1894 Tula M91 with quite the story.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:59 am
Hi Everyone,
Here is my 1894 Tula M91, that has been around the block a few times. I picked it up a few years back at a LGS. Its got quite a few dings in the stock, and shows a good amount of bluing wear as well. The barrel is surprisingly clean, and it shoots pretty well. Once I got it home, I realized how many countries marks were on this particular rifle. Its got a Finnish [SA] on the barrel shank, its got a German Deutsches Reich stamp on the stock, and it has what I believe to be a Serbian crown stamp on the barrel shank.
Here it is, not bad looking for 128 years old: Made in Tula in 1894. I believe the marking in the bottom center of the barrel shank is a Serbian crown stamp, that looks like it was struck a little off center. Finnish [SA] stamp on the side of the receiver. also has other typical Finn features like renumbered sights and sling mounts. And finally a faint but still visible Deutsches Reich stamp on the stock. I always thought that if any of my rifles would have some stories to tell, this would be the one.
Here is my 1894 Tula M91, that has been around the block a few times. I picked it up a few years back at a LGS. Its got quite a few dings in the stock, and shows a good amount of bluing wear as well. The barrel is surprisingly clean, and it shoots pretty well. Once I got it home, I realized how many countries marks were on this particular rifle. Its got a Finnish [SA] on the barrel shank, its got a German Deutsches Reich stamp on the stock, and it has what I believe to be a Serbian crown stamp on the barrel shank.
Here it is, not bad looking for 128 years old: Made in Tula in 1894. I believe the marking in the bottom center of the barrel shank is a Serbian crown stamp, that looks like it was struck a little off center. Finnish [SA] stamp on the side of the receiver. also has other typical Finn features like renumbered sights and sling mounts. And finally a faint but still visible Deutsches Reich stamp on the stock. I always thought that if any of my rifles would have some stories to tell, this would be the one.
History is bumps and scrapes, dings and dents, rusty spots and worn blue. Maybe all picked up on training grounds teaching FNG's how to be soldiers for the coming fight, never a shot fired in anger. Or maybe it saw every battle of several wars, and bathed in the blood of friend and foe. We can only guess when we hold these treasures. 
