The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I was able to pick up this uncommon M91 dragoon with the help of forum member Zeebill, thanks Bill! 1919 Izhevsk mosins are a lot less common than those from Tula, and even the Tula ones are scarce.

1919 was during the thick of the Russian Civil War, and the entire country was in turmoil. Izhevsk was suffering from a manpower shortage, and many if not most Izhevsks from that period often used recycled older receivers as that was the most difficult part to manufacture. Not many rifles from that period survive, and many that do show markings indicating a hardness check of the barrel and receiver. It has been speculated that due to poor quality control many were later withdrawn from service as well as lost through combat attrition etc.

This particular example appears to be what's commonly called a "balkan" import even though it is very likely it was imported through Romania. It features a beech type 2 dragoon handguard that appears to be a newly made arsenal replacement. It retains the solid dragoon barrel bands but sits in a late/post war style stock with force matched buttplate. A 1913 Izhevsk receiver was used to build it, and the bore is decent with no counter bore. There is a peened wedge behind the rear sight spring. There is also a "gearwheel" or sunburst stamp on the stock that is usually attributed to Romania.

When 1919 Izhevsks do turn up, they tend to be refurbed and converted to 91/30 specs by updating the sights. Finding one still in dragoon configuration is a big bonus.

Very cool!

Looks like a great example for the showcase to me.

Has my vote.... To the showcase !

Very nice !

Not one you see everyday. that's for sure. Go to the Showcase to see it there.

1919 Izhevsk Dragoon

Interesting. I usually steer clear of Dragoons in post-war stocks, but as with some Romanian re-stocking, I can see how this happened. A very nice find.

Very nice!! That thing is in great shape!

Any ideas on the gearwheel circular stamp on the stock? I have a 1916 Remington Instructie with the same mark. Any other reference to it being Romanian? I have a couple of other m91 Balkan types that have the so called pinecone stock markings but not this round stamp. It seems to be one or the other but not both. All mine have the peened sight wedge also as well as Aluminum handguard rivets.

Thagomizer wrote:Any ideas on the gearwheel circular stamp on the stock? I have a 1916 Remington Instructie with the same mark. Any other reference to it being Romanian? I have a couple of other m91 Balkan types that have the so called pinecone stock markings but not this round stamp. It seems to be one or the other but not both. All mine have the peened sight wedge also as well as Aluminum handguard rivets.

I'm hoping to complete a survey of about 100 "Balkan" m91s that I have access to. A small sample but I want to compare and document the different stamps etc to try to nail down a pattern or best case a confirmed source of them. This is the first post-war pattern 91/30 type stock I've.seen with the gearwheel stamp. All others I've seen have been m91s.

Interesting. I'm glad that someone is taking the time to sort all this out. There seems to be just enough info out there to be tantalizing but not conclusive. And perhaps we will never know. I find these Romanian rifles fascinating.

Beautiful rifle. Just something about the rifles coming out of Romania (Balkans) that is so appealing.

Judi and her Mosins wrote:
Has my vote.... To the showcase !

Shoot fire Yeah get 'er done.

racerguy00 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 12, 2019 4:57 am

Thagomizer wrote:Any ideas on the gearwheel circular stamp on the stock? I have a 1916 Remington Instructie with the same mark. Any other reference to it being Romanian? I have a couple of other m91 Balkan types that have the so called pinecone stock markings but not this round stamp. It seems to be one or the other but not both. All mine have the peened sight wedge also as well as Aluminum handguard rivets.

I'm hoping to complete a survey of about 100 "Balkan" m91s that I have access to. A small sample but I want to compare and document the different stamps etc to try to nail down a pattern or best case a confirmed source of them. This is the first post-war pattern 91/30 type stock I've.seen with the gearwheel stamp. All others I've seen have been m91s.

On another forum I've asked about what makes a M91 a Romanian M91. Did you complete your survey? I have a M91 with the round gear stamp, the wedge, no cleaning rod as it appears Romanians didn't carry one on their rifles, and a few other things that may be Romanian.
Thanks