barrel is it 981? seeing the 1 is upside down compared to the other markings on the barrel? My M24 is not marked in the same manner as this one. I have a SN on the top of the barrel and 3 Civil Guard districts stamped on the receiver side, one preceded by a S the other 2 not.

Also is the 118199 the SN, a rifle ID number, or a CG number?

Serial number is 86, 118199 is the Civil Guard district number denoting City of Oulu Civil Guard in Northern Finland (separate from the Oulu Civil Guard District it was part of).

[Junk Yard Dog]

The rifle has a nice look to it.

[Teleoceras]

WHOWEEE!!!!! That is one incredibly beautiful old soldier! Thanks for sharing with us!

[Rongo]

Great info & a very nice find!

[willyj73]

Neat rifle. I keep looking at it and wondering. I think that's the first time I've seen the CG number on the tang. I thought the number on the receiver generally had a large "S", followed by the number. Also, would the stock have been a replacement at one point? One big question...what the heck was this guy shooting at to wear the barrel and chamber? There weren't any wars during most of its service history (during the time period when the wear occurred), correct?

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[willyj73]

Also, is it possible the barrel was a sample sent from SIG and later put into service due to need? Perhaps the SIG name isn't there because it would have been extra, unnecessary work for a sample barrel. Really, just wondering

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[Mangrove]

Also, would the stock have been a replacement at one point?

The stock is likely a replacement as the district number marked on it belonged to a different Civil Guard called Ikämiessuojeluskunta ("Elderly Men Civil Guard") in the City of Helsinki, some 350 miles from the City of Oulu. However, there is a possibility the rifle served at Ikämiessuojeluskunta until 1929.

[jindodog]

I have one very close in serial number. Sorry for the giant pic, I can't seem to get the thumbnail attachment to work.There was some discussion of these "dated" M24s over on gunboards.